According to overnight estimates, the World Cup final drew an average minute audience of over 5.5 million Canadian viewers on Bell Media platforms TSN and CTV. Of the total, 1,672,000 were estimated to have watched on the main broadcast network CTV.
The game, won by Spain 1-0 over Argentina, may have been a one-sided yawn but the robust tune-in proves that Canadian viewers were not just in it for the Canadian team moments this World Cup.
Compare FIFA’s finale, live from New Jersey, to the same day audience for a CFL game between Winnipeg and Ottawa carried after the championship soccer game on TSN. An estimated 444,000 watch the Canadian football regular season game. Or the major league baseball game carried opposite the World Cup finale on Sportsnet National. That game between the Chicago White Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays drew an estimated 677,000.
One Wednesday, July 15 in what was a more competitive semi-final tilt between Argentina and England, an estimated 3,841,000 on TSN and CTV witnessed Argentina’s come from behind victory.
One day earlier in the other semi-final, played on Tuesday, July 14, Spain eliminated France with an overnight, estimated audience of 2,832,000 tuning in on CTV/TSN.
