"The 2026 World Series smashed ratings expectations across the board, and Game 7 was the most-watched baseball game in 34 years. And note that the ratings success was not merely a function of expanded Canadian and Japanese audiences. In the US alone, 16.1 million people watched each game on average, which was an increase over last year's ratings dream of a matchup between the Yankees and Dodgers, and trounced the 2025 NBA Finals average viewership of 10.3 million."
"forced parity and wage suppression lead to popularity, as anyone who has ever heard of college football or soccer can tell you. What consumer behavior actually shows us is that what people want from televised sports is (1) on-field excellence and, (2) well-known and compelling characters and teams. The Dodgers understand this and are willing and able to provide it. They are unambiguously good for the game and more teams - like the Boston Red Sox! - should act like them."
2026 World Series viewership exceeded expectations, with Game 7 becoming the most-watched baseball game in 34 years. U.S. average viewership reached 16.1 million per game, outperforming last year’s Yankees–Dodgers matchup and surpassing the 2025 NBA Finals average of 10.3 million. The ratings boost was not solely a result of expanded Canadian and Japanese audiences; U.S. audiences accounted for substantial gains. Consumer behavior favors on-field excellence and recognizable, compelling teams and characters over artificially enforced parity or wage suppression. The Dodgers provide consistent excellence and star appeal, and similar competitive investment from other franchises could increase overall interest.
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