Sports and Wellness

Dodgers vs. Yankees Rating Success

By Reese Morrow

Los Angeles Times

The 2024 World Series was characterized by a walk-off grand slam, record-breaking home runs, and the rekindled Dodgers-Yankees rivalry, to name a few. Major League Baseball experienced a sharp increase in viewership following years of dwindling numbers, ushering in a new era for the American pastime. 

With an average of 15.8 million viewers each game, the matchup between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers—two dominant teams from the biggest U.S. television markets—attracted an incredible 74% more viewers than the Texas-Arizona World Series from the previous year. The fact that this was the most-watched Fall Classic since 2017 is evidence of how popular the sport’s biggest rivalry has remained. The attraction was further enhanced by the appearance of well-known athletes like Freddie Freeman, Aaron Judge, and Shohei Ohtani. While Freeman’s steady power at the plate created history by hitting home runs in six straight Series games, Ohtani’s victory marked his first World Series.

 The five-game series produced exciting moments and saw a steady increase in viewership:

Game 1: Freeman’s walk-off grand homer in extra innings drew in 15.2 million viewers, the most since 2017.

Game 4: With the Yankees avoiding elimination and no football opposition, 16.3 million people watched, reaching a peak of 18.2 million.

Game 5: The pivotal matchup drew an enormous average crowd of 18.6 million, reaching a record of 21 million in the last innings as the Dodgers finished their comeback.

A Worldwide Occurrence

The World Series attracted interest from well beyond the boundaries of the United States. The first two games drew an average of 15.2 million viewers in Japan, where games were shown at 9 a.m., topping the U.S. figures. The enthusiasm was increased by the appearance of Japanese celebrities Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Ohtani. Japan accounted for 21 million page visits, which was more than the United States.

 Additionally, the 2024 World Series made progress with younger audiences, as the 18–34 age group nearly doubled (+93%) the previous year’s viewing. During the first two games alone, MLB’s platforms generated 25 million engagements (+225%) and 345 million views (+229%), causing social media buzz to soar.

The 2024 World Series was a huge success for Major League Baseball, including historic matchups, record-breaking moments, and heightened international attention. This year’s Fall Classic has raised the bar for what baseball can do both on and off the field, as the Dodgers and Yankees continue to enthrall fans across the globe.

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