Baseball is not only having a great time on the field, but also off it. The 2025 World Seriesconquered by the Los Angeles Dodgers after a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7, became a television phenomenon that far surpassed the NBA Finals.
The decisive seventh game of the World Series averaged 26 million viewers on the Fox, Fox Deportes and Fox Sports platforms, according to Nielsen and Adobe Analytics. In contrast, Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers reached 16.4 million viewers on ABC, a difference of 58% that confirms the dominance of the MLB in the interest of the American public.
Pending final data, it is estimated that the World Series averaged close to 15 million viewers per game, compared to 10.27 million for the NBA Finals, which recorded its second lowest average in history.
In fact, this is the second consecutive season in which baseball surpasses basketball: in 2024, the series between the Dodgers and the Yankees also surpassed the Finals between the Celtics and the Mavericks in viewership.
International impact
Beyond the United States, the international impact was notable. In Canada, approximately 18.5 million people — nearly 45% of the population — watched some or all of Game 7, according to sportsnet.ca. And in Japan, the figure of Shohei Ohtani has become an audience magnet. The Dodgers star is not only one of the biggest sports stars in the Asian country, but also an omnipresent advertising figure, the image of numerous brands that have helped expand their influence beyond the diamond. Their presence attracted millions of Japanese spectators, reinforcing the global projection of the World Series.
The appeal of the new baseball, with the shot clock, faster games and a generation of young stars, has revitalized interest in MLB. This year’s Wild Card Series averaged 4.6 million viewers, a 64% increase over 2024 and the best record since the current format was implemented in 2022.
The rise of the MLB, driven by the international popularity of figures like Ohtani, consolidates baseball as the second most followed sport in the United States, behind American football. And apparently, the Dodgers and their Japanese star don’t just win on the field: they also conquer the world’s screens.
