Breaking: World Series Game 3 Ends at 2:50 AM ET, Watched by 8.5 Million; Freddie Freeman’s Walk-Off Home Run Caps Marathon Game
In an unprecedented display of sports endurance, the World Series Game 3 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays finally concluded at 2:50 AM ET on Monday, with the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman launching a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 18th inning. Remarkably, 8.5 million viewers in the United States were still tuned in to witness Freeman’s heroic effort, prolonging their baseball excitement for over six and a half hours. The game, which peaked with 13.1 million viewers during the ninth inning, bucked a trend of declining World Series viewership due to a Canadian team’s participation. Despite facing stiff competition from Monday Night Football – where the Washington Commanders and Kansas City Chiefs drew 17.6 million viewers – Game 3 still managed to attract an average viewership of 11.4 million. Stay tuned for more updates on the ongoing World Series.
Title: World Series Viewership Marathons, Media Movers, and Notable Moments
Summary: Dive into the latest sports news, from historic World Series viewership to media shifts and entertaining broadcasts.
World Series Midnight Magic Keeps Viewers Glued
World Series Game 3 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays broke records for length and viewership. The marathon game, which ended at 3:30 AM ET, had an average viewership of 11.4 million and peaked at 13.1 million during the ninth inning (11:30 – 11:45 PM ET). Remarkably, 8.5 million viewers were still tuning in when Dodgers’ superstar Freddie Freeman hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the 18th inning.
“Eight million people were still watching Game 3 of the World Series when Freddie Freeman walked it off at 2:45am ET… More people were watching when Freeman ended it than were watching at first pitch.” – Michael Mulvihill, NFL Media
Did you know? This was the fourth least-watched Game 3 in the U.S. since 2012, but it’s important to note that one team wasn’t from the U.S., which typically drives higher viewership. Despite this, the late-night drama was a ratings success.
Media Movers: ESPN’s NFL and NBA Coverage Dominates
ESPN continues its winning streak with massive viewership for its NFL and NBA coverage:
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Monday Night Football‘s Commanders-Chiefs game drew 17.6 million viewers, outpacing World Series Game 3.
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Inside the NBA debuted on ESPN with impressive viewership, capitalizing on the show’s popularity and Shaq, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith’s engaging commentary.
ESPN’s SEC football coverage has also been a ratings juggernaut, while USC football struggles to gain national appeal.
Joe Davis in the Eye of the Storm
Dodgers’ play-by-play announcer Joe Davis has found himself in a tough spot, calling the World Series while having a rooting interest. Fans have debated whether his calls favor the Dodgers, and while Davis is professional, the situation is far from ideal.
“It hasn’t helped Davis that his calls for the Dodgers sound a tad more enthusiastic than his calls for the Blue Jays.” – Source
Pro tip: Announcers calling games for their teams walk a fine line between enthusiasm and perceived bias. transparency and professionalism are key.
Vintage ‘Inside the NBA’ Returns
Wednesday’s episode of Inside the NBA treated viewers to a classic moment when Kenny Smith compared Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves to Jeremy Lin. The nostalgic reference and Smith’s delivery brought a smile to fans’ faces.
“The Inside the NBA crew reacts to Austin Reaves’ game-winner” – ESPN NBA on Twitter
Celts’ Announcer Serves Up a Hair Transplant Joke
Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer Drew Carter cracked a surprising joke during a game last night, referencing Jaylen Brown’s recent hair transplant. The light-hearted moment took fans by surprise and provided some comic relief.
“Celtics announcer Drew Carter after Jaylen Brown made a layup: ‘Went flying to the basket like he’ll be flying to Turkey at some point this season.'” – jb on Twitter
Reader question: What’s the best unexpected comedy moment you’ve heard in a sports broadcast?
A touching moment on the ‘Jimmy Nantz Podcast’
ESPN’s Kevin Clark recently lost his father but decided to go ahead with a scheduled podcast taping with Jim Nantz. Nantz prepared for the taping by researching Clark’s dad and sharing personal anecdotes about his own father’s passing, resulting in a poignant and impactful exchange.
“Jim Nantz on what Arnold Palmer told him about his dad is one of the most impactful things I’ve ever heard.” – Kevin Clark on Twitter
Happy Birthday, Henry Winkler!
In celebration of Henry Winkler’s 80th birthday, we’re highlighting the actor who popularized the phrase “jump the shark” in an interview with the man responsible for making it mainstream.
FAQs
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Q: Why were World Series Game 3 viewership numbers down compared to previous years?
A: Part of the reason could be that one team is based in Canada, whereas typically both teams are from the U.S. -
Q: How has ESPN’s NFL and NBA coverage been performing?
A: ESPN’s NFL and NBA coverage has been drawing massive viewership, with Monday Night Football and Inside the NBA both performing exceptionally well. -
Q: What challenges has Joe Davis faced calling the World Series for the Dodgers?
A: Davis has faced criticisms about potential bias in his calls, given his rooting interest in the Dodgers. Maintaining professionalism and transparency has been key for him.