World Series Ratings Surge: MLB Reclaims Viewership Dominance

The 2025 World Series has marked a significant resurgence in Major League Baseball viewership, achieving a remarkable milestone with Game 7 attracting 27.3 million viewers, the highest since 2017. According to Deadspin, this thrilling conclusion to the series, which saw the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in a dramatic 11-inning game, produced a peak audience of 33.1 million viewers during its final moments. This resurgence in ratings is particularly noteworthy considering that only two years prior, the 2023 World Series had set an all-time low with just 9.076 million viewers. The average viewership for the entire 2025 World Series on Fox was reported at 15.71 million, a modest increase of 2% over the previous year’s series, which was a shorter five-game matchup between the Dodgers and the New York Yankees, according to Baseball America.

This rebound in viewership signifies a broader trend for MLB, as the league has successfully reestablished World Series ratings that are comparable to those of the 2010s. Over the past two years, the World Series has outdrawn the NBA Finals by an average of 4.6 million viewers, reversing a trend that had seen the NBA Finals outpace the World Series in the previous decade. Baseball America notes that historically, during the 2000s, the World Series regularly outperformed the NBA Finals, with an average of 4.2 million more viewers. However, the tide shifted in the 2010s as basketball's popularity surged, particularly due to star players like LeBron James and Steph Curry.

The current viewership surge can be attributed to several factors. The presence of high-profile teams like the Dodgers, which boast significant market appeal and star power, has certainly contributed. Additionally, the implementation of the pitch clock and other changes designed to enhance the pace of play may have positively impacted fan engagement, as noted by Baseball America. These improvements have reduced dead time during games, making them more appealing to viewers.

As MLB looks ahead, the landscape of sports broadcasting is changing, and these viewership numbers present a compelling narrative for the league as it prepares to negotiate new media contracts after the current deals with Fox and Turner expire in 2028. The increased ratings provide MLB with leverage and optimism for future marketing and engagement strategies. The impressive viewership figures, including the average of 15.7 million viewers for the series, position MLB to reclaim its status as a dominant force in U.S. sports viewership, a position it has historically occupied but has fluctuated in recent years.

This resurgence also highlights the potential for further growth and innovation within the league, as it seeks to capitalize on this renewed interest among fans. With such significant ratings, MLB can focus on strategies that enhance viewer experience and engagement to sustain this momentum moving forward.