Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

2026 World Baseball Classic Becomes the Most-Watched Program Ever on Netflix in Japan and the Biggest Global Baseball Streaming Event Ever

25/03/2026

Back to All News

2026 World Baseball Classic Becomes the Most-Watched Program Ever on Netflix in Japan and the Biggest Global Baseball Streaming Event Ever

Entertainment

25 March 2026

GlobalJapan

Link copied to clipboard

Paving a new way forward for live sports viewing

The 2026 World Baseball Classic , for which Netflix held exclusive streaming rights in Japan, has set a historic record. The live stream of the Japan vs. Australia game is now the most-watched title ever on Netflix in Japan1 - surpassing every series, film, anime, and other sports program on the service.

Netflix's exclusive streaming of the global baseball tournament in Japan this year delivered the largest-ever streaming audience across all platforms worldwide and marked the most streamed baseball game ever.

This year's tournament saw widespread adoption of Netflix's uniquely flexible viewing styles - such as watching on smartphones and other mobile devices, catching up via on-demand replays, and expanding viewing beyond Japan's games to marquee matchups between other countries. It also introduced new forms of coverage using cutting-edge technologies, like volumetric video, dirt cameras, indoor drones, and Statcast, as well as pre-game and post-game shows produced right on the field. These innovations resonated strongly with a broad audience - particularly viewers under 35 and women - and, combined with the buzz on social media, helped establish a new sports-viewing culture across Japan: enjoying the games anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.

Kaata Sakamoto, who oversees Japan Content at Netflix, said:

"This tournament marked Netflixs successful entry into live sports streaming in Japan. I deeply admire the intense emotion and passionate drama both on and off the field. This major undertaking succeeded thanks to the dedicated staff, stakeholders, and over 100 partner companies and municipalities. We will leverage these results and learnings to continue delivering unique live experiences on Netflix."Viewers2In Japan, World Baseball Classic games on Netflix3 reached a total of 31.4M viewers. This figure includes live streams of all 47 games. The most-watched game, Japan vs. Australia, drew 17.9M viewers in Japan.

Throughout the tournament, 55% watched at least one non-Japan game4. The top three Japan games were Japan vs. Australia (17.9M), Japan vs. Korea (17.86M), and Japan vs. Venezuela (17.26M). For non-Japan matchups, the top three were United States vs. Venezuela, Australia vs. Korea, and United States vs. Canada.

For many in Japan, Samurai Japan was the entry point, and from there, they went on to explore teams from all 20 participating countries and regions, resulting in highly diverse viewing patterns.

Audience Profile (By Age and Gender)5An analysis combining TV viewing data from Video Research Ltd. with Netflix viewing data shows:

Viewers under 35 accounted for more than 30% of total viewership, with those aged 19 and under making up 14.2%.

48% of viewing came from female audiences aged 20 and over.

Netflix's coverage of the World Baseball Classic demonstrated a broad and diverse audience reaching a significant group of younger and female viewers.

Devices and Viewing StylesViewing took place on a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, and connected TVs (such as smart TVs and streaming devices). Around 85% of viewers watched the games on television, while around 38% watched on smartphones or tablets. On average, each viewer used more than one device, indicating that people enjoyed the WBC in many everyday situations - during commutes to work or school, while out and about, and in their own living rooms. Netflix's flexible viewing experience allowed many fans to enjoy the games in ways that fit their lifestyles.

The average viewing time of World Baseball Classic per game per Netflix account was 147 minutes (for games involving Japan), underscoring deep engagement with the tournament.

Sharing Excitement in Local CommunitiesTo coincide with the World Baseball Classic, Netflix partnered with local municipalities and schools in the hometowns of 30 Samurai Japan players to host public viewing events across Japan.

Led by each region and school under the theme of "cheering for hometown heroes in their hometowns," these events were filled with immense enthusiasm and a sense of unity.

Number of hosting local governments and schools: 29 organizations

Number of events held: 77

Number of participants: 11,636 (total for 5 games)

Looking at viewership trends by prefecture, viewership was particularly high in the Tohoku and Kyushu regions. Specifically, viewership was relatively high in Iwate Prefecture (the hometown of Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi) and Kumamoto Prefecture (the hometown of Munetaka Murakami), indicating that active and widespread viewing was not limited to the Tokyo metropolitan area but expanded across various regions.

