ALDS: Tigers/Yankees Game 5 Most-Viewed Division Series Game Ever on Cable

NLDS: Brewers/D’Backs Game 4 Bounces Back From Game 3 Low

Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

First base is seen on the field during a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Philadelphia Phillies at the Field of Dreams movie site, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Dyersville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

MLB Field of Dreams returns with steep viewership decline in Netflix debut

by Jon Lewis

1 month ago

Viewers slept on baseball's return to Field of Dreams.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal makes his way to the bullpen prior to a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Skubal Dodgers debut sets TBS high as viewership unaffected by backlash

by Jon Lewis

2 months ago

The Dodgers' acquisition of Tarik Skubal has inflamed no shortage of backlash on social media, and attracted no shortage...

New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe reacts after striking out to end the top of the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Dodgers dynastic, but Yankees still baseball’s biggest viewership draw

by Jon Lewis

2 months ago

The New York Yankees have not ceded their position as the biggest TV draw in baseball.

MLB All-Star Game hits high; Derby at low in Netflix debut

by Jon Lewis

2 months ago

Viewership for the two marquee MLB All-Star events went in opposite directions.

Comments 8

Eric says:

15 years ago

Anyone know the ratings from last nights Phillies-Cards game or Brewers-DBacks games?
- Paulsen says:
  
  15 years ago
  
  Yes, received the information earlier today. STL/PHI did quite well. Will post tomorrow.
Anonymous says:

15 years ago

I think if weather will be fine (and it’s not foregone with Detroit still in the mix, Milwaukee is saved by Miller Park’s retractable roof) allowing WS’ regular schedule, TV ratings will be in the 8.0s with 4 or 5 games. The numbers could be obviously better with a Game 6.
A 7th game will be particularly interesting to measure WS drawing power in a winner-take-all situation, after almost 10 years with no WS Game 7s and without marquee teams in the mix. I think that game’s individual numbers could rise above a 13.0 or even 14.0 if the Series will be able to build momentum. Expecting more isn’t realistic given the absence of the Yankees: think that the sum of the numbers of TV homes in the four markets still in play is smaller than the number of New York area’s households.
For the same reason I fear TBS’ NLCS will be a rating nightmare involving markets #21 and #34. Let’s hope the presence of such stars as Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, along with a long series could help bring good numbers.
Chad says:

15 years ago

Add to the Yankees being gone, now the Phillies are gone too.
Anonymous says:

15 years ago

I think it’s good for Baseball the highest payroll to be eliminated by a
team whose payroll is just a little higher than the half of that of the
Yankees. The same cannot be said for Fox and it’s a pity to see how
high the numbers could have been with the Yankees still in. This 6.2 HH
rating is a number that could be not so far from WS average, whatever
the matchup will be, if it won’t go 6 or 7 games.

It’s clear that, after a breathtaking ending of the season and a great
playoff first round, Baseball needs now 20 other games for being
competitive and show how good the numbers can be, even with no Yankees
in the mix. In particular I think that MLB needs a 7-game World Series
and the drama it could generate. 2002 is too far away and Baseball needs
to demonstrate its TV cometitiveness, particularly now that contracts
are about to expire.

This Game 5 has shown that sudden-death games rate very well: even the
NBA, in very good shape in the past seasons (a little less these days),
has rarely been able to score similar numbers before Conference Finals.

The one thing I would be pleased not to hear during the next few weeks
is how NBA Finals are more popular than World Series: it has to be
remebered that since 2008, NBA Finals have featured the L.A. Lakers (the
NBA’s Yankees) three times and this last year the presence of ratings
giant LeBron James.

I hope every Baseball fan will keep on following this year’s postseason
which is proving to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, as demonstrated one more time tonight by a pair of compelling Game 5s!
Now even big-market star-filled Philadelphia is out of the contest…let’s see how it will play out!
- JakeFrankie says:
  
  15 years ago
  
  MLB drew this huge number because of the Yankees, If it wasn’t them or the Red sox. They wouldn’t have drawn this big of a number. Besides the few big teams they wouldn’t have gotten near this number.
  
  I don’t see the ratings changing much from now on,none of the teams are big draws besides (local markets).
  
  Last year’s WS didn’t draw much buzz at all, It was 2 pretty decent sized markets too. World Series just hasn’t been getting much buzz nationally for years now, I’m not knocking MLB at all. It’s just how it is, I don’t understand why they have the WS so late.Although don’t forget 2009 had 2 huge markets playing it each other.
JakeFrankie says:

15 years ago

I saw parts of the game, It had it’s dramatic moments. The rest of the playoffs will draw decent numbers.
I really want to see how the World Series numbers will do, My guess is it will be in the 9.0’s. Game 7 could take it to double digits. I’m not sold on Philly’s drawing power at all (besides local numbers) of course assuming they win tonight.

I know plenty of people will be bashing MLB numbers cause Yanks or Red Sox are not in it. But MLB’s draw’s great numbers regardless.

The Dallas Area fans might have a chance to win the WS again. What a year it would be if the Mavericks and Rangers both won there Championships. Not trying to jinx the Rangers just saying it would be a great story for a GREAT sports team.
Hrana Cc says:

15 years ago

Should be interesting what the television ratings will be with the Yankees being eliminated from the playoffs