Yankees-Red Sox had MLB’s best first-round Game 1 viewership in 20 years

Game 1 of the wild-card series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox averaged 7.3 million viewers across NBC and Peacock. The broadcast marked the most-watched Game 1 among wild-card and division series games in 20 years, peaking at 8.5 million viewers during the Yankees' 9-0 victory on Tuesday.

The matchup was part of a broader ratings surge as NBC returned to MLB playoff broadcasting for the first time in 25 years. The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves also drew a record 3.9 million viewers for an afternoon wild-card opener, reflecting strong overall viewership and attendance growth across Major League Baseball.