MLB Net Sets Non-Playoff Record With U.S.-Japan WBC Semifinal

MLB Network last night averaged 1.4 million viewers for U.S.-Japan in the World Baseball Classic semifinal, marking the cable net’s best non-postseason game audience on record. The 1.4 million viewers was up 48% from the previous record of 977,000 viewers for U.S.-Dominican Republic in the WBC first round on March 11. Last night’s game peaked at 1.7 million viewers from 11:30pm-12:00am ET. The WBC semifinals viewership this year – including Puerto Rico-Netherlands on Monday night – is up 102% from the '13 semis. Overall, WBC viewership this year is up 21% over '13.

MLB Net will air the U.S.-Puerto Rico final tonight at 9:00pm ET, while ESPN Deportes will carry Spanish-language coverage.