Massive Audience Tunes into Fox for Dodgers-Yankees Game, Delighting in Yankees' Defeat Across United States
Baseball's Bijoux Moment: The Major League Baseball (MLB) is shining bright in the United States, as audiences flock to catch the exciting action. And, shockingly, ESPN decided to dip from the baseball game.
Last weekend's World Series reboot saw the Los Angeles Dodgers hosting the New York Yankees, and the ratings were astronomical. Double-digit increases over 2024 broadcasts, quite a feat, considering the fierce competition from other sports telecasts.
The series kicked off with a bang on Friday, as Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani exchanged monstrous homers in the initial inning.
READ: *Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge Clash Homers in the First Inning of Dodgers-Yankees World Series Rematch*
On Saturday, Judge slugged two more homers, providing the only runs for the Yankees in an embarrassing 18-2 rout by the Dodgers. Even in this blowout, ratings on Fox Sports were massive. According to the Fox Sports PR account, the game draw a staggering 2.2 million viewers, a whopping 16% increase year-over-year.
When the Yankees stumble, America rejoices.
LOS ANGELES - Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers smirked at his score at third during the Dodgers' 18-2 triumph over the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium on May 31, 2025. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
MLB Ratings Soaring Everywhere
Following Fox Sports' declaration, the MLB Communications account disclosed full ratings boosts across their major television comrades. They're all on the rise. Dramatically.
TBS is up by 16%, ESPN by 22%, Fox by 10%, MLB Network Showcase games are up by 13%, broadcasts in Japan are up by 22%, and the league's subscription streaming service is up a mind-boggling 27%.
With these figures, it seems like a baffling decision for ESPN to abandon baseball in favor of the rapidly sinking NBA, doesn't it?
This growth is a triumph for baseball, and further confirms that the league's new policies have yielded results. Game lengths have decreased by 20 to 30 minutes on average, and more critically, the matches feel faster[1][3]. The intrigue in the sport has surged together with the appearance of big names on the brink of historic achievements.
Judge and Ohtani lead the charge, but freshbloods like Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson, Paul Skenes, Jackson Merrill, James Wood, and Pete Crow-Armstrong are creating buzz and stirring up exciting matchups throughout the game[1].
PLUS, with the Yankees losing the World Series due to a series of humiliating defensive meltdowns, then losing by a landslide on national TV, there's plenty to celebrate.
Enrichment Data:Major League Baseball (MLB) is experiencing a ratings upsurge in 2025, despite earlier forecasts of challenges. This growth can be mainly attributed to several significant factors: new rule changes have injected dynamism into the game, boosting fan engagement and interest[1][3]. Secondly, star power has played a pivotal role, with figures such as Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge casting a spell on viewers[3].
Thirdly, an effective broadcasting strategy has paid off, with MLB notching significant gains across various television partners, including FOX (+10%), ESPN (+22%), and TBS (+16%), featuring a surge in the 18-34 demographic - a key group MLB has historically struggled to retain[1].
Lastly, the streaming and international coverage has also contributed to the surge. MLB.TV has witnessed a 27% rise in viewers, and games in Japan have experienced significant increments, expanding MLB's worldwide scope and allure[2][3].
However, there seems to be confusion about ESPN's departure from the baseball scene, as ESPN is still actively broadcasting MLB games and has seen a sizable increase in viewership[1][3]. The combination of these factors has helped MLB achieve impressive viewership growth across all platforms.
- Despite ESPN's surprising decision to broadcast less baseball, the Major League Baseball (MLB) continues to thrive, with ratings soaring on networks like TBS (up by 16%), Fox (up by 10%), and MLB Network Showcase games (up by 13%).
- The star power of players like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, along with new rule changes and an effective broadcasting strategy, have contributed to the MLB's ratings surge, making it a baffling decision for ESPN to abandon baseball in favor of the NBA.
