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Dodgers–Braves opens Division Series with more than 5 million viewers
The NLDS opener led the reported Division Series audiences, while Yankees–Rays Game 2 drew 4.3 million. Published Dodgers figures differ.
Dodgers–Braves Game 1 drew more than 5 million viewers on FOX on Oct. 3, leading the reported opening Division Series audiences, though two published reports give different totals.
Sports Media Watch reported 5.37 million viewers. Front Office Sports reported 5.48 million while citing FOX Sports. Both identified it as the most-watched Division Series Game 1 since Yankees–Red Sox in 2018. The available reports do not establish why the figures differ.
The Division Series averaged 3.27 million viewers through Monday, Oct. 5, down 3% from the same stage last year, Awful Announcing reported. That overall average describes the games included at that cutoff, rather than the audience for one matchup.
Yankees–Rays Game 2 averaged 4.3 million viewers on Oct. 5, according to Sports Media Watch, up 55% from the comparable Game 2 last year. The series opened with 3.51 million on TBS and truTV.
Dodgers–Braves Game 2 averaged 3.33 million on FS1. Padres–Brewers drew 2.50 million for Game 1 and 2.14 million for Game 2. White Sox–Guardians opened with 2.1 million before reaching 2.9 million for Game 2.
The Division Series followed NBC and Peacock's Yankees–Red Sox Wild Card sweep, which averaged 7.4 million. Sports Media Watch reported that audiences for four other Wild Card games on Peacock and NBCSN had not been publicly released.
Division Series opening games
Oct. 3–5, 2026 · eight reported broadcasts
| Rank | Event / program | Avg. viewers | Aired / period | Network / platform | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Braves–Dodgers, NLDS G1
Audience scopeUNRESOLVED: SMW 5.37M; FOS quoting FOX 5.48M. Neither explains the discrepancy. The ordering is unchanged under either figure. |
5.37M 5.48M† |
Oct. 3 | FOX | SMW / FOS |
| 2 | Yankees–Rays, ALDS G2
Audience scopeReported Game 2 audience. |
4.3M | Oct. 5 | TBS / truTV | SMW |
| 3 | Yankees–Rays, ALDS G1
Audience scopeCombined TV channels in SMW report; separate streaming addition not established. |
3.51M | Oct. 3 | TBS / truTV | SMW |
| 4 | Braves–Dodgers, NLDS G2
Audience scopeNielsen precise 3.334M; SMW reports rounded 3.33M. |
3.334M | Oct. 4 | FS1 | Nielsen |
| 5 | White Sox–Guardians, ALDS G2
Audience scopeReported Game 2 audience. |
2.9M | Oct. 5 | TBS / truTV | SMW |
| 6 | Padres–Brewers, NLDS G1 | 2.5M | Oct. 3 | FS1 | SMW |
| 7 | Padres–Brewers, NLDS G2 | 2.14M | Oct. 4 | FS1 | SMW |
| 8 | White Sox–Guardians, ALDS G1
Audience scopeCombined TV channels in SMW report; separate streaming addition not established. |
2.1M | Oct. 3 | TBS / truTV | SMW |
