Olympics Men's Hockey Gold Medal Match Draws 20.7M Viewers

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From The Early Line Live

Record Viewership for U.S. vs. Canada Hockey Match

Front Office Sports reported that the United States' 2 to 1 overtime victory over Canada garnered an impressive 20.7 million viewers, making it the second most-watched hockey game in NBC Sports history. Remarkably, this high-stakes match was broadcast on a Sunday morning at 8 a.m. The unusual early timing did not deter fans; bars in the western U.S. opened at 5 a.m., and certain alcohol regulations were temporarily lifted in New York and other locations to accommodate viewers.

This event was not only a victory for the U.S. team but also a significant success for NBC, highlighting its resurgence as a major player in sports broadcasting. After a period of reduced emphasis on sports, NBC has reestablished itself, evident from the massive viewership numbers this game attracted.