Dodgers Vs, Yankees World Series is a big ratings winner for FOX
Having the two largest TV markets with two iconic franchises is great for baseball
The executives at FOX Sports got what they hoped for in a World Series with two iconic franchises: the Dodgers vs. the Yankees, representing the nation’s two largest media markets. This pairing has Major League Baseball and FOX, the broadcaster of the World Series, thrilled about the ratings up to Game 3.
The Numbers don’t lie
FOX reports that Game 3 continued the trend of high viewership seen in Games 1 and 2, from a ratings perspective for Fox Sports and MLB. The third game on Monday attracted an average of 13.2 million viewers, marking a 63 percent increase in ratings compared to Game 3 of the 2023 World Series featuring the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers.
This aligns with the 65 percent increase observed in Game 2 and the 62 percent rise from Game 1. Fox reports that Game 3 was the network’s highest-rated Monday prime time broadcast since Game 5 of the 2013 World Series featuring the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals which was another clash of iconic franchises.
The Game 3 ratings on Monday night further demonstrate that prominent teams with star players can still attract significant viewership in the era of cord-cutting. As of Game 3, the series is averaging 14.4 million viewers across all network platforms, marking the highest for a World Series since the Dodgers-Astros matchup in 2017.
Japan is setting records
The viewership ratings in Japan for the World Series have exceeded those in the United States, highlighting the event’s importance not only for MLB marketing but also for the branding and merchandise sales of the Yankees and Dodgers. Merchandise is selling rapidly, with the blue LA emblem becoming ubiquitous throughout the country. Tonight’s Game 5 might mark Shohei Ohtani’s last appearance in the 2024 season, leaving fans eager for more as they hope for the season to extend.
MLB and FOX want a seven game series
Both Major League Baseball and FOX are likely hoping for the series to extend to seven games. Should this occur, FOX might emerge victorious in the ratings war against ABC, CBS, NBC, and the CW for the second consecutive week. Ideally for FOX, the series would conclude in Los Angeles on Saturday night..
