Friday, June 5, 2026

MLB All-Star Game Ratings Slump Continues

  • The MLB ASG has set a low viewership in five of the game’s last seven editions.
  • It remains the most-watched All-Star event in sports, beating the NBA and NFL.
The MLB ASG has set a low viewership in five of the game’s last seven editions.
Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports

Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game averaged a 3.9 Nielsen rating and 7.01 million viewers on FOX, slumping to record-low viewership for the Midsummer Classic.

The game reached 7.09 million viewers across all FOX platforms and was down 7% from the previous MLB ASG ratings low set last year, according to SportsMediaWatch. Viewership for the MLB All-Star Game has now set a new low in five of the past seven years the game was played (2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023).

In 2014, the MLB All-Star Game averaged a 7.0 Nielsen rating 11.34 million viewers. This year’s game topped out at 7.57 million peak viewers, still serving as the most-watched All-Star event in sports. Disney’s coverage of the NFL Pro Bowls Games in January mustered 6.28 million viewers, while February’s NBA All-Star Game on TNT and TBS had 4.59M viewers.

Host city Seattle was Fox’s leading market for MLB ASG viewership, followed by Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia to round out the top five.

Both of MLB’s marquee All-Star break events face declining viewership, as ESPN’s coverage of the Home Run Derby on Monday averaged 6.11 million viewers, its lowest total since 2018.

However, MLB’s All-Star Game and Home Run Derby still performed favorably compared to last year’s MLB Postseason games outside of the World Series. The most-watched 2022 playoff game before the World Series was Yankees-Astros Game 2 in the ALCS, which averaged 5.89 million viewers on TBS.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Aaron Judge Injury Deals Major Blow to Yankees—and MLB

The Yankees megastar will miss the heart of the season.

MLB’s Long-Stalled Stadium Plans—Rays and A’s—Show Progress

The A’s and Rays both are drawing closer to getting new ballparks.

Duke-Michigan Hoops Moving to MLB Ballpark to Skirt Rights Issue

The crux of the move is due to media-rights complications.

MLB Owners Hold Firm On Salary Cap, Cite ‘Failure’ With Luxury Tax

Rising willingness by teams to pay the tax prompts a new approach.

Featured Today

Ai sports slop

How Sports Became Ground Zero for AI Slop

The category is the perfect breeding ground for AI content churn.
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group A - Germany v Luxembourg - Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - October 10, 2025 Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann
June 4, 2026

‘Weird Corners of the World’: How to Find a World Cup Coach

National associations look for a winning record—and also hope for serendipity.
June 3, 2026

The Elite High Schools Hosting World Cup Teams

Spain, Morocco, Croatia, and Switzerland chose schools as their tournament base camps.
Frances Cabral-Delaney
May 29, 2026

How Arsenal Fandom Went ‘Manic’

“People do not become Arsenal fans because it’s easy,” says Zohran Mamdani.
Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) dribbles the ball past San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) in the first half during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center.

NBA Finals Game 1 Viewership Is Highest Since 2019

Game 2 between the Knicks and Spurs is Friday.
June 5, 2026

Stanley Cup Final Viewership for Game 1 Nearly Doubles on ABC

The Vegas win was the most-watched Stanley Cup Final opener since 2019.
Apr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; ESPN analysts Richard Jefferson (left) and Tim Legler (center) and play-by-play announcer Mike Breen during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena.
June 5, 2026

ESPN’s Tim Legler: ‘I Don’t Think About Coaching Anymore’

Legler is making his NBA Finals broadcasting debut.
Sponsored

Landon Donovan: What Soccer in America Still Needs

Landon Donovan discusses the evolution of soccer in America and investing in the NWSL.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
June 4, 2026

ESPN Braces for More Layoffs

The cuts are expected to affect both talents and non-camera-facing employees.
exclusive
June 4, 2026

ESPN Evaluating AI Promos After Tony Parker Backlash

The network says it used AI for portraits of Parker and others.
June 3, 2026

Spurs-Thunder Outdraws Last Year’s NBA Finals 

The 2025 NBA Finals drew 10.27 million viewers.
June 2, 2026

NHL Set to Enter Rights Talks With ESPN, TNT As Ratings Climb

The league’s recent run of heady viewership gives it greater bargaining power.