Blue Jays’ ALCS Game 7 Draws Record-Breaking Viewership on Sportsnet

Canadian baseball fans have witnessed history, both on the field and on TV.

Rogers Sports & Media smashed national baseball viewership records with the Toronto Blue Jays’ dramatic ALCS Game 7 win over the Seattle Mariners. That victory sent the team to its first World Series in 32 years and drew in a massive national audience.

With record numbers across multiple platforms, this playoff run has become one of the most-watched sports events in Canadian history. There’s a real sense that even bigger numbers could be coming as the Jays prepare to face the Los Angeles Dodgers on the sport’s biggest stage.

Breaking the Canadian Baseball Viewership Record

Sportsnet, CityTV, and Sportsnet+ combined for an incredible six million average viewers for Game 7. That figure easily beat the previous Canadian record of 5.1 million, set during the 2015 ALCS Game 6.

The jump in audience shows just how much the Blue Jays’ postseason run has captured the country’s attention.

Peak Audience Moments

The broadcast hit its highest point at 8.3 million viewers around 11 p.m. ET. Pitcher Jeff Hoffman struck out the side to lock in the team’s World Series spot, and you could almost feel the electricity through the screen.

It’s been over three decades since the Jays made it this far, so longtime fans had a lot to celebrate.

A Memorable Postgame Celebration

After the wild finish, about 2.8 million viewers stuck around for the postgame coverage. Emotions ran high, and interviews with players brought a raw, unfiltered energy.

Manager John Schneider’s excited remarks even included a bit of profanity, prompting Sportsnet to flash a rare coarse language warning on screen. It just added to the sense that something special had happened.

The Voice That Framed History

Broadcaster Dan Shulman’s call of the final out now holds a special place in Canadian sports memory. His words captured the drama and weight of the moment, giving fans a soundtrack they probably won’t forget anytime soon.

Series-Wide Audience Surge

The seven-game ALCS averaged a strong 4.4 million viewers. That’s up 19 percent from the 3.7 million average in the ALDS against the Yankees.

The Jays’ momentum and the high stakes kept drawing more people in.

National Reach

Altogether, 15.9 million Canadians tuned in for at least part of the ALCS. That’s a 38 percent jump from the previous playoff round.

It really shows how the Blue Jays stand alone as Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, and how much of the country rallies around them.

Canadian vs. U.S. Viewership

Game 1 of the ALCS came surprisingly close to U.S. viewership numbers, despite the population difference. Canada’s 4.71 million viewers were just under the 5.31 million in the U.S. for the same game.

Honestly, that kind of stat just underscores how the Jays bring Canadians together from coast to coast.

What’s Next: The World Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers are up next, and Sportsnet expects even bigger audiences as the World Series gets underway. With the storylines, star performances, and national pride all colliding, it feels like more records could fall soon.

Key Takeaways from the Record-Breaking ALCS

The Blue Jays’ success means more than just wins or losses. It’s about national excitement, those shared moments, and honestly, the return of baseball fever across Canada.

Sportsnet’s numbers really show how much the country rallies behind its team when it matters most.

• Game 7 viewership: Averaged 6 million, with a peak at 8.3 million.
• Previous record: 5.1 million (2015 ALCS Game 6).
• ALCS average: 4.4 million viewers—a 19% jump over the ALDS.
• Total reach: 15.9 million Canadians caught at least part of the ALCS.
• Postgame celebration: 2.8 million viewers stuck around.
• World Series anticipation: People expect even bigger audiences for the next round.

Dramatic plays and unforgettable broadcast moments have already made the Blue Jays’ playoff run a huge part of Canadian sports history. If you look at these ALCS numbers, it’s hard not to wonder—could the World Series draw the biggest baseball audience Canada’s ever seen?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Jays’ ALCS Game 7 win sets viewership record, Sportsnet says