Overview
- Nationally exclusive MLB telecasts are averaging 2.28 million viewers, up 44% year over year for the strongest start since 2017.
- Early reviews tie the lift to the new TV mix, with Nielsen’s updated methods seen as a minor factor compared with actual audience growth.
- Network milestones include Opening Day records on Netflix and NBC, with Fox’s Saturday windows up about 40% this season.
- In-person interest is rising too, as average attendance has reached 28,141 per game through midweek, about 2.9% higher than last year.
- Momentum faces a test later this year, since the league’s labor deal expires in December and a 2027 work stoppage has become a concern.