Mets' Opening Day broadcast on NBC and Peacock sets viewership record, network says
Players line up for introductions during Opening Day between the Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday at Citi Field. Credit: AP/Angelina Katsanis
Mets fans weren’t happy last Thursday when the team’s Opening Day game against Pittsburgh was on NBC and Peacock and not SNY.
But somebody was watching. A lot of somebodies.
The game drew 2.3 million viewers, which is the most ever for an afternoon Opening Day game, according to NBC.
It was NBC’s first MLB game as part of a regular package since 2000. It was shown nationally.
Later that night, NBC and Peacock broadcast the World Series champion Dodgers against Arizona in prime time. That game drew 3.2 million viewers, the most for an Opening Day prime-time game since 2017 (Cubs-Cardinals), the network reported.
Overall, the two games averaged 2.7 million viewers.
SNY’s beloved “GKR” broadcasters Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling opened their season in the Mets’ second game on Saturday.
Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.
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