NBC Achieves Historic Viewership with USA-Canada Olympic Gold Medal Game
Team USA’s thrilling 2-1 victory over Team Canada in the gold medal game of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games marked a significant milestone in viewership history. This match achieved the title of the most-watched sporting event in the United States with a pre-9 a.m. ET start time, drawing widespread attention from hockey fans across the nation.
Record-Breaking Viewership for USA-Canada Olympic Gold Medal Game
The historic event attracted an impressive average live audience of 18.6 million viewers on NBC and Peacock. This figure made it the second-most viewed hockey game in NBC Sports history, following only the gold medal game at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Peaking Audience and Key Moments
The viewership peaked during an exhilarating moment in the overtime period. Between 10:45 and 11:00 a.m. ET, 26.0 million viewers were tuned in as Jack Hughes netted the game-winning goal for Team USA. This victory was sweet not only for the dramatic finish but also for its historical significance.
Significance of the Victory
- This gold medal marked the United States’ first victory in men’s ice hockey since 1980.
- It was also the nation’s first best-on-best tournament win since the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
- The Milano Cortina games were notable for including NHL players, the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games.
This win is a crucial part of the ongoing legacy of American hockey. The match will certainly be remembered as one of the highlights of the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.
