Most-watched sports telecasts of 2002
Nielsen average audience, one figure per telecast; a final or revised figure replaces a preliminary one. Composites, peaks, reach and self-reported figures do not chart.
52
eligible telecasts
updated 2026-09-15
Most-watched sports telecasts of 2002
1
Super Bowl XXXVI, Patriots vs Rams
86,801,000
2
NFC Championship Game, Eagles vs Rams
37,429,000
3
AFC Championship Game, Patriots vs Steelers
33,313,000
4
World Series Game 7, Angels vs Giants
30,814,000
5
Western Conference Finals Game 7, Kings vs Lakers
23,796,000
6
2002 NCAA championship game, Maryland vs Indiana
23,686,000
7
World Series Game 2, Angels vs Giants
19,368,000
8
World Series Game 6, Angels vs Giants
19,221,000
9
Daytona 500
18,800,000
10
2002 NCAA national semifinal, Maryland vs Kansas
18,466,000
11
World Series Game 4, Angels vs Giants
18,085,000
12
World Series Game 3, Angels vs Giants
17,043,000
13
Western Conference Finals Game 6, Kings vs Lakers
16,644,000
14
NBA Finals Game 4, Lakers vs Nets
16,560,000
15
NBA Finals Game 3, Lakers vs Nets
16,210,000
16
NBA Finals Game 1, Lakers vs Nets
15,850,000
17
World Series Game 5, Angels vs Giants
15,840,000
18
World Series Game 1, Angels vs Giants
15,457,000
19
Western Conference Finals Game 5, Kings vs Lakers
14,586,000
20
2002 NCAA national semifinal, Indiana vs Oklahoma
14,422,000
21
NBA Finals Game 2, Lakers vs Nets
14,050,000
22
NBA All-Star Game
13,100,000
23
Masters Tournament Round 4
13,100,000
24
U.S. Open Championship Round 4
13,100,000
25
ALCS Game 2, Angels vs Twins
12,160,000
26
NLCS Game 1, Cardinals vs Giants
12,160,000
27
ALCS Game 1, Angels vs Twins
10,870,000
28
PGA Championship Round 4
10,700,000
29
NLCS Game 4, Cardinals vs Giants
10,640,000
30
NLCS Game 5, Cardinals vs Giants
10,310,000
31
Western Conference Finals Game 3, Kings vs Lakers
10,063,000
32
Eastern Conference Finals Game 5, Celtics vs Nets
9,913,000
33
Western Conference Finals Game 4, Kings vs Lakers
9,659,000
34
ALCS Game 3, Angels vs Twins
9,370,000
35
ALCS Game 5, Angels vs Twins
9,210,000
36
Eastern Conference Finals Game 6, Celtics vs Nets
9,167,000
37
Western Conference Finals Game 1, Kings vs Lakers
9,153,000
38
NLCS Game 2, Cardinals vs Giants
8,950,000
39
ALCS Game 4, Angels vs Twins
8,930,000
40
Eastern Conference Finals Game 1, Celtics vs Nets
8,667,000
41
Eastern Conference Finals Game 4, Celtics vs Nets
7,640,000
42
Stanley Cup Final Game 5, Hurricanes vs Red Wings
6,848,000
43
NLCS Game 3, Cardinals vs Giants
6,740,000
44
British Open Championship Round 4
6,200,000
45
Eastern Conference Finals Game 3, Celtics vs Nets
5,711,000
46
Western Conference Finals Game 2, Kings vs Lakers
5,538,000
47
Stanley Cup Final Game 3, Hurricanes vs Red Wings
5,482,000
48
Stanley Cup Final Game 4, Hurricanes vs Red Wings
5,106,000
49
Stanley Cup Final Game 1, Hurricanes vs Red Wings
4,015,000
50
Eastern Conference Finals Game 2, Celtics vs Nets
3,804,000
51
Stanley Cup Final Game 2, Hurricanes vs Red Wings
3,782,000
52
PGA Championship Round 1
1,470,000
52 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-09-15 09:00 UTC
Rows span 2 Nielsen eras (Before Out-of-Home, Panel + Out-of-Home); figures from different eras are not directly comparable. Each row carries its era.