With Ohtani and Yamamoto, the World Series averaged a remarkable 12.9 million viewers in Japan, marking it as the most-watched Fall Classic in the nation’s history. This significant milestone highlights the growing popularity of baseball in Japan, particularly with the emergence of star players like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who have captivated fans both domestically and abroad.
The series, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, achieved a combined average of 28.7 million viewers across both Japan and the United States, showcasing the global appeal of Major League Baseball.
In a standout performance, the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory in Game 2 averaged 15.9 million viewers in Japan, setting a new record for the most-watched postseason game in the country’s history. Yamamoto, the starting pitcher for the Dodgers, demonstrated his skill by allowing just one run and one hit over 6 1/3 innings, further solidifying his reputation.
Due to the time difference, Tokyo is 19 hours ahead of New York and 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles, meaning the games began around 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings in Japan. Broadcasting partners included Fuji TV, NHK BS, and J Sports, ensuring widespread access to the games.
The World Series also achieved impressive viewership numbers in Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Taiwan, reflecting baseball’s international fanbase, as reported by MLB.
In the United States, the World Series averaged 15.8 million viewers across FOX, FOX Deportes, and streaming platforms, marking its best performance since 2017. This represents a substantial 67% increase from the previous year’s average of 9.11 million, when the Texas Rangers faced the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Los Angeles emerged as the leading market with an 18.9 rating and a 53 share, while San Diego and New York each recorded a 12.4 rating and a 41 share, illustrating the intense local interest in the series.
The rating indicates the percentage of television households tuned in, while the share represents the percentage of the audience viewing at that time, underscoring the event’s significance.
Finally, FOX and FS1 averaged 7.49 million viewers throughout the postseason, marking a 42% increase over the previous year and achieving the best average in seven years.
