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The resurgent energy to the World Series also translates to domestic television ratings, as Game 4 of the high-profile matchup between the Yankees and Dodgers drew an average audience of 16.7 million across all Fox Sports platforms, the best showing for the Fall Classic thus far.
The figure—up by 92% from the audience in the comparable game last year—was part of a triple dose of good news for the league and Fox Sports. The figure beat the draws of 15.2 million, 13.8 million, and 13.6 million for the three prior games, respectively. It also leaves the 2024 World Series still on track to have its best final viewership since 2017. The Yankees’ 11–4 win in Game 4 on Tuesday, meanwhile, ensured a sweep would not happen.
Every additional World Series game brings tens of millions of dollars in additional advertising revenue to the network, and viewership often escalates dramatically in Games 6 and 7—accelerating the trend now seen with Game 4 viewership. Game 4 on Tuesday is also the most-watched baseball game of any type, and on any network, since Game 7 of the 2019 World Series.
The Dodgers closed out a five-game World Series win on Wednesday, dramatically prevailing in a 7-6 Game 5 win, giving the team their first full-year league championship since 1988. Los Angeles also overcame the biggest deficit of any team in a clinching World Series game.
Final event viewership is expected on Thursday. Prior to Game 5, Fox Sports president of insights and analytics Mike Mulvihill suggested in a tweet that the contest could draw an average audience of 17.5 million—which would close out the World Series on a crescendo even if a coveted sixth and seventh game didn’t materialize.
No Competition
Game 4, meanwhile, had little in the way of serious competition on Tuesday night after MLB narrowly prevailed the night before in 2024’s only sports equinox, which also included a Monday Night Football game between the Giants and Steelers.
Other broadcast and cable programming going up against the World Series was primarily made up of reality shows and early-season action in the NBA and NHL. That situation no doubt further enhanced the draw for Game 4.
