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Dodgers-Brewers NLCS opener draws largest Game 1 audience since 2005

The opening matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series attracted an average audience of 10.72 million viewers across Fox and Fox Deportes, marking the highest-rated first game of an LCS since 2005 and the most-watched LCS contest of any round since 2010. This surge in viewership was bolstered by a preceding NFL doubleheader on Fox, which drew 26.70 million viewers, with the baseball game peaking at 12.41 million during its first quarter.

Local ratings indicated strong engagement in both markets, with the game achieving a 12.7 rating and 41 share in Los Angeles and a 28.7 rating and 62 share in Milwaukee. Although Nielsen's updated measurement standards introduced in September 2025 typically increase reported live-sports figures by 10% to 15%, the 2024 Mets-Dodgers opener averaged only 8.48 million viewers, suggesting the current numbers reflect genuine growth beyond methodological adjustments.

Future games in the series are expected to see lower audiences as they will air exclusively on Fox Sports 1, except for a potential Game 7 which would return to the Fox broadcast network.

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