More record TV ratings as Toronto clinches 2019 NBA Championship

If it seems like everyone you know watched some or all of Thursday night’s Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors... that’s because pretty much everyone did!

According to Bell, 15.9 million Canadians watched some or all of Toronto’s series- and championship-clinching Game 6 win. Overall, an average of 7.7 million were watching at any time during the game, and as the seconds ticked away — slowly, agonizingly, never-endingly — almost 10 million people were watching.

Needless to say, these are all records for an NBA Basketball game in Canada. In fact, it was the most-watched broadcast in all of Canada in the past three years.

We even got some digital data from Bell this time, who tell us that 143,000 people streamed the game on their various digital platforms. Of course, we still don’t know how many people were watching in bars or in outdoor viewing parties or movie theatres or what-have-you... but I’m going to go out on a limb and declare that half of Canada’s population was watching! Heck, even this somewhat famous Canadian and his kids were tuned in:

These numbers confirm what you already know: All of Canada was caught up in this incredible Raptors run, ready to support Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard and the team whether they were at home or on the road. And the Raptors rode that wave of support throughout these entire playoffs, from their humble opening loss to Orlando, all the way to the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Of course, if you still doubt just how many people were watching...

We made it, folks. We really made it.