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Netflix Steps Up to the Plate: MLB Opening Night on Netflix Scores 3 Million US Viewers

MLB Opening Night
MLB Opening Night Game: Yankees vs. Giants, Live on Netflix, Oracle Park, San Francisco. Photo by Matt Sayles / Netflix

Entertainment

01 April 2026
GlobalUnited States

  • Play ball! The 2026 MLB season debuted on Netflix last Wednesday, March 25, with an estimated average minute audience (AMA) of 3M US viewers (Live+SD)1 tuning into the game, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. 

  • Some other US highlights:

    • Highest primetime Opening Day viewership among P18–49 (1.38M)* since 2017.

    • Highest primetime Opening Day among P18–34 (636K)* since 2017.

    • The game represents the youngest MLB Opening Day audience in a decade.1

  • The campaign has generated 200M owned global social impressions and 6M engagements to date. 

  • MLB Opening Night presented by Adobe saw the New York Yankees secure a 7-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants. 

  • The game served as the opening act for Netflix’s three-event MLB slate. The action continues later this year with the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on July 13 and MLB at Field of Dreams on August 13, both streaming live only on Netflix.

1 Source: Nielsen, L+SD.  Based on Big Data + Panel. Highest primetime viewership excludes COVID-impacted 2020 NY Yankees/Washington game on ESPN, which took place in July. Nielsen National TV View, P2+ Average Minute Audience, P18-49 & P18-34 Ratings.