Record Streaming, Subscriptions Power NESN’s Cross-Platform Success To Start Red Sox Season

BOSTON — NESN, New England’s premier sports network, on Tuesday reported that the early part of the 2025 baseball season, including data from spring training games and Opening Day, has generated significant increases in total viewership, powered by year-over-year growth across all platforms and a surge in NESN 360 subscriptions.

NESN’s Opening Day cross-platform total audience increased by more than 100% from 2024’s Opening Day, while total viewership minutes increased by more than 140%. On linear, NESN registered a 4.62 household (HH) rating — up 148% from 2024 and its highest on Opening Day since 2021. Powering that growth was an expanded, younger demographic with adults aged 25-54 increasing 155%.

NESN 360 recorded a 204% YOY streaming audience increase while setting a record for the highest unique viewers for a live event, surpassing the mark set during Game 5 of the Bruins’ 2024 playoff series vs Toronto, and recording 3.7 million total streaming minutes, second all-time to Game 7 between the Bruins and Florida Panthers in 2023.

The NESN 360 app, following a recent price reduction on annual subscriptions, registered a nearly 100% increase in Opening Day signups, setting a daily record for the nearly three-year-old platform. 

“We’re thrilled with the strong operational start to the season and the excitement surrounding Red Sox baseball on NESN,” NESN president and CEO David Wisnia said. “These results reflect the undeniable passion Red Sox fans have for their team and serve as a powerful affirmation of our strategy to make NESN’s offerings more accessible while driving deeper engagement. We look forward to building on this momentum.”

Opening Day viewership followed a strong spring training that featured a 101% increase in ratings for the adults 25-54 demo, and a 30% increase in cross-platform consumption. NESN’s expanded spring training distribution increased minutes viewed by 25 million versus last year propelled by broader distribution of four Sunday games made available on broadcast stations in Boston, Hartford, Conn., Portland, Maine; and Burlington, Vt.; on NESN NATION, the network’s new FAST Channel; and NESN 360 availability for all New England fans.

In addition to overall viewership increases, NESN has seen increases across each of its platforms: linear, the NESN 360 app, and NESN Nation, the network’s recently launched FAST Channel.

Fans will be able to watch pregame and postgame coverage and exclusive behind-the-scenes all season long on NESN and NESN 360. Follow @NESN on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly known as Twitter), and YouTube channels, along with NESN.com for daily editorial content.