Excitement Across Social Media with Creators and Fans6Netflix's official social media accounts saw strong engagement with World Baseball Classic-related content. A total of 52 videos surpassed 1 million views each, and the most watched special video - featuring Touch performed by Koshi Inaba - exceeded 7 million views.

The Classic's content extended far beyond Japan's games, encompassing highlights from matchups between other countries, breakdowns of memorable moments from past tournaments, and off field stories that revealed the human side of the players - delivering coverage from every angle.

Through initiatives such as behind the scenes coverage of national team training camps, the live program BEHIND THE DRAMA, the Netflix WBC support song Touch by Koshi Inaba, and dance projects featuring avant garde performance group Avantgardey and Nogizaka Baseball Club members from Nogizaka46, Netflix closed the
LINK: https://about.netflix.com/en/news/2026-world-baseball-classic-most-wat...
See more stories from netflix

More from Netflix

08/05/2026

Netflix Announces Standalone Sequel to Global Hit 'La Palma'

Back to All News Netflix Announces Standalone Sequel to Global Hit La Palma Entertainment 08 May 2026 GlobalDenmarkFinlandNorwaySweden Link copied to clipb...

07/05/2026

'Viral Hit' Main Trailer Turns Street Fighting Into Online Spectacle - Premieres June 11

Back to All News Viral Hit Main Trailer Turns Street Fighting Into Online Spect...

07/05/2026

Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix Present the Trailer of 'Kartavya;' Saif Ali Khan Starrer streaming from 15th May

Back to All News Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix Present the Trailer of ...

06/05/2026

Netflix Sets June 5 Premiere for 'Teach You a Lesson,' an Action-Packed School Series Restoring Justice in Classrooms

Back to All News Netflix Sets June 5 Premiere for Teach You a Lesson, an Action...

05/05/2026

Netflix Teases Its Biggest South African Telenovela Yet: 'The Polygamist'

Back to All News Netflix Teases Its Biggest South African Telenovela Yet: The P...

05/05/2026

Limited Series About the Greatest Soccer Team of All Time: Netflix Releases the Trailer and Poster For 'Brazil '70: The Third Star'

Back to All News Limited Series About the Greatest Soccer Team of All Time: Net...

05/05/2026

Netflix Unveils the Official Trailer for 'Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine'

Back to All News Netflix Unveils the Official Trailer for Berlin and the Lady w...

05/05/2026

Limited Series About The Greatest Soccer Team Of All Time: Netflix Releases The Trailer And Poster For Brazil '70: The Third Star

Back to All News Limited Series About The Greatest Soccer Team Of All Time: Net...

05/05/2026

'Rhythm + Flow Italy 3' - From June 22, Every Monday on Netflix

Back to All News Rhythm Flow Italy 3 - From June 22, Every Monday on Netflix Entertainment 05 May 2026 GlobalItaly Link copied to clipboard RHYTHM FLO...

03/05/2026

Filming Begins on the Third and Final Season of 'Breathless'

Back to All News Filming Begins on the Third and Final Season of Breathless Entertainment 03 May 2026 GlobalSpain Link copied to clipboard Discover the vi...

03/05/2026

Filming begins on the third and final season of Breathless

Back to All News Filming begins on the third and final season of Breathless Entertainment 03 May 2026 GlobalSpain Link copied to clipboard Discover the vi...

01/05/2026

NIAJ Fest Gets Los Angeles In on the Joke With Free Pop-Up Events

Back to All News NIAJ Fest Gets Los Angeles In on the Joke With Free Pop-Up Events Entertainment 01 May 2026 GlobalUnited States Link copied to clipboard ...

30/04/2026

Netflix Has Released the Trailer for 'Dibu Martnez: The Kid Who Stops Time,' Which Premieres on May 28

Back to All News Netflix Has Released the Trailer for Dibu Mart nez: The Kid Wh...

