HomeTV + Film NewsCBC/Radio-Canada Winter Olympics coverage draws 30.5M

CBC/Radio-Canada Winter Olympics coverage draws 30.5M

CBC/Radio-Canada says more than 30.5 million viewers tuned in to its coverage of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 from Feb. 6-22, across its English and French television networks and broadcast partners TSN, Sportsnet and RDS.

The average daily audience share for the duration of the games on CBC-TV was 25%, an 11-point increase compared to Beijing 2022, according to data provided by the public broadcaster. Time spent streaming Olympic content on CBC Gem increased 632% from Beijing 2022. Audiences consumed over 89 million streams Olympic content on CBC/Radio-Canada’s digital platforms, more than triple compared to Beijing 2022 (29 million).

The Top 10 most-watched Milano Cortina moments were led by the Men’s Gold Medal Hockey game that saw 8.7 million viewers watch the overtime goal by Team U.S.A. on CBC, SportsnetOne and TSN1.

That was followed by the final minute of the Men’s Semi-Final Hockey Game between Canada and Finland, which drew 5.1 million viewers in the final minute (Feb. 20 on CBC, SportsnetOne and TSN1).

Rounding out the top moments are:

  • 4.4 million viewers watched Canada’s final goal in overtime against Czechia to win the men’s hockey quarterfinal. (Feb. 18 on CBC, SportsnetOne and TSN1)
  • 4.23 million viewers watched a replay of the fight in the third period of the Canada/France men’s hockey game. (Feb. 15 on CBC, SportsnetOne and TSN1)
  • 4.22 million viewers watched the final minutes of the women’s hockey gold medal game between Canada and the USA. (Feb. 19 on CBC, SportsnetOne and TSN1)
  • 3.5 million viewers watched the procession of Canadian athletes enter the stadium during the Opening Ceremony. (Feb. 6 on CBC, CBC News Network, Sportsnet and TSN)
  • 3.2 million viewers watched the Canada vs. Switzerland women’s hockey game. (Feb. 16 on CBC, SportsnetOne and TSN1)
  • 3.1 million viewers watched Canada win the gold medal in men’s curling over Great Britain. (Feb. 21 on CBC)
  • 3 million viewers watched the third quarter of the Canada vs. Switzerland women’s hockey game. (Feb. 7 on CBC, Sportsnet, SportsnetOne and TSN1)
  • 2.6 million viewers watched the Canada vs. Czechia men’s hockey game. (Feb. 12 on CBC, SportsnetOne and TSN1)

The Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 begin Friday, March 6 and run through Sunday, March 15, with CBC/Radio-Canada to provide over 120 hours of original television coverage and more than 800 hours of additional live coverage on its digital platforms.

Connie Thiessen
Connie Thiessenhttps://broadcastdialogue.com
Connie has worked coast-to-coast as a reporter, editor, anchor and host at CKNW and News 1130 in Vancouver, News 95.7 and CBC in Halifax, and CFCW Edmonton, among other stations. With a passion for music, film and community service, she led News 95.7 to a 2013 Atlantic Journalism Award and regional RTDNA award for Best Radio Newscast. More recently, she was nominated for Music Journalist of the Year at Canadian Music Week 2019. To report a typo or error please email - corrections@broadcastdialogue.com

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