Most-watched sports telecasts of 2012
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.
69
eligible telecasts
updated 2026-09-15
Most-watched sports telecasts of 2012
1
Super Bowl XLVI, Giants vs Patriots
111,346,000
2
NFC Championship Game, 49ers vs Giants
57,635,000
3
AFC Championship Game, Patriots vs Ravens
48,700,000
4
London 2012 Olympics — Opening Ceremony
40,700,000
5
London 2012 Olympics — Prime time
38,700,000
6
London 2012 Olympics — Prime time
31,600,000
7
London 2012 Olympics — Prime time
31,300,000
8
London 2012 Olympics — Closing Ceremony
31,000,000
9
London 2012 Olympics — Prime time
30,800,000
10
London 2012 Olympics — Prime time
28,500,000
11
London 2012 Olympics — Prime time
26,600,000
12
Kansas Jayhawks at Kentucky Wildcats
20,869,000
13
NBA Finals Game 5, Heat vs Thunder
18,460,000
14
NBA Finals Game 4, Heat vs Thunder
17,500,000
15
NBA Finals Game 2, Heat vs Thunder
16,670,000
16
Ohio State Buckeyes at Kansas Jayhawks
16,603,000
17
NBA Finals Game 1, Heat vs Thunder
16,200,000
18
NBA Finals Game 3, Heat vs Thunder
15,550,000
19
World Series Game 4, Giants vs Tigers
15,485,000
20
Kentucky Derby
14,800,000
21
Louisville Cardinals at Kentucky Wildcats
13,908,000
22
Daytona 500
13,700,000
23
The Masters Tournament Round 4
13,500,000
24
Eastern Conference Finals Game 7, Celtics vs Heat
13,346,000
25
London 2012 Olympics — Men's basketball gold medal game
12,500,000
26
World Series Game 2, Giants vs Tigers
12,340,000
27
World Series Game 1, Giants vs Tigers
12,240,000
28
Eastern Conference Finals Game 4, Celtics vs Heat
11,068,000
29
Eastern Conference Finals Game 6, Celtics vs Heat
11,068,000
30
World Series Game 3, Giants vs Tigers
10,471,000
31
Eastern Conference Finals Game 5, Celtics vs Heat
10,251,000
32
U.S. Open Golf Championship Round 4
9,600,000
33
Western Conference Finals Game 6, Spurs vs Thunder
9,498,000
34
Eastern Conference Finals Game 1, Celtics vs Heat
8,989,000
35
Eastern Conference Finals Game 2, Celtics vs Heat
8,809,000
36
Western Conference Finals Game 5, Spurs vs Thunder
8,507,000
37
NLCS Game 7, Cardinals vs Giants
8,110,000
38
Preakness Stakes
8,100,000
39
Western Conference Finals Game 1, Spurs vs Thunder
7,764,000
40
Belmont Stakes
7,670,000
41
NLCS Game 6, Cardinals vs Giants
7,620,000
42
Eastern Conference Finals Game 3, Celtics vs Heat
7,593,000
43
Western Conference Finals Game 2, Spurs vs Thunder
7,299,000
44
Western Conference Finals Game 3, Spurs vs Thunder
7,134,000
45
NLCS Game 5, Cardinals vs Giants
7,110,000
46
NBA All-Star Game
7,070,000
47
ALCS Game 1, Tigers vs Yankees
6,850,000
48
NLCS Game 1, Cardinals vs Giants
6,800,000
49
Western Conference Finals Game 4, Spurs vs Thunder
6,529,000
50
ALCS Game 3, Tigers vs Yankees
6,180,000
51
NLCS Game 4, Cardinals vs Giants
6,040,000
52
NLCS Game 2, Cardinals vs Giants
5,580,000
53
ALCS Game 4, Tigers vs Yankees
5,250,000
54
Stanley Cup Final Game 6, Devils vs Kings
4,930,000
55
PGA Championship Round 4
4,900,000
56
ALCS Game 2, Tigers vs Yankees
4,220,000
57
The Open Championship Round 4
4,200,000
58
Wimbledon men's singles final
3,925,000
59
NLCS Game 3, Cardinals vs Giants
3,900,000
60
NHL Winter Classic, Rangers vs Flyers
3,730,000
61
Stanley Cup Final Game 5, Devils vs Kings
3,331,000
62
Stanley Cup Final Game 1, Devils vs Kings
2,900,000
63
Stanley Cup Final Game 2, Devils vs Kings
2,900,000
64
Stanley Cup Final Game 4, Devils vs Kings
2,069,000
65
Stanley Cup Final Game 3, Devils vs Kings
1,743,000
66
WNBA Finals Game 2, Fever vs Lynx
778,000
67
WNBA Finals Game 4, Fever vs Lynx
433,000
68
WNBA Finals Game 1, Fever vs Lynx
343,000
69
WNBA Finals Game 3, Fever vs Lynx
337,000
69 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-09-15 09:00 UTC