30/04/2026

'The Map of Longing' Arrives on Netflix Next July 17

Back to All News The Map of Longing Arrives on Netflix Next July 17 Entertainment 30 April 2026 GlobalSpain Link copied to clipboard WE ARE ALL MADE OF SM...

30/04/2026

Saif Ali Khan Anchors a Story of Duty and Dilemma, Red Chillies Entertainment's Next with Netflix, Kartavya'; Out on 15 May

Back to All News Saif Ali Khan Anchors a Story of Duty and Dilemma, Red Chillie...

30/04/2026

Netflix has released the trailer for Emi Martnez: The Kid Who Stops Time, which premieres on May 28

Back to All News Netflix has released the trailer for Emi Mart nez: The Kid Who...

30/04/2026

A Bunch of Goofy Misfits Out to Save the World: Netflix Releases Main Trailer for The WONDERfools'

Back to All News A Bunch of Goofy Misfits Out to Save the World: Netflix Releas...

30/04/2026

Introducing Exciting New Ways to Find and Enjoy Your Next Favorite on Mobile

Back to All News Introducing Exciting New Ways to Find and Enjoy Your Next Favorite on Mobile Product 30 April 2026 Global Link copied to clipboard Downlo...

29/04/2026

'SUPERNOVA: GENESIS' Reached a Peak Audience of More Than 6.5 Million Viewers on Netflix

Back to All News SUPERNOVA: GENESIS Reached a Peak Audience of More Than 6.5 Mi...

27/04/2026

Netflix Shared the Official Trailer of 'Thank You, Next' Returning for Its 3rd Season

Back to All News Netflix Shared the Official Trailer of Thank You, Next Returni...

27/04/2026

Running Point' Season 2 Shoots and Scores With All-Star Brand Partners

Back to All News Running Point' Season 2 Shoots and Scores With All-Star Brand Partners Business 27 April 2026 United States Link copied to clipboard ...

27/04/2026

Netflix Announces 'El Sobrino,' the New Film by Damin Szifron Starring Leonardo Sbaraglia

Back to All News Netflix Announces El Sobrino, the New Film by Dami n Szifron S...

27/04/2026

Soul Mate' Main Trailer Shows a Decade Guided by Fate

Back to All News Soul Mate' Main Trailer Shows a Decade Guided by Fate Entertainment 27 April 2026 GlobalJapan Link copied to clipboard Two lonely so...

27/04/2026

Netflix announces El sobrino, the new film by Damin Szifron starring Leonardo Sbaraglia

Back to All News Netflix announces El sobrino, the new film by Dami n Szifron s...

26/04/2026

Director Yoon Jong-bin Returns with The Generals' (WT), An Incisive Chronicle of a Second-in-Command

Back to All News Director Yoon Jong-bin Returns with The Generals' (WT), A...

26/04/2026

'Nine Queens,' Starring Alvaro Morte and Patrick Criado, Starts Production

Back to All News Nine Queens, Starring Alvaro Morte and Patrick Criado, Starts ...

23/04/2026

Netflix presents the first teaser for A Good Therapist, the new film starring Ricardo Darn and Diego peretti

Back to All News Netflix presents the first teaser for A Good Therapist, the ne...

23/04/2026

Strange Things Are Happening at McDonald's: The 'Tales From 85' Happy Meal Arrives Soon in Restaurants Worldwide

Back to All News Strange Things Are Happening at McDonald's: The Tales From...

23/04/2026

How Netflix Adaptations Are Heating Up the Top 10 and Bestseller Lists

Back to All News How Netflix Adaptations Are Heating Up the Top 10 and Bestseller Lists Entertainment 23 April 2026 Global Link copied to clipboard Downlo...

22/04/2026

The Story of the Man Who Achieved the Impossible (Even If No One Knew His Name). Watch the Trailer for 'Mexico 86'

Back to All News The Story of the Man Who Achieved the Impossible (Even If No O...

22/04/2026

The Kawanda Family Grows! lvaro Mel Joins the Cast of 'Old Dog, New Tricks' for a New Season

Back to All News The Kawanda Family Grows! lvaro Mel Joins the Cast of Old Dog...

