• Loading stock data...
Thursday, April 24, 2025

4 Nations Finale Could Draw Super Bowl–Level TV Ratings in Canada

What started as just a retooled midseason NHL event is now taking on far larger implications and will have a much bigger impact.

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

It’s no secret that Thursday’s final of the 4 Nations Face-Off will be a massive event for hockey, but the U.S.-Canada game is also primed to be one of the most-watched broadcasts on Canadian television. 

The title matchup in Boston is fetching hefty prices on ticket resale markets and garnering Stanley Cup Final–level coverage in the U.S. on ESPN. In Canada, however, even more can be said of the broadcast plans for the highly anticipated clash.

The game will be shown in Canada on Sportsnet, owned by the powerful Rogers Communications, and the French-language TVA Sports. Both networks have relentlessly covered the tournament, and expectations are rising for a historic viewership total for the final.

A prior 4 Nations Face-Off matchup between the two teams averaged roughly 5.7 million viewers in Canada, a country of about 40 million people. That figure surpassed a U.S. total of 4.4 million and represented the most-watched hockey broadcast outside of a Stanley Cup Final since 2019. 

Not only did the Canadian audience beat the hefty U.S. one despite having about 12% of the population, the figure is roughly equivalent to an American viewership of more than 48 million. Such a total is higher than what the recent NFC championship game drew in the U.S

As a result, the 4 Nations Face-Off final is becoming a Super Bowl–level event in Canada. Earlier this month, Super Bowl LIX, which drew record-level U.S. viewership, had an average Canadian audience of 8.5 million. The hockey game Thursday is poised to at least challenge that figure, if not beat it. 

Bigger Trends

Just like in the U.S., the list of all-time television viewership in Canada is dominated by sports. In particular, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver claimed the top six slots.

The No. 1 broadcast is the men’s ice hockey final in those 2010 Olympics, which was a U.S.-Canada matchup dramatically ended by a Sidney Crosby overtime golden goal that is now a pillar of Canadian hockey lore. The average audience of 16.6 million represented nearly half of the Canadian population at the time, and 80% of the country watched some part of that event.

Given the Olympics’ established nature and the fact those Games were in Canada, it’s difficult to foresee the 4 Nations Face-Off rising to that level. The new event, however, taps into much of the same citizen pride and widespread love for Canada’s national winter sport. 

A heightened geopolitical context also surrounds the 4 Nations Face-Off with U.S. President Donald Trump openly angling for Canada to become the 51st state—an idea sharply rebuked by many Canadians. Many of those tensions have filtered their way to the ice, where the prior U.S.-Canada game in the 4 Nations Face-Off featured three fights in the first nine seconds of play. There additionally have been widespread boos of the U.S. national anthem during tournament games in Canada. Such boos have been increasingly common in regular-season NHL games amid an additional tariff battle.

Neither of the Canadian networks has issued a formal audience expectation for the 4 Nations Face-Off final, nor did Numeris, which measures viewership in Canada. Rogers, however, released tournament-related poll data Thursday that referenced the broader political issues, and said that roughly 60% of surveyed Canadians would find a victory “even more meaningful given the threats to Canada’s economy and national sovereignty.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

The Bold NFL Draft Approaches of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders

The longtime college teammates are taking different professional approaches.

Fewer NFL Draft Prospects Will Be in Green Bay. Here’s Why

There will be 15 NFL Draft prospects in Green Bay.

Comcast Leans On Sports As Revenue Slides and Cord-Cutting Grows

NBC Sports’ rights portfolio remains a company bedrock.
Vancouver

PWHL Picks Vancouver for First Expansion Team

More than 19,000 fans attended a game in Vancouver in January.

Featured Today

Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) reacts after a three point basket against the Houston Cougars during the first half in the semifinals of the men's Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome.

Cooper Flagg’s Timing Is Perfect for the NBA and USA Basketball

The projected No. 1 pick just declared for the draft.
Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Paige Bueckers is interviewed by ESPN after being selected with the number one overall pick to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards
April 21, 2025

ESPN’s WNBA Coverage Mirrors the League’s Stunning Growth

“I don’t think we stand still in our coverage of women’s sports,” says Rowe.
Mar 16, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates with guard Isaiah Joe (11) after score in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
April 20, 2025

Unorthodox OKC: The Thunder Redefined Tanking to Become NBA’s Best

A rebuild years in the making has OKC in the driver’s seat.
Mar 13, 2020; Augusta, GA, USA; The front entrance at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Friday morning. The Masters Tournament has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns.
opinion
April 20, 2025

What’s It Like to Play Augusta? A Day on the World’s Most..

Inside a round at the most exclusive club in the world.
FuboTV signage

Disney’s Fubo Takeover Now Faces DOJ Antitrust Review

The deal struck by the ESPN parent company could be in jeopardy.
Apr 20, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden.
April 22, 2025

NBA Playoffs Deliver Most-Watched Opening Weekend in 25 Years

It was the most-watched opening weekend on ESPN platforms.
Multiple streaming services appear on a Roku TV.
April 23, 2025

Roku’s New Plan to Relieve Streaming Headaches

The streaming company introduces new tools to direct fans to games.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

This week, Two-time Super Bowl Champion and CBS NFL analyst Logan Ryan joins us to talk the business of sports on our third installment of Portfolio Players.
Shannon Sharpe
April 21, 2025

Shannon Sharpe Accused of Rape in Civil Lawsuit

The case was filed by an anonymous woman in Nevada.
Netflix
April 17, 2025

Netflix Rises While Markets Slide—Thanks in Part to Live Sports

The streaming giant beats financial expectations as its sports presence grows.
Lee Corso
April 17, 2025

Lee Corso Will Retire From ESPN at 90

The broadcaster is hanging up his headgear in August.
April 15, 2025

WNBA Draft Draws 1.25M Viewers, Second-Best Behind 2.45M Last Year

Paige Bueckers was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft.