SBJ Morning Buzzcast SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 20, 2026
Mar 20, 2026
A quick look at Fox's record TV ratings for the World Baseball Classic finals and why this year was a breakout for the tournament. A discussion about MLB exploring a midseason WBC and the rule questions that raises. Coverage of MLB's new agreement with Polymarket to police prediction markets. A preview of the LPGA's broadcast upgrades and its new production push.
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March Madness Still Drives Massive Participation
- ESPN's Men's Tournament Challenge drew 26.6 million brackets, showing March Madness still commands huge national engagement.
- Josh Carpenter notes even devoted sports fans in their 30s with kids often skip filling brackets, emphasizing wide cultural reach.
WBC Final Became Most Watched Game Ever
- Fox's World Baseball Classic final averaged 10.7 million viewers and peaked at 12.1 million, the WBC's highest-ever TV audience.
- The tournament averaged nearly 1.3 million viewers overall, its best mark since 2006.
MLB Weighs Moving WBC Into Regular Season
- MLB is considering moving the WBC from spring training into midseason as part of discussions on midseason tournaments.
- Commissioner Rob Manfred tied that possibility to evolving tournament formats and existing broadcast deals through 2028.