22/04/2026

This Earth Day, Discover the Sustainable Productions Behind Our Films and Series

Back to All News This Earth Day, Discover the Sustainable Productions Behind Our Films and Series Emma Stewart, Ph.D. Netflix Sustainability Officer Enterta...

21/04/2026

Netflix Reveals the Official Trailer for 'My Dearest Seorita,' by Fernando Gonzlez Molina

Back to All News Netflix Reveals the Official Trailer for My Dearest Se orita, ...

20/04/2026

Filming Begins on 'The Night Marta Disappeared,' the Fictional Miniseries Inspired by the Case of Marta del Castillo

Back to All News Filming Begins on The Night Marta Disappeared, the Fictional M...

19/04/2026

'Alpha Males' Films Its Sixth and Final Season

Back to All News Alpha Males Films Its Sixth and Final Season Entertainment 19 April 2026 GlobalSpain Link copied to clipboard Download the image Followi...

17/04/2026

A Turn-of-the-Century Superpower Adventure of Goofy Misfits: The WONDERfools' Premieres May 15

Back to All News A Turn-of-the-Century Superpower Adventure of Goofy Misfits: ...

16/04/2026

Netflix Unveils Trailer for Glory': A Gritty Tale of Sacrifice and Suffering

Back to All News Netflix Unveils Trailer for Glory': A Gritty Tale of Sacrifice and Suffering Entertainment 16 April 2026 GlobalIndia Link copied to c...

16/04/2026

Netflix Unveils Trailer for Glory': A Gritty Tale of Tyaag, Balidaan & Kasht

Back to All News Netflix Unveils Trailer for Glory': A Gritty Tale of Tyaag, Balidaan & Kasht Entertainment 16 April 2026 GlobalIndia Link copied to ...

16/04/2026

Johnny Massaro and Rodrigo Santoro to Star in Netflix's 'The Pilgrimage'

Back to All News Johnny Massaro and Rodrigo Santoro to Star in Netflix's Th...

16/04/2026

One Unforgettable Night in an Unfamiliar Place Shakes Everyday Life to Its Core in Netflix's New Series The Facade of Love'

Back to All News One Unforgettable Night in an Unfamiliar Place Shakes Everyday...

16/04/2026

The Law According to Lidia Pot': How Italy's Beloved Legal Show Left a Mark on the Country

Back to All News The Law According to Lidia Po t': How Italys Beloved Lega...

15/04/2026

The Countdown Has Begun! Netflix Drops Trailer and Release Date for Second Season of 'Roosters'

Back to All News The Countdown Has Begun! Netflix Drops Trailer and Release Dat...

15/04/2026

Celebrating BEEF' Season 2 and Storytelling That Connects Cultures

Back to All News Celebrating BEEF' Season 2 and Storytelling That Connects Cultures From left to right: Matthew Kim, Jinny Howe, Lee Sung Jin, Seoyeon Ja...

15/04/2026

Made in New Jersey: Dan Levy's New Comedy Big Mistakes' Makes a Big Impact

Back to All News Made in New Jersey: Dan Levy's New Comedy Big Mistakes...

13/04/2026

'Thank You Next,' 'Another Self' and 'Graveyard' Return to Netflix With Their Third Seasons

Back to All News Thank You Next, Another Self and Graveyard Return to Netflix W...

13/04/2026

'Rafa', the Rafael Nadal Documentary, Premieres on Netflix on May 29

Back to All News Rafa, the Rafael Nadal Documentary, Premieres on Netflix on May 29 Entertainment 13 April 2026 GlobalSpain Link copied to clipboard Disco...

09/04/2026

Love, Sacrifice and Vengeance Collide in My Dearest Assassin' Main Trailer, Out May 7

Back to All News Love, Sacrifice and Vengeance Collide in My Dearest Assassin&...

09/04/2026

Netflix Drops the Gripping Trailer for The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek'

Back to All News Netflix Drops the Gripping Trailer for The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek' Entertainment 09 April 2026 GlobalDenmarkFinlandNorwaySweden ...

09/04/2026

'The Marked Woman' premieres on Netflix on June 5

Back to All News The Marked Woman Premieres on Netflix on June 5 Entertainment 09 April 2026 GlobalSpain Link copied to clipboard Download the first image...