MLB Surpasses NFL: World Series Outshines ‘Monday Night Football’ with Over 13 Million Viewers

The 2024 World Series is making headlines as it captures more viewers than the NFL’s Monday Night Football, a notable shift in the landscape of American sports viewership. Game 3 of the World Series, featuring a showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, achieved an impressive average of 13.64 million viewers, highlighting Major League Baseball’s resurgence in popularity.

Viewership Numbers

According to reports, the World Series game aired on multiple platforms, including Fox, Fox Deportes, and various streaming services, which collectively drew in an average of 13.64 million viewers. In comparison, the Monday Night Football matchup between the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged slightly lower at 13.34 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and streaming services.

Overall Viewership Including Streaming and Spanish-Language

The rise in the World Series viewership numbers becomes even more pronounced when considering the inclusion of streaming and Spanish-language broadcasts. This total reached 13.64 million viewers, just outpacing the NFL’s figures, which stood at 13.4 million.

Ratings Comparison

In terms of Nielsen ratings, the World Series Game 3 recorded a rating of 6.6, while Monday Night Football boasted a higher rating of 7.3 on an English-language basis. However, these ratings do not account for the viewership on all platforms, where the World Series emerged as the clear leader.

Historical Context

This audience shift marks a significant turnaround from the previous year, when Monday Night Football nearly doubled the viewership of the World Series. The 2024 season has thus far showcased a 57% increase in ratings and a remarkable 63% increase in viewership for the World Series compared to the prior year. Conversely, Monday Night Football has experienced a decline, witnessing a 14% drop in ratings and a 12% decrease in overall viewership.

Regional Viewership

Regionally, Game 3 of the World Series garnered significant attention, particularly in Los Angeles, where it achieved a staggering rating of 20.0 with a 52 share. In New York, the game also performed admirably, pulling in an 11.6 rating with a 29 share.

Impact on Both Events

The direct competition between these two major sporting events has led to decreased viewership overall. Monday Night Football recorded its lowest viewership numbers on ABC and ESPN amidst this head-to-head matchup. Meanwhile, despite facing lower numbers than expected, the World Series Game 3 stands out as one of the most-watched games in recent years, signaling a potential resurgence for baseball’s championship series.

As MLB capitalizes on this newfound popularity, the leagues will likely continue to assess their standings and viewership strategies moving forward. With trends shifting, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if this sentiment holds true throughout the remainder of the sports year.