The recent World Series, featuring the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers, proved to be a costly affair for FOX and its owner Rupert Murdoch, resulting in a staggering loss of approximately $150 million. The series concluded abruptly in Game 5, denying FOX the anticipated revenue from additional games, especially after the Dodgers’ impressive comeback secured their championship.
A One-Sided Series
The World Series matchup had high expectations, but it turned out to be largely one-sided. The Yankees were on the brink of being swept, managing only a consolation win in Game 4. On Wednesday, the Yankees initially led 5-0 in Game 5, raising hopes for a Game 6. However, the Dodgers staged a remarkable comeback, ultimately winning the game 7-6 and sealing the series victory.
Financial Implications for FOX
The abrupt end of the series cost FOX a significant amount of money. The network was set to increase its advertising rates for the final two games, which would have generated substantial revenue. Industry analysts noted that extending the series to Game 6 could have guaranteed FOX an additional $50 million, with potential earnings exceeding $150 million if a Game 7 had been played.
Ad rates for this year’s World Series ranged between $465,000 and $520,000 for a 30-second commercial. For the first five games, FOX generated about $44.3 million in advertising revenue per broadcast, but projections indicated a 50% increase in prices for the last two games—an opportunity lost due to the Dodgers clinching the title early.
Competing Ratings
Despite the disappointing outcome for FOX, the network excelled in viewership throughout the World Series. Notably, Game 3 outperformed ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” attracting an impressive 13.64 million viewers, compared to 13.4 million for the Steelers vs. Giants matchup. This marked FOX’s highest-rated prime-time telecast on a Monday since the 2013 World Series.
Global Interest in the Dodgers
The Dodgers’ victory sparked considerable interest not just in the U.S. but also internationally, particularly in Japan. Each World Series game drew an average of over 15 million viewers in Japan, thanks in part to the presence of two star players, Shohei Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani’s signing had previously generated excitement among Japanese fans, and his first season concluded with a championship win.
Teammate Freddie Freeman shared Ohtani’s enthusiasm for the upcoming seasons, stating, “In his first year, he won a championship. He’s like, ‘This is easy. We’re just gonna do it again nine more times.'”
