Most-watched sports telecasts of 2009
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.
57
eligible telecasts
updated 2026-09-15
Most-watched sports telecasts of 2009
1
Super Bowl XLIII, Cardinals vs Steelers
98,732,000
2
AFC Championship Game, Ravens vs Steelers
40,645,000
3
NFC Championship Game, Cardinals vs Eagles
38,387,000
4
World Series Game 4, Phillies vs Yankees
22,761,000
5
World Series Game 6, Phillies vs Yankees
22,339,000
6
World Series Game 1, Phillies vs Yankees
19,511,000
7
World Series Game 2, Phillies vs Yankees
18,897,000
8
2009 NCAA championship game, Michigan State vs North Carolina
17,649,000
9
World Series Game 5, Phillies vs Yankees
17,092,000
10
Kentucky Derby
16,300,000
11
Daytona 500
16,000,000
12
NBA Finals Game 4, Lakers vs Magic
15,960,000
13
ALCS Game 6, Angels vs Yankees
15,480,000
14
World Series Game 3, Phillies vs Yankees
15,397,000
15
2009 NCAA national semifinal, Villanova vs North Carolina
14,454,000
16
The Masters Round 4
14,300,000
17
NBA Finals Game 3, Lakers vs Magic
14,200,000
18
NBA Finals Game 5, Lakers vs Magic
14,170,000
19
NBA Finals Game 2, Lakers vs Magic
14,060,000
20
NBA Finals Game 1, Lakers vs Magic
13,040,000
21
2009 NCAA national semifinal, Michigan State vs UConn
12,583,000
22
ALCS Game 5, Angels vs Yankees
11,850,000
23
ALCS Game 4, Angels vs Yankees
10,300,000
24
PGA Championship Round 4
10,100,000
25
Eastern Conference Finals Game 4, Cavaliers vs Magic
10,075,000
26
Eastern Conference Finals Game 5, Cavaliers vs Magic
9,995,000
27
Western Conference Finals Game 4, Lakers vs Nuggets
9,731,000
28
ALCS Game 2, Angels vs Yankees
9,380,000
29
Western Conference Finals Game 5, Lakers vs Nuggets
9,238,000
30
Eastern Conference Finals Game 3, Cavaliers vs Magic
8,969,000
31
Western Conference Finals Game 3, Lakers vs Nuggets
8,731,000
32
Western Conference Finals Game 6, Lakers vs Nuggets
8,462,000
33
ALCS Game 1, Angels vs Yankees
8,440,000
34
Eastern Conference Finals Game 6, Cavaliers vs Magic
8,362,000
35
Western Conference Finals Game 1, Lakers vs Nuggets
8,085,000
36
Stanley Cup Final Game 7, Penguins vs Red Wings
7,992,000
37
NLCS Game 5, Dodgers vs Phillies
7,980,000
38
Western Conference Finals Game 2, Lakers vs Nuggets
7,886,000
39
NBA All-Star Game
7,620,000
40
Eastern Conference Finals Game 1, Cavaliers vs Magic
7,321,000
41
ALCS Game 3, Angels vs Yankees
7,250,000
42
U.S. Open Championship Round 4
7,100,000
43
Eastern Conference Finals Game 2, Cavaliers vs Magic
6,910,000
44
NLCS Game 1, Dodgers vs Phillies
6,860,000
45
Belmont Stakes
6,600,000
46
Stanley Cup Final Game 6, Penguins vs Red Wings
5,814,000
47
NLCS Game 4, Dodgers vs Phillies
5,640,000
48
British Open Championship Round 4
5,500,000
49
Stanley Cup Final Game 2, Penguins vs Red Wings
5,386,000
50
NLCS Game 3, Dodgers vs Phillies
5,040,000
51
Stanley Cup Final Game 5, Penguins vs Red Wings
4,446,000
52
NLCS Game 2, Dodgers vs Phillies
4,430,000
53
NHL Winter Classic, Red Wings vs Blackhawks
4,400,000
54
Stanley Cup Final Game 1, Penguins vs Red Wings
4,300,000
55
Stanley Cup Final Game 4, Penguins vs Red Wings
3,448,000
56
Stanley Cup Final Game 3, Penguins vs Red Wings
2,955,000
57
PGA Championship Round 3
1,040,000
57 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-09-15 09:37 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.