List of most watched television broadcasts in Canada
The following is a list of most watched television broadcasts in Canada based on average viewership of the broadcasts. The Grey Cup has frequently been the most watched Canadian television broadcast of the year. The most watched television broadcast in Canadian history was the Gold medal game of the men's hockey tournament at the 2010 Winter Olympics, played between the United States and Canada, with a confirmed 16.6 million Canadians watching the whole game, roughly one-half of Canada's entire population in 2010.[1]
Most watched broadcasts
The following is a list of the twenty most watched TV broadcasts in Canada.[2]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to Olympic Games.
Most watched television broadcasts by year
2020
2019
The following is a list of the most watched television broadcasts of 2019.
| No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NBA Finals - Game 6 - Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors 1 | 7.7 | June 13, 2019 | TSN, CTV |
| 2 | NBA Finals - Game 5 - Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors | 6.4[15] | June 10, 2019 | Sportsnet, Citytv |
| 3 | 91st Academy Awards | 5.21[16] | February 18, 2019 | CTV |
| 4 | NBA Finals - Game 4 - Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors | 4.63 | June 7, 2019 | TSN, CTV 2, RDS |
| 5 | Super Bowl LIII | 4.34[17] | February 3, 2019 | CTV |
| 6 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Change Constant"/"The Stockholm Syndrome") (series finale) | 4.33[18] | May 19, 2019 | CTV |
| 7 | NBA Finals - Game 2 - Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors | 4.3[19][20] | June 2, 2019 | TSN, CTV 2 |
| 8 | Stanley Cup Finals - Game 7 - St. Louis vs. Boston | 4.15 | June 12, 2019 | CBC, Sportsnet |
| 9 | 107th Grey Cup | 3.9[21] | November 24, 2019 | TSN |
| 10 | NBA Finals - Game 3 - Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors | 3.8 | June 5, 2019 | Sportsnet, Citytv |
| 11 | Stanley Cup Round 1 - Game 6 - Boston vs. Toronto | 3.72 | April 21, 2019 | CBC, Sportsnet |
1 Bell Media says 15.9 million unique Canadian viewers tuned in at some point of Game 6. The audience peaked at 9.99 million for the final minute of the game. In Toronto and Hamilton, 82 per cent of people watching television had the Raptors game on — the highest sports total ever for that market, excluding the Olympics.[22]
2018
The following is a list of the most watched television broadcasts of 2018.
| No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018 Winter Olympics: Ice dance final | 5.7 | February 20, 2018 | CBC, TSN, Sportsnet |
| 2 | 2018 Winter Olympics: Women's hockey - Canada vs. USA gold medal game | 4.8 | February 22, 2018 | CBC, TSN, Sportsnet |
| 3 | 90th Academy Awards | 4.73[23] | March 4, 2018 | CTV |
| 4 | Super Bowl LII | 4.47[24] | February 4, 2018 | CTV |
| 5 | Stanley Cup Playoffs- Round 1 - Game 7 - Toronto vs. Boston | 4.3 | April 25, 2018 | CBC, Sportsnet |
| 6 | Super Bowl LII post-game show | 4.23[24] | February 4, 2018 | CTV |
| 7 | Super Bowl LII pre-game show | 4.14[24] | February 4, 2018 | CTV |
| 8 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Bow Tie Asymmetry") | 3.93[25] | May 10, 2018 | CTV |
| 9 | 2018 FIFA World Cup final- France vs. Croatia | 3.90 | July 15, 2018 | CTV, TSN |
| 10 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Solo Oscillation") | 3.78[26] | January 11, 2018 | CTV |
2017
The following is a list of the most watched television broadcasts of 2017.
| No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 89th Academy Awards | 5.80 | February 26, 2017 | CTV |
| 2 | Super Bowl LI | 4.49 | February 5, 2017 | CTV |
| 3 | 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Eastern Conference Final Game 7 - Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh | 4.29[27] | May 25, 2017 | CBC, Sportsnet |
| 4 | 105th Grey Cup | 4.10[28] | November 26, 2017 | TSN |
| 5 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Holiday Summation") | 3.98 | January 5, 2017 | CTV |
| The Big Bang Theory ("The Comic-Con Condundrum") | February 23, 2017 | CTV | ||
| 7 | Super Bowl LI pre-game show | 3.92 | February 5, 2017 | CTV |
| 8 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Locomotion Reverberation") | 3.90 | February 9, 2017 | CTV |
| 9 | Super Bowl LI post-game show | 3.87 | February 5, 2017 | CTV |
| 10 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Proposal Proposal") | 3.85 | September 25, 2017 | CTV |
2016
The following is a list of the most watched television broadcasts of 2016.[29]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to sports.
