Most-watched sports telecasts of 2008
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.
53
eligible telecasts
updated 2026-09-15
Most-watched sports telecasts of 2008
1
Super Bowl XLII, Giants vs Patriots
97,448,000
2
NFC Championship Game, Giants vs Packers
53,937,000
3
AFC Championship Game, Chargers vs Patriots
44,840,000
4
2008 NCAA championship game, Kansas vs Memphis
19,501,000
5
Daytona 500
17,800,000
6
NBA Finals Game 6, Celtics vs Lakers
17,390,000
7
NBA Finals Game 5, Celtics vs Lakers
16,880,000
8
World Series Game 5, Phillies vs Rays
15,787,000
9
World Series Game 4, Phillies vs Rays
15,479,000
10
World Series Game 1, Phillies vs Rays
14,634,000
11
NBA Finals Game 3, Celtics vs Lakers
14,510,000
12
2008 NCAA national semifinal, North Carolina vs Kansas
14,435,000
13
NBA Finals Game 4, Celtics vs Lakers
13,760,000
14
NBA Finals Game 2, Celtics vs Lakers
13,500,000
15
NBA Finals Game 1, Celtics vs Lakers
13,380,000
16
ALCS Game 7, Rays vs Red Sox
13,360,000
17
Masters Tournament Round 4
13,100,000
18
World Series Game 2, Phillies vs Rays
12,777,000
19
U.S. Open Championship Round 4
12,100,000
20
2008 NCAA national semifinal, Memphis vs UCLA
11,770,000
21
World Series Game 3, Phillies vs Rays
9,836,000
22
ALCS Game 6, Rays vs Red Sox
8,930,000
23
NLCS Game 3, Dodgers vs Phillies
8,840,000
24
NLCS Game 5, Dodgers vs Phillies
8,030,000
25
NLCS Game 1, Dodgers vs Phillies
7,740,000
26
NLCS Game 4, Dodgers vs Phillies
7,710,000
27
Western Conference Finals Game 4, Lakers vs Spurs
7,247,000
28
ALCS Game 5, Rays vs Red Sox
7,210,000
29
Western Conference Finals Game 5, Lakers vs Spurs
6,794,000
30
Stanley Cup Final Game 6, Penguins vs Red Wings
6,779,000
31
ALCS Game 1, Rays vs Red Sox
6,690,000
32
Eastern Conference Finals Game 6, Celtics vs Pistons
6,445,000
33
Eastern Conference Finals Game 5, Celtics vs Pistons
6,434,000
34
NBA All-Star Game
6,330,000
35
Stanley Cup Final Game 5, Penguins vs Red Wings
6,247,000
36
Western Conference Finals Game 1, Lakers vs Spurs
6,190,000
37
ALCS Game 2, Rays vs Red Sox
6,090,000
38
Eastern Conference Finals Game 4, Celtics vs Pistons
6,086,000
39
ALCS Game 4, Rays vs Red Sox
5,730,000
40
Western Conference Finals Game 3, Lakers vs Spurs
5,729,000
41
Eastern Conference Finals Game 2, Celtics vs Pistons
5,698,000
42
Western Conference Finals Game 2, Lakers vs Spurs
5,513,000
43
Eastern Conference Finals Game 3, Celtics vs Pistons
5,454,000
44
Eastern Conference Finals Game 1, Celtics vs Pistons
5,431,000
45
NLCS Game 2, Dodgers vs Phillies
5,020,000
46
British Open Championship Round 4
4,600,000
47
ALCS Game 3, Rays vs Red Sox
4,500,000
48
Stanley Cup Final Game 4, Penguins vs Red Wings
4,044,000
49
Stanley Cup Final Game 3, Penguins vs Red Wings
4,041,000
50
PGA Championship Round 4
4,000,000
51
NHL Winter Classic, Penguins vs Sabres
3,750,000
52
Stanley Cup Final Game 2, Penguins vs Red Wings
2,608,000
53
Stanley Cup Final Game 1, Penguins vs Red Wings
2,352,000
53 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-09-15 09:37 UTC