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 2026-09-15
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 2026-09-15 09:00 UTC