Japan’s thrilling victory over the USA to win the World Baseball Classic was the most-watched WBC game of all time in America… drawing a combined average audience of 5.2 million
In a game that featured a storybook ending that sportswriters and fans dreamed of, the final of the World Baseball Classic brought viewers in like it never did before.
The World Baseball Classic Championship game between Japan and the United States totaled an average of 5.2million viewers across all platforms on Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes, and Fox’s streaming services.
This includes 4.48m who watched live on FS1’s TV broadcast, and over 490,000 viewers on Fox Deportes.
According to the Sports Business Journal, that 4.48m viewers number was higher than all but three American League and National League Division Series games.
It was also a greater number than that of Game 5 of the 2022 National League Championship Series – where Bryce Harper gave the Philadelphia Phillies a lead that sent them to the World Series.
The WBC final – where Japan defeated the USA – drew an average of 5.2million viewers Tuesday
That number was about 69 percent higher than the 2017 edition of the championship game
Viewership peaked between 10:30-10:45 when Ohtani struck out Trout to win the game
Over 490,000 viewers on Fox Deportes combined with 4.48m viewers on Fox Sports 1
Viewership peaked between 10:30-10:45 – right around when Japan’s Shohei Ohtani faced off against his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout of Team USA.
About 6.5m viewers tuned in to watch Ohtani strike Trout out to win the game and the title for Japan – their first since 2009.
Per The Athletic, viewership of this final was 69 percent higher than the 2017 WBC championship between the United States and Puerto Rico.
That game drew an average of 3.1m viewers while on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and the MLB Network.
According to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, the WBC will be back in 2026 – but it isn’t clear when it will be taking place.