Calls Mount Against Fox for Mets-Dodgers Playoff Series Decision

The National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets is proving to be must-watch TV.

While the Dodgers blew out the Mets 9-0 in Game 1, the matchup drew an average of 8.26 million viewers, making it the most-watched LCS game since on any network since 2009.

Despite competing with "Sunday Night Football," 42% of all TVs in use during Game 1 were tuned in to Fox.

After New York tied the series with a 7-3 in Game 2, the playoff series then moved to Citi Field in New York, where the Dodgers destroyed the Mets 8-0, boosted by Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani's three-run homer in the eighth inning.

However, fans looking to watch Game 3 of the playoff series needed to catch the game on FS1 because Fox aired a new episode of "The Masked Singer," a decision which left fans and analysts livid.

Sports Illustrated's Jimmy Traina posted on Oct. 16, "I’m sorry, but the NLCS airing on FS1 while the Masked F****** Singer airs on Fox is such an embarrassment for MLB."

While Traina's posted racked up over 58,000 likes, numerous users online guessed that the competition reality series drew more viewers. One man commented , "Pretty wild. It shows how far baseball has fallen in the ratings pecking order."

Another person wrote , "It’s also an embarrassment for the audience, who apparently would rather watch vapid and contrived game shows." However Traina pointed out on Oct. 17 that "The Masked Singer" drew about 4 million less viewers than the Mets-Dodgers game.

Fox came under fire again during Game 4. One fan posted , "Mets - Dodgers being on FS1 while The Masked Singer and Hell’s Kitchen play on Fox is WILD."

Amid the national concern that baseball is losing cultural relevance, Fox's decision not to disrupt regular programming for the 2024 MLB playoffs was certainly a choice.

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