Baseball in the United States is experiencing significant changes in how it is consumed and followed. Despite concerns about the sport's decline, attendance has stabilized, and streaming minutes on Major League Baseball (MLB) platforms have increased by over 50 percent in the past four years. This growth reflects a shift from traditional cable viewing—such as when the Atlanta Braves were widely available in 2000—to a fragmented media landscape where fewer than one-quarter of households regularly watch baseball post-2020.

The industry has undergone "incessantly destroying the old one, incessantly creating a new one," as television empires have risen and fallen, replaced by streaming services. Meanwhile, Dish Network dropped all Sinclair channels, and DSG ceased operations just 15 months after their deal, illustrating the volatility in sports broadcasting.

The legalization of sports betting in many states following the Supreme Court's 2018 decision in Murphy v. NCAA has also influenced how audiences engage with baseball. However, MLB's streaming data cannot clarify whether new viewers are becoming dedicated fans or merely tuning in for specific moments, such as a player on their fantasy roster batting late in the game.

This evolving landscape raises questions about the future of baseball fandom and whether younger audiences are forming lasting attachments to the sport across full games and seasons.

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