MLB Viewership Rose Across FOX Networks in 2026
Regular season and All-Star Game broadcasts saw double-digit growth in total viewership compared to last year.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Baseball
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Major League Baseball saw a significant boost in television ratings during the 2026 season. Broadcasts on FOX and FS1 experienced notable increases in audience size throughout the regular season and during the All-Star Game.
Why it matters
The growth in viewership suggests a stronger public interest in the league's flagship programming. These figures provide a positive baseline as the league transitions into its high-stakes postseason schedule.
Regular season games on FOX averaged 2.35 million viewers, a 15 percent increase from the previous year, while FS1 broadcasts averaged 359,000 viewers, a 11 percent rise. Additionally, the World Baseball Classic saw a 156 percent increase to 1.3 million viewers.
The players
Major League Baseball
This is the professional baseball organization that manages the top-level league and its associated broadcast rights.
FOX
This is a major American broadcast network that holds rights to showcase national league baseball games.
FS1
This is a national sports cable channel owned by FOX that provides additional coverage for baseball games.
The details
Broadcasts were primarily concentrated on Saturdays, driving interest across the regular season schedule. The 2026 MLB All-Star Game, held at Citizens Bank Park, served as a key mid-season highlight for the network.
Timeline
July 14, 2026: The MLB All-Star Game was played at Citizens Bank Park.
October 3, 2026: Coverage of the NL Division Series begins on FOX.
October 23, 2026: The World Series broadcast begins on FOX.
Season Trajectory
The jump in ratings sets a strong momentum for the upcoming postseason, which historically captures the largest audiences of the calendar year. These metrics solidify the broadcast standing of the league heading into the crucial October matchups.
The shift in broadcast timing and popularity impacts how viewers access games throughout the remainder of the postseason. Fans can expect continued, consolidated coverage on FOX platforms as the league enters the division series phase.
The takeaway
The consistent growth in viewership highlights an engaged fan base following the sport across multiple platforms. Viewers looking to follow the playoffs should prepare for the transition to postseason-specific broadcast schedules in October.
Further reading
For more information on the current landscape of the game, visit the Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Forbes.
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