The rumors of baseball’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Yesterday, MLB issued a press release trumpeting the record-breaking popularity of baseball in 2021.
“With close games, exciting stars, surprising starts and two no-hitters to begin the 2021 season, MLB.TV is registering record streaming numbers though the first three weekends of the season. The beginning of the season marked the most-watched eighteen-day period in the twenty-season history of MLB.TV.”
MLB went on to note that this year’s viewership is up twelve percent from the first eighteen days of 2020, and 43 percent from the same time period in 2019.
So far in 2021, MLB has recorded the seven most-watched days ever and eight of the top ten most-watched days on MLB.TV.
Even more amazing, opening day 2021 was the most-watched opening day ever.
ESPN is seeing the same upsurge, with a 33 percent increase in Sunday Night Baseball viewership.
Baseball is healthy and thriving.
Just in time for the labor shutdown next year.
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TODAY’S GAME: