The early hour didn't stop Canadians from tuning in to watch Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot.

An average of 5.2 million bleary-eyed viewers flicked on their TVs for the royal nuptials, according to figures released Saturday by ratings provider BBM Canada.

"That's a pretty huge number considering the time it was on," said BBM spokesman Tom Jenks.

But sports fans and movie lovers take the cake when it comes to through-the-roof ratings.

This year's Superbowl drew an audience of 6.5 million, while the Academy Awards attracted 6.1 million viewers.

The largest TV draw ever was for the Vancouver Olympics gold-medal hockey game last year at a whopping 16.6 million viewers.

About 379,000 British Columbia residents tuned in to the royal wedding, despite its 3 a.m. Friday airtime, while more than 2.8 million people in Ontario watched the 6 a.m. eastern time zone event. The Prairies accounted for 609,000 viewers, Atlantic provinces at 531,000 and Quebec at 887,000.

About 12.5 million Canucks, or nearly 38% of the population, watched some portion of the royal ceremony and procession.

It's estimated two billion people worldwide viewed the vows held at Westminster Abbey.