Venezuela's WBC title win over U.S. draws record ratings

Field Level Media
20 Mar 2026, 05:25 GMT+10

(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Venezuela's win over the United States didn't just deliver the World Baseball Classic's first new champion in a decade, it also delivered the biggest audience the tournament has ever seen.

Tuesday's title game from Miami averaged 10.78 million viewers across FOX, Fox Deportes, and streaming, setting a new event record, and peaked at 12.15 million as it tightened late.

The final number was a fitting cap to a tournament that kept raising its own bar. The championship broadcast finished 46% higher than the previous WBC record set just two days earlier, when the U.S. semifinal win over the Dominican Republic drew 7.37 million.

It wasn't just American games driving the surge, as Venezuela's semifinal win over Italy averaged 3.76 million viewers, the most-watched WBC telecast ever that didn't feature Team USA.

FOX's overall tournament audience also increased, averaging 1.29 million viewers across FOX, FS1 and FS2. This marked a 156% rise from the 2023 WBC, helped by a record 78 MLB All-Stars participating and a noticeably higher level of intensity from players who treated the tournament more like a serious championship than an exhibition.

--Field Level Media

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Illinois Intelligencer.

More Information

North America

Section

Japan PM flags global security concerns, backs US President Trump's role in peace efforts

Washington DC [US], March 20 (ANI): Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday (local time) raised concerns over the deteriorating...

US President Donald Trump says Pentagon's $200B funding request a 'small price to pay'

Washington DC [US], March 20 (ANI): United States President Donald Trump said his administration may seek about USD 200 billion in...

US envoy Gor meets with Sri Lankan President in Colombo to discuss bilateral ties, Middle East Conflict

Colombo [Sri Lanka], March 20 (ANI): Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said he met US envoy Sergio Gor in Colombo to discuss...

Iran women's football team receives grand welcome in Tehran

Tehran [Iran], March 20 (ANI): Iranian authorities accorded a hero's welcome to the national women's football team upon their return...

Venezuela's WBC title win over U.S. draws record ratings

(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) Venezuela's win over the United States didn't just deliver the World Baseball Classic's...

Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews (MCL) undergoes surgery

(Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images) Toronto Maple Leafs star captain Auston Matthews underwent surgery to repair the...

International

Section