MLB’s Home Run Derby drew its lowest audience since 2003, sources tell SBJ, with Netflix drawing just 5.3 million viewers for its debut with the tentpole event. That figure back in 2003 was 5.2 million on ESPN. Netflix would be down around 7% from the 5.7 million ESPN/ESPN2 drew in its final year with the event last year, and down 4% from 5.5 million two years ago.
Sources noted that Netflix drew in a younger audience, as expected, but lost viewers in some older demos. That reflects the figures it saw on Opening Night as well. Exact figures on those demos were not available at press time.
Netflix drew 3 million viewers for its debut MLB effort featuring the Giants and Yankees back in late March, and that was the youngest Opening Day audience since the delayed start to the pandemic season in July 2020. Excluding that pandemic year, it would have been the youngest audience for an MLB opener in a decade. The audience among adults 18-49 was the best for Opening Day since 2017.
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