Home Run Derby Sees Lowest Ratings in Years
This year’s Home Run Derby, which was streamed on Netflix, has experienced a notable decline in viewership. Reports indicate that it attracted just 5.3 million viewers, marking the lowest total since 2003, which had 5.2 million viewers.
In comparison, last year’s derby, featuring American League MVP runner-up Cal Lowry, garnered 5.7 million viewers on ESPN. Additionally, the presentation of this year’s event faced criticism, with some fans expressing disappointment. One viewer described it as “one of the worst Home Run Derby broadcasts I’ve ever seen,” particularly criticizing Will Ferrell’s involvement.
According to the Sports Business Journal, despite challenges, Netflix has shown potential in appealing to younger audiences, even as it sees a decline among older viewers. For instance, the platform attracted 3 million viewers for its MLB debut in late March, featuring the Giants and Yankees, which was noted as the youngest opening day audience since the pandemic shifted the start of the season in July 2020. Excluding that unusual year, it would have been the youngest crowd for an MLB Opening Day game in a decade, with adult attendance—ages 18 to 49—reaching its highest levels since 2017.
As reported by Breitbart News, Netflix is contemplating live television options to maintain viewer interest amidst a drop in engagement with its original content. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlighted that Netflix might soon introduce live channels focusing on various topics or genres. This model has already been adopted by other services like Peacock and Paramount+, which offer “live channels that play random episodes” of shows.
Furthermore, reports suggest that Netflix is considering creating bundles with additional streaming services that users could subscribe to through its platform. It was mentioned that Netflix plans to introduce content from sources such as Condé Nast, BuzzFeed, and even video podcasts from Vox Media.
This shift comes on the heels of Netflix’s viewership decline, which dipped by 7.8% in April, a level last seen in May 2025. The platform is expected to release updated viewership statistics soon.
