Major League Baseball Viewership Surges in U.S., Japan, and Streaming

Major League Baseball is drawing in more viewers than ever, thanks to some exciting rule changes and the incredible talent of players like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. With over two months of the season behind us, it’s clear that fans are tuning in to catch all the action.

On FOX, ESPN, and TBS, viewership is soaring this season. FOX has seen a 10% increase in viewership compared to last year, with an average of 1.841 million viewers per game. Meanwhile, ESPN’s coverage has jumped an impressive 22%, drawing in an average of 1.740 million viewers per game—the highest numbers in eight years. And over on TBS, Tuesday night games are up 16% from last year, with a whopping 69% increase in viewership among the 18-34 age group.

The MLB Network Showcase Game series is also seeing a rise in viewership, up 13% from last year. Plus, popular shows like MLB Central, Intentional Talk, and Quick Pitch are all bringing in more viewers than in 2024.

In Japan, MLB is also making a splash. Viewership on NHK channels has increased by 22%, with an average audience of 2.7 million viewers. And let’s not forget about MLB.TV—streaming viewership is up 27% from last year, with over 7.5 billion minutes watched so far this season.

It’s clear that baseball fans are loving what they’re seeing on their screens, and with such exciting games and talented players, it’s no wonder MLB’s viewership is on the rise.