2023 World Series Hits Record Low Viewership
The 2023 MLB World Series drew the smallest average TV audience in history, averaging just 9.11 million viewers across five games on Fox. The Texas Rangers’ victory marked a significant drop from previous years, falling below the prior low of 9.95 million set in 2020. This represents a 23% decrease from the 2022 World Series, highlighting a concerning trend for MLB. While the final game attracted 11.45 million viewers, it wasn’t enough to offset the record low of 8.13 million for game three. Only the final game surpassed 10 million viewers.
Declining viewership extends beyond the World Series. The entire MLB postseason, broadcast across Fox, TBS, and ESPN, averaged 4.45 million viewers—an 8% drop from last season. Experts attribute the lower numbers to several factors, including the perceived lack of national appeal for the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks. Neither team has a large national following, potentially impacting viewer interest. This marks the ninth different MLB champion in the last ten years, a parity that, while potentially good for competitive balance, might contribute to lower viewership with less nationally recognized teams in the finals.
Fox executives acknowledge the challenges of attracting viewers with less prominent teams in the World Series. While recognizing the benefits of new teams competing for the championship, they admitted the difficulty in drawing large national audiences without traditional powerhouses. This echoes a broader league concern about maintaining viewership in a fragmented media landscape.
Four consecutive years of declining World Series viewership—all now ranking as the four least-watched on record—raise questions about the future of MLB’s television audience. The trend suggests the league needs to address the issue and explore new strategies to engage fans and boost viewership.
The decreased total television audience highlights a concerning trend for MLB. While parity in championship winners might benefit the sport’s long-term health, it presents challenges for attracting a large national audience in the short term. Attracting casual viewers remains a key challenge.
Boosting MLB’s total television audience, particularly for the World Series, is crucial for the league’s continued growth and financial success. The challenge lies in balancing competitive balance with showcasing teams with broader national appeal. The league will likely explore various strategies to address the declining viewership and ensure the sport’s future.
