The World Series this year attracted a record 12.9 million viewers in Japan, thanks to the first appearance of Japanese players Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. This made it the most-watched Fall Classic in the history of the nation. The series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees had an average of 28.7 million viewers in both Japan and the United States combined.
In Japan, the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory in Game 2 was particularly popular, with an average of 15.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched postseason game in the country. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who started as the pitcher for the Dodgers in that game, performed exceptionally well by allowing only one run and one hit in 6 1/3 innings.
Due to the time zone difference, the games started early in the morning in Japan. Despite this, the viewership remained high and the games were broadcasted through popular channels like Fuji TV, NHK BS, and J Sports.
Apart from Japan and the United States, the World Series also saw record viewership in countries like Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Taiwan. In the U.S., the World Series had an average of 15.8 million viewers on Fox, Fox Deportes, and streaming platforms. This marked the best performance since 2017, with a 67% increase from the previous year.
In terms of market ratings, Los Angeles had the highest rating with an 18.9 and 53 share, followed by San Diego at 12.4 and 41, and New York at 12.4 and 41. The rating indicates the percentage of television households tuned in, while the share represents the percentage of the audience watching at that time.
Overall, Fox and FS1 averaged 7.49 million viewers for the postseason, showing a 42% increase from the previous year and the best average in seven years. The World Series of 2024 has truly been a success in terms of viewership and engagement, breaking records and captivating audiences across different countries.
