The 2020 World Series opener between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks was one for the record books, but not for the reasons you might expect. The game, which ended with a 4-3 Rangers victory in extra innings, was the least watched World Series opener ever recorded.
The game was broadcast on Fox, but only drew a total of 7.3 million viewers. This is a far cry from the average of 17.7 million viewers that tuned in to watch the 2019 World Series opener. It’s also a significant drop from the 10.7 million viewers who watched the 2018 World Series opener.
The low viewership numbers can be attributed to a number of factors. For one, the game was played on a Tuesday night, which is not typically a night when people are watching television. Additionally, the game was broadcast on Fox, which is not as widely available as other networks such as ESPN or NBC.
The game itself was an exciting one, with the Rangers coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win in extra innings. The game featured some great pitching performances from both teams, with Rangers starter Lance Lynn throwing seven shutout innings and Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray throwing six shutout innings.
The Rangers’ victory was their first in a World Series opener since 2011 and their first extra-inning victory in a World Series opener since 1999. The game also marked the first time in Major League Baseball history that both teams scored at least three runs in extra innings of a World Series opener.
Despite the low viewership numbers, the game was an exciting one and should be remembered for its historical significance. It’s a shame that more people weren’t able to tune in and witness this thrilling game, but hopefully more viewers will tune in for future games in this series.
