2024 World Series viewership increases

By Lachlan Wellington November 08, 2024 10:01

Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Despite eventually being a non contest with the Dodgers coming out easy 4-1 winners, the 2024 World Series was one for the ages. The Yankees vs Dodgers 2024 Fall Classic was not just a contest between two of the most historic franchises for the first time since 1978 but this series was one of the most watched in a long time.

While opinions may vary on whether two of the richest and most iconic franchises making the World Series is good or bad for the sport with small market teams seemingly struggling this season, one cannot argue that this series at least got people excited for baseball.

This season's entry into Fall Classic records saw 30 million combined average viewers across both North America and Asia according to FOX. In the US, the series averaged 15.8 million viewers- a 67% increase from the 2023 World Series between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Additionally, this was the most watched Fall Classic since the seven game 2017 series between Houston Astros and the 2024 Champions, the Dodgers.

The 2024 World Series installment not only saw increased viewership in the USA but also across the globe especially in the baseball loving Japan. With the appearance of MLB’s Japanese darling, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, this series was the most watched ever in Japan with 12.1 million average views. This series also featured the two most watched games in Japan’s history with 15.9 million viewers in Game 2 and 14.4 million viewers in Game 1.

This seasons’ series also saw an increased average in person attendance. With a total attendance of 253,104 over the five games with an average of 50,621 per game, the 2024 World Series had the highest average attendance since 2003. The 2024 postseason also had the second highest attendance of all-time with 1,920,165- trailing only 2003.

Social media is also a key demographic in the modern world. This year’s Fall Classic saw the series generate the most social media interactions in World Series history- including a +176% increase in engagement and +209% in surge in video views in comparison to 2023.

This increased interest in the sport comes at a key time for MLB and the wider sport of baseball. This is because Football has overtaken baseball as America’s favorite sport, with basketball and hockey also breathing down baseball’s neck. Meaning, MLB needed a series like this to boost numbers and the sports popularity.

Baseball is often considered an older person’s sport, however, what also came out of the 2024 series is that traction is gaining in younger audiences. This year, the viewership for 12-17 age group was up 67% and in the crucial 18-34 age group viewership was up 101%, additionally increasing by 92% for 18-49 year-olds.

Although things could have been better if the 2024 World Series went to seven games, things took a step in the right direction with the increased viewership and audience. Hopefully baseball can now kick on and overturn the decrease in popularity recent years have seen both in the USA and abroad.