Overview

• ESPN said the wild-card round averaged 4.6 million viewers across 11 games, up 64% from 2024 and the best mark in the four-year format.
• Red Sox–Yankees Game 3 averaged 7.4 million viewers and peaked at 8.4 million, the network’s largest MLB audience since 2021.
• Viewership among fans 35 and under rose 89%, with a 108% increase among those 17 and younger, signaling strong youth gains.
• Front Office Sports reports ESPN has an agreement in principle to relinquish wild-card TV rights starting next year, with NBC expected to air the round.
• ESPN will continue postseason coverage on radio and refocus on local rights and the MLB.TV out-of-market package, after its regular-season audience rose 21% in 2025.