List of most watched television broadcasts in the United States

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The following is the list of most watched television broadcasts in the United States by average viewership, according to Nielsen. Of the 30 most-watched telecasts, 27 are Super Bowls. The Apollo 11 moon landing is generally considered to have been the most watched event in American television history, having garnered an estimated viewership of between 125 and 150 million viewers. [1] However, the Apollo 11 moon landing is considered a news event and not a telecast—the major networks each produced their own coverage of the event. As a result, CBS and Nickelodeon's live telecast of Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 holds the record for the largest average viewership of any live network U.S. television broadcast, with 123.7 million viewers. [2]

Contents

Most-watched broadcasts of all time

Average viewership

State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, was the site of Super Bowls XLIX and LVII, two of the three most-watched broadcasts in American television history. Cardinals stadium crop.jpg
State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, was the site of Super Bowls XLIX and LVