Major League Baseball Swings Into Action (For Now)

Key details for shortened Major League Baseball season:
1) 60 game regular season down 63% from 162
2) Each game has the same impact as 2.7 during a typical season

Video #1: Here’s a look at the virtual fans Fox is using for the Cubs-Brewers game at Wrigley Field. 

Worth your time: This CNN post has several fantastic photos showing how different this season already is.

Reminder: Professional baseball has been around 150+ years and played a season during the 1918 Spanish Flu.  Babe Ruth fell ill during the season, and many believe the had contracted the virus.

Big question: How big will viewership be this season?

The bull case for viewership: MLB Opening Night posted its largest viewership number in more than a decade.

Total viewers for MLB Opening Night (YoY growth) according to Sports Media Watch:
1) 2019 (BOS-SEA) – 1.2M
2) 2020 (NYY-WSH) – 4.0M (↑ 237%)

The bear case for viewership:  Sunday Night Baseball was down 25% vs. last year.

Video #2: ESPN sees largest ever audience for MLB opening night

More #1: Baseball is back. And it looks a lot different

More #2: The pandemic is accelerating the video gamification of sports

More #3: Slimmed-Down Baseball on TV Has Broadcast Workers Worried

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