Most-watched sports telecasts of 2005
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.
46
eligible telecasts
updated 2026-10-30
Most-watched sports telecasts of 2005
1
Super Bowl XXXIX - Eagles vs Patriots
86,072,000
2
AFC Championship Game - Patriots vs Steelers
44,334,000
3
NFC Championship Game - Eagles vs Falcons
42,937,000
4
2005 NCAA championship game - Illinois vs North Carolina
23,895,000
5
World Series Game 4 - Astros vs White Sox
19,979,000
6
NBA Finals Game 7 - Pistons vs Spurs
19,000,000
7
Daytona 500
18,700,000
8
2005 NCAA national semifinal - North Carolina vs Michigan State
17,548,000
9
World Series Game 2 - Astros vs White Sox
17,190,000
10
World Series Game 3 - Astros vs White Sox
16,652,000
11
2005 NCAA national semifinal - Illinois vs Louisville
15,657,000
12
World Series Game 1 - Astros vs White Sox
15,015,000
13
Masters Tournament Round 4
14,600,000
14
NLCS Game 6 - Astros vs Cardinals
14,120,000
15
ALCS Game 2 - Angels vs White Sox
13,510,000
16
NLCS Game 1 - Astros vs Cardinals
13,510,000
17
NBA Finals Game 6 - Pistons vs Spurs
13,470,000
18
NBA Finals Game 5 - Pistons vs Spurs
13,090,000
19
NLCS Game 5 - Astros vs Cardinals
11,610,000
20
ALCS Game 1 - Angels vs White Sox
11,480,000
21
ALCS Game 5 - Angels vs White Sox
11,280,000
22
NBA Finals Game 4 - Pistons vs Spurs
10,920,000
23
NBA Finals Game 2 - Pistons vs Spurs
10,660,000
24
NBA Finals Game 3 - Pistons vs Spurs
10,630,000
25
NBA Finals Game 1 - Pistons vs Spurs
10,570,000
26
NLCS Game 2 - Astros vs Cardinals
9,910,000
27
NLCS Game 4 - Astros vs Cardinals
9,780,000
28
ALCS Game 3 - Angels vs White Sox
9,640,000
29
Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 - Heat vs Pistons
9,149,000
30
NBA All-Star Game
8,080,000
31
U.S. Open Championship Round 4
8,000,000
32
PGA Championship Round 4
7,800,000
33
ALCS Game 4 - Angels vs White Sox
7,590,000
34
Western Conference Finals Game 4 - Spurs vs Suns
7,100,000
35
Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 - Heat vs Pistons
6,072,000
36
British Open Championship Round 4
6,000,000
37
Western Conference Finals Game 1 - Spurs vs Suns
5,843,000
38
Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 - Heat vs Pistons
5,640,000
39
Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 - Heat vs Pistons
5,461,000
40
Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 - Heat vs Pistons
5,371,000
41
Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 - Heat vs Pistons
5,298,000
42
Western Conference Finals Game 5 - Spurs vs Suns
5,285,000
43
NLCS Game 3 - Astros vs Cardinals
5,130,000
44
Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 - Heat vs Pistons
4,997,000
45
Western Conference Finals Game 2 - Spurs vs Suns
4,839,000
46
Western Conference Finals Game 3 - Spurs vs Suns
3,940,000
46 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-10-30 20:34 UTC