Broadcast averaged 13.3 Canadian viewers per minute

TORONTO -- The opening ceremony for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games Friday night became the most watched Canadian TV show ever.

The 3.5 hour ceremony, airing live across 11 television networks nationwide, averaged 13.3 million Canadians per-minute, according to BBM Canada data.

That smashed the previous record audience of 10.3 million posted at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics when Canada beat the U.S. in the final gold medal hockey game.

Friday night's audience also dwarfed the 4.24 million Canadians that tuned in to watch the opening ceremony for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.

The Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, which holds the Canadian media rights to the Vancouver Games, is led by domestic broadcasters CTV, the Sports Network and Rogers Sportsnet.