World Series television ratings for the matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays declined by only 6% compared to last year’s Fall Classic between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, outperforming initial projections that anticipated a historic low due to two small-market clubs reaching the championship round.
Fox Sports Reports Smaller Than Expected Drop
The first two games of the series drew strong linear and streaming audiences across Fox, Fox Deportes, Fox One, Fox Sports app, and Univision. Game 1 saw the Brewers secure a 3-2 victory on Friday night, drawing an average audience of 12.26 million viewers across all carrying platforms. Game 2, which finished with a 5-4 Milwaukee win and excluded Univision’s Spanish-language broadcast coverage, averaged 10.85 million viewers. Combined, Fox Sports’ total average viewership for the opening two games reached 11.05 million viewers.
“I think this number is probably better than anyone would have expected,” said Mike Mulvihill, Fox Sports president of insights and analytics. “I think very few people, including myself, expected that we would be down only 6% through two games. We’re really pleased.”
Milwaukee Fan Base May Boost World Series Viewership
Prior to the opening pitch, industry analysts forecast that a World Series featuring two small-market franchises might rival the historically low viewership numbers recorded during the 2023 Fall Classic between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. That 2023 series averaged 9.11 million viewers, with Game 2 hitting a then-record low of 8.15 million.
However, the matchup dynamic shifted this season due to Milwaukee’s established fan base throughout the Midwest and the team’s sustained competitiveness in recent years. The Fall Classic features the two clubs with the best records this season.
“I think having a traditional franchise from the Midwest in this series helps,” Mulvihill said. “The fact that they were able to defeat the two-time defending champion Dodgers and do it in such a convincing fashion, I think that helps build interest in the World Series.”
Broadcast Competition Ahead for Game 3
Fox faces a formidable scheduling hurdle for Game 3 on Monday night. Beyond Milwaukee holding a 10-1 victory margin heading into the matchup, the broadcast must compete directly with “Monday Night Football” featuring the Dallas Cowboys playing the Philadelphia Eagles.
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