| No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Super Bowl 50 | 7.37 | February 7, 2016 | CTV |
| 2 | 2016 Summer Olympics: Men's 100 metres final | 6.92[14] | August 14, 2016 | CBC |
| 3 | 88th Academy Awards | 5.65 | February 28, 2016 | CTV |
| 4 | The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration (farewell concert) | 4.33 | August 20, 2016 | CBC |
2015
The following is a list of the ten most watched television broadcasts of 2015.[10]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to sports.
| No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Super Bowl XLIX | 8.26 | February 1, 2015 | CTV |
| 2 | 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal game: Canada vs. Russia | 5.95 | January 5, 2015 | TSN |
| 3 | 87th Academy Awards | 5.53 | February 22, 2015 | CTV |
| 4 | Super Bowl XLIX pre-game show | 5.16 | February 1, 2015 | CTV |
| 5 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Opening Night Excitation") | 5.09 | December 17, 2015 | CTV |
| 6 | 2015 American League Championship Series: Game 6 - Toronto vs. Kansas City | 5.08 | October 23, 2015 | Sportsnet |
| 7 | 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship Final post-game show | 5.07 | January 5, 2015 | TSN |
| 8 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Colonization Application") | 4.49 | March 5, 2015 | CTV |
| 9 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Anxiety Optimization") | 4.36 | January 29, 2015 | CTV |
| 10 | 103rd Grey Cup | 4.3[30] | November 29, 2015 | TSN |
2014
The following is a list of the ten most watched television broadcasts of 2014.[12]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to sports.
| No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014 Winter Olympics: Men's hockey - gold medal game | 8.5 | February 23, 2014 | CBC, Sportsnet, TSN |
| 2 | Super Bowl XLVIII | 7.32 | February 2, 2014 | CTV |
| 3 | 86th Academy Awards | 6.40 | March 2, 2014 | CTV |
| 4 | 2014 FIFA World Cup final | 4.90 | July 13, 2014 | CBC |
| 5 | Super Bowl XLVII pre-game show | 4.53 | February 2, 2014 | CTV |
| 6 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Occupation Recalibration") | 4.45 | January 9, 2014 | CTV |
| 7 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Prom Equivalency") | 4.44 | November 6, 2014 | CTV |
| 8 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Misinterpretation Agitation") | 4.41 | October 30, 2014 | CTV |
| 9 | 2014 Winter Olympics closing ceremony | 4.33 | February 23, 2014 | CBC |
| 10 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Status Quo Combustion") | 4.30 | May 15, 2014 | CTV |
2013
The following is a list of the ten most watched television broadcasts of 2013.[31]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to sports.
| No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Super Bowl XLVII | 6.6 | February 3, 2013 | CTV |
| 2 | 85th Academy Awards | 6.3 | February 24, 2013 | CTV |
| 3 | Stanley Cup Round 1 - Game 7 - Toronto vs. Boston | 5.1 | May 13, 2013 | CBC |
| 4 | 101st Grey Cup | 4.5 | November 24, 2013 | TSN |
| 5 | 70th Golden Globe Awards | 3.5 | January 13, 2013 | CTV |
| 6 | Stanley Cup Finals - Game 6 - Boston vs. Chicago | 3.4 | June 24, 2013 | CBC |
| 7 | 55th Annual Grammy Awards | 3.2 | February 10, 2013 | Global |
| 8 | 65th Primetime Emmy Awards | 2.5 | September 22, 2013 | CTV |
| 9 | 2013 Juno Awards | 1.9 | April 21, 2013 | CTV |
| 10 | 2013 People's Choice Awards | 1.8 | January 9, 2013 | Global |
2012
The following is a list of the ten most watched television broadcasts of 2012.[13][32]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to sports.
| No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Super Bowl XLVI | 7.3 | February 5, 2012 | CTV |
| 2 | 84th Academy Awards | 6.5 | February 26, 2012 | CTV |
| 3 | 100th Grey Cup | 5.4 | November 25, 2012 | TSN |
| 4 | 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony | 5.2 | August 12, 2012 | CTV |
| 5 | 54th Annual Grammy Awards | 5.0 | February 12, 2012 | Global |
| 6 | Megastunts: Highwire Over Niagara Falls - Live! | 3.8 | June 15, 2012 | CTV |
| 7 | 69th Golden Globe Awards | 3.2 | January 15, 2012 | CTV |
| 8 | CTV at the Oscars | 2.7 | February 26, 2012 | CTV |
| 9 | 64th Primetime Emmy Awards | 2.5 | September 23, 2012 | CTV |
| 10 | Céline Dion...Sans attendre | 2.3 | November 4, 2012 | TVA |
2011
The following is a list of the ten most watched television broadcasts of 2011.[8]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to sports.
| No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 7: Boston @ Vancouver | 8.64 | June 15, 2011 | CBC |
| 2 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 6: Vancouver @ Boston | 6.69 | June 13, 2011 | CBC |
| 3 | Super Bowl XLV | 6.53 | February 6, 2011 | CTV |
| 4 | 83rd Academy Awards | 6.28 | February 27, 2011 | CTV |
| 5 | 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship Final | 6.08 | January 5, 2011 | TSN |
| 6 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 5: Boston @ Vancouver | 6.06 | June 10, 2011 | CBC |
| 7 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 2: Boston @ Vancouver | 5.63 | June 4, 2011 | CBC |
| 8 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 1: Boston @ Vancouver | 5.51 | June 1, 2011 | CBC |
| 9 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 3: Vancouver @ Boston | 5.43 | June 6, 2011 | CBC |
| 10 | Two and a Half Men ("Nice to Meet You, Walden Schmidt") | 5.32 | September 19, 2011 | CTV |
2010
The following is a list of the ten most watched television broadcasts of 2010, excluding broadcasts from the 2010 Winter Olympics.[7]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to sports.
| No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Super Bowl XLIV | 6.30 | February 7, 2010 | CTV |
| 2 | 82nd Academy Awards | 6.19 | March 7, 2010 | CTV |
| 3 | 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship Final | 5.44 | January 5, 2010 | TSN |
| 4 | 98th Grey Cup | 5.03 | November 28, 2010 | TSN |
| 5 | 2010 FIFA World Cup Final | 4.92 | July 11, 2010 | CBC |
| 6 | Stanley Cup Round 2 – Game 7: Montreal vs. Pittsburgh | 4.24 | May 12, 2010 | CBC |
| 7 | Stanley Cup Final – Game 6: Chicago vs. Philadelphia | 4.12 | June 9, 2010 | CBC |
| 8 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Apology Insufficiency") | 3.72 | November 4, 2010 | CTV |
| 9 | American Idol ("Hollywood Round: Part 1") | 3.67 | February 9, 2010 | CTV |
| 10 | The Big Bang Theory ("The Boyfriend Complexity") | 3.53 | November 18, 2010 | CTV |
Top 10 Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Broadcasts
| No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Men's hockey – Canada vs. USA gold medal game | 16.67 | February 28, 2010 | CTV Olympics |
| 2 | Closing Ceremony | 14.44 | February 28, 2010 | |
| 3 | Opening Ceremony | 13.50 | February 12, 2010 | |
| 4 | Men's hockey – Canada vs. USA preliminary round game | 10.68 | February 21, 2010 | |
| 5 | Men's hockey – Canada vs. Russia quarterfinal game | 10.56 | February 24, 2010 | |
| 6 | Men's hockey – Canada vs. Slovakia semifinal game | 9.87 | February 26, 2010 | |
| 7 | Women's hockey – Canada vs. USA gold medal game | 7.50 | February 25, 2010 | |
| 8 | Men's hockey – Canada vs. Germany qualification playoff game | 7.43 | February 23, 2010 | |
| 9 | Short track speed skating – Men's 1000 metres finals | 7.23 | February 20, 2010 | |
| 10 | Men's hockey – Canada vs. Switzerland preliminary round game | 6.89 | February 18, 2010 |