Most-watched sports telecasts, April 2018
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.
55
eligible telecasts
updated 2026-09-15
Most-watched sports telecasts, April 2018
1
Michigan Wolverines at Villanova Wildcats
15,967,000
2
2018 Masters Tournament Round 4
13,000,000
3
GEICO 500
4,700,000
4
Houston Open Round 4
3,900,000
5
Toyota Owners 400
3,000,000
6
Heritage Classic Round 4
2,900,000
7
O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
2,820,000
8
NBA Thunder–Rockets
2,700,000
9
Eastern Conference First Round Game 6, Flyers vs Penguins
2,340,000
10
NBA Rockets–Spurs
2,300,000
11
Eastern Conference First Round Game 3, Flyers vs Penguins
2,280,000
12
2018 Masters Tournament Round 1
2,210,000
13
Western Conference Second Round Game 2, Golden Knights vs Sharks
2,200,000
14
New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels
2,200,000
15
UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje main card
2,020,000
16
Food City 500
2,000,000
17
San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers
1,900,000
18
NBA Wizards–Cavaliers
1,700,000
19
New Orleans Classic Round 4
1,500,000
20
Texas Rangers at Houston Astros
1,400,000
21
Eastern Conference Second Round Game 1, Capitals vs Penguins
1,400,000
22
NBA Celtics–Raptors
1,294,000
23
NBA Spurs–Lakers
1,287,000
24
Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers
1,280,000
25
NHL Bruins–Flyers
1,250,000
26
NBA Celtics–Wizards
1,200,000
27
Western Conference Second Round Game 2, Jets vs Predators
1,200,000
28
NBA Rockets–Lakers
1,100,000
29
NBA Jazz–Trail Blazers
1,100,000
30
NBA Spurs–Clippers
1,000,000
31
NBA Bucks–76ers
1,000,000
32
Eastern Conference First Round Game 5, Flyers vs Penguins
875,000
33
Eastern Conference First Round Game 6, Bruins vs Maple Leafs
838,000
34
Western Conference First Round Game 6, Avalanche vs Predators
816,000
35
Western Conference Second Round Game 1, Golden Knights vs Sharks
799,000
36
Eastern Conference First Round Game 2, Blue Jackets vs Capitals
765,000
37
NHL Rangers–Flyers
759,000
38
Baltimore Orioles at Houston Astros
730,000
39
2018 Bahrain Grand Prix
683,000
40
Eastern Conference First Round Game 3, Bruins vs Maple Leafs
683,000
41
NBA Pelicans–Clippers
681,000
42
Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees
662,000
43
Western Conference First Round Game 1, Avalanche vs Predators
651,000
44
St. Louis Cardinals at New York Mets
648,000
45
Eastern Conference First Round Game 1, Flyers vs Penguins
632,000
46
St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers
560,000
47
Colorado Rockies at Chicago Cubs
558,000
48
NHL Capitals–Penguins
542,000
49
Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City Royals
513,000
50
Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees
507,000
51
Eastern Conference First Round Game 6, Blue Jackets vs Capitals
479,000
52
Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Indians
420,000
53
Western Conference First Round Game 2, Ducks vs Sharks
388,000
54
2018 Chinese Grand Prix
284,000
55
Cleveland Indians at Los Angeles Angels
199,000
55 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-09-15 10:58 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.