MLB All-Star Game bucks trend with increase

Jul 16, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; National League designated hitter Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers (17) celebrates with National League left fielder Jurickson Profar of the San Diego Padres (10) after hitting a three run home run in the third inning against the American League during the 2024 MLB All-Star game at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Baseball’s Midsummer Classic scored a rare increase in viewership and again delivered the largest All-Star audience in sports.

The 2024 MLB All-Star Game averaged 7.44 million viewers on FOX — 7.6 million including Fox Deportes and additional streaming viewership — up 6% from last year’s record-low (7.01M) and just the third time in the past ten years that the game has posted a year-over-year increase (joining 2017 and 2021). This year’s audience is still the second-lowest for the Midsummer Classic.

Despite the increase in viewership, the household rating fell a tick to a record-low 3.8.

The American League’s win — which peaked with 7.9 million in the 9 PM ET quarter-hour — faced competition from night two of the Republican National Convention, which was believed to have contributed to the prior night’s Home Run Derby hitting a decade-low.

The MLB All-Star Game continues to rank as the most-watched of its genre, easily surpassing the second-place NFL “Pro Bowl Games” at 5.79 million and the NBA All-Star Game on TNT and TBS (5.4M). The MLB All-Star Game has been the most-watched All-Star event in eight of the past nine years it has taken place, the lone exception being 2019.

The All-Star Game also continues to deliver one of the largest audiences in all of baseball. Outside of the World Series, only one game all of last season averaged more viewers — Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on TBS, truTV and MLB Network (9.1M).

It was also the most-watched television program on FOX since the NFL Playoffs in January.

With Pirates P Paul Skenes starting for the National League, Pittsburgh led all markets Tuesday night with a 9.9 rating and 24 share. Philadelphia placed second at an 8.6/25, followed close behind by Kansas City (8.5/25), with Cincinnati (8.0/21) and Baltimore (7.3/22) rounding out the top five.

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Comments 10

Jtk1 says:

2 years ago

I believe the the MLB is the best All Star Game of any sport, I watch it every year. No need for radical changes like others have suggested. However, 8 would like to go back to each player wearing his own uniform from their own team, since each team must have a representative, something that is good for the game. Even if your favorite team is floundering this year, you still know that your team has someone in it. Also I do like that pitchers only pitch 1 inning, and hitters usually bat just once, why because remember it’s only an exhibition, and no one wants someone to get hurt in it, when more important is the upcoming pennant races. One change that I would make, I don’t know if others agree or disagree with me on this, but get rid of the interviews during the game. You can interview some in the dugout not on the field.
Brian says:

2 years ago

I watched every All-Star Game but one from 1981 through 2019. There are a number of things about it that I wish were different, but only one of them was enough to get me to stop watching: the switch to league uniforms instead of having each player wear his team’s uniform. Seeing all of the different uniforms– and the real home whites and road grays, not the mostly hideous alternates– was a really appealing thing about the All-Star Game, and they took that away. I won’t watch again until they undo this mistake.
- Insert Name Here says:
  
  2 years ago
  
  I hope Manfred sees this comment. While this is a silly reason to not watch the game entirely, I 100% agree with the need to go back to the traditional uniform setup. Hell, I’d settle for a compromise where they wear their normal team uniforms but special ASG hats.
- Hello Larry says:
  
  2 years ago
  
  Who cares? I’m glad they don’t even wear those boring gray uniforms that need to be phased out completely. I’m glad a couple of teams got rid of them for colored alternate tops on the road. I guess you won’t be watching for the rest of your life then because I don’t see them going back.
MARTY says:

2 years ago

John, do you think the numbers would be better without the Republican National Convention?
- Jon Lewis says:
  
  2 years ago
  
  Good question. I did buy into the argument that the RNC affected the Derby, and I still think that was true. Maybe it’s just that RNC day 1 was especially tough competition given the recent events and that day 2 was comparably uninteresting. (Haven’t seen day 2 RNC numbers, so I don’t know for sure.) Maybe it didn’t have an impact for the ASG.
ESL says:

2 years ago

Really strong numbers. To be honest, I was shocked at how high the viewership was (I expected 6.5-7 million). Maybe having the young phenom Paul Skenes start for the NL helped bring in bigger numbers. Considering how awful the game has become, these numbers are holding up well. I always feel MLB is missing such a big opportunity with the All-Star game and how they let the game decline. This is the biggest sporting event of the summer (outside of the years with the summer olympics). I know its an exhibition game, but the revenue it brings to MLB could be a lot bigger. I believe this game could easily get 10-15 million every summer if MLB and its teams really made an effort in this game. On Tuesday night 60 players were used in a 9-inning game. People like to say MLB All Star game is closest to the regular game. Well, not when 60 players are used in a 9-inning game. I have some ideas how to ideas that would make the All-Star game more entertaining and interesting:
1. First and foremost, MLB must bring back the tradition of players wearing their own uniforms. This is such an important part of what the All-Star game was. I think it is safe to say that the new All-Star uniforms has been a turn off to most and it is giving fans another reason not to watch.
2. Limit the rosters to 28 on each team. (9 starters plus 9 substitutes (1 per position) and 10 pitchers. You don’t need 34 players on 1 team for 1 game. Too players.
3. Starters are expected to play 6 innings (or have at least 3 at bats). These are the players the fans voted for. They want to see them in the game. Not be taken out in the 2nd or 3rd inning. And, more importantly, the reserve players must be aware that not every single player will appear in the game.
4. Once starters are announced, there will be a fan vote for the “9 inning player.” The week before the game, fans vote for 1 player for each team that they want to play the full 9 innings. The player voted on for both AL and NL will be the DH for their respected league and will play all 9 innings (they don’t need to play the field). You want to see one of the big-name starters come up in a big spot late in the game. This one would be a big help in keeping fans interested in the game.
5. This one is radical. Instead of alternating the All-Star game between AL and NL stadiums, MLB should use the “Field of Dreams” stadium in Iowa as it’s home base for the All-Star game every year. I think this would create great interest and would make the game more appealing to the players (and have less players bail out). The most fascinating part of this would be the walk in from the corn fields when introductions are done. Imagine seeing all the All Stars come in through the corn fields? This would create great theatre and could start a new All-Star tradition (the walk through the corn fields). People would tune in for this. Note the NFL used Hawaii as a destination for the Pro Bowl for many years, and it was successful. This is a made for TV fan event. The Field of Dreams experience would work for the MLB All-Star game.
-The All-Star game will never be like it was in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, but I think these changes would help improve the fan experience for the game (and bring in bigger ratings). You don’t need 60 players to appear in a 9-inning game.
JEFF E HIRSCHMAN says:

2 years ago

Baseball is the only all-star game that is played like a real game!
Thalis Malta says:

2 years ago

I believe that it matters a lot that yesterday was the first day of the convention, with the first public appearance at an event of the candidate who was almost assassinated on Saturday and also with the officialization of his vice president, a moment of commotion for his electorate and the country as one all.
- Samuel says:
  
  2 years ago
  
  Wrong forum for this.