Home Run Derby ratings crash on Netflix, sets 20-plus-year low as questions surface about program quality
The Home Run Derby drew just 5.3 million viewers on Netflix on Monday, marking the event's lowest audience since 2003.The two-decade low is somewhat unusual, given that most live sporting events have posted notable year-over-year viewership gains in recent years.Still, the slumpish rating likely has more to do with Netflix than the event itself. Despite changing viewing habits, live sports continue to perform better on traditional television than on streaming platforms.NETFLIX CO-CEO CLARIFIES STREAMING GIANT’S LIVE SPORTS STRATEGY AMID NFL LINEUP EXPANSION, FEDERAL SCRUTINYThe drop also isn't particularly alarming.
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The Home Run Derby drew just 5.3 million viewers on Netflix on Monday, marking the event's lowest audience since 2003.The two-decade low is somewhat unusual, given that most live sporting events have posted notable year-over-year viewership gains in recent years.Still, the slumpish rating likely has more to do with Netflix than the event itself. Despite changing viewing habits, live sports continue to perform better on traditional television than on streaming platforms.NETFLIX CO-CEO CLARIFIES STREAMING GIANT’S LIVE SPORTS STRATEGY AMID NFL LINEUP EXPANSION, FEDERAL SCRUTINYThe drop also isn't particularly alarming. The Home Run Derby averaged 5.73 million viewers on ESPN in 2025 and 5.45 million in 2024, meaning Netflix's first broadcast wasn't far off the event's recent baseline.The hope for major sports leagues is that the gap between streaming and linear television will continue to narrow and that, eventually, a marquee event will draw a larger audience on a streaming platform than on a traditional network.Right now, the strongest model appears to be simulcasting games across both television and streaming, whether it's NBC/Peacock, ESPN/ESPN Unlimited, or Fox/Fox One.TV NETWORKS HAVE MORE LEVERAGE OVER THE NFL AND STREAMERS THAN THE LEAGUE REALIZESFurther, Netflix's sports coverage remains underwhelming.Netflix's foray into live sports has drawn widespread criticism for often feeling more like an infomercial for the company's entertainment slate than a straightforward sports broadcast.The streamer continues to feature celebrities and influencers prominently during its coverage, including Will Ferrell throughout Monday's Home Run Derby.Even longtime sports radio host Dan Patrick criticized Netflix's approach on Monday."I'd like to think I'm at least socially aware of sporting events, but I had no idea," Patrick said. "And then all of a sudden, it's like Netflix, and then you had Will Ferrell show up, you had Bonds and Pujols, and I'm like, OK.
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- What's the story?
- The Home Run Derby drew just 5.3 million viewers on Netflix on Monday, marking the event's lowest audience since 2003.The two-decade low is somewhat unusual, given that most live sporting events have posted notable year-over-year viewership gains in recent years.Still, the slumpish rating likely has more to do with Netflix than the event itself. Despite changing viewing habits, live sports continue to perform better on traditional television than on streaming platforms.NETFLIX CO-CEO CLARIFIES STREAMING GIANT’S LIVE SPORTS STRATEGY AMID NFL LINEUP EXPANSION, FEDERAL SCRUTINYThe drop also isn't particularly alarming.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 10m ago.
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Home Run Derby ratings crash on Netflix, sets 20-plus-year low as questions surface about program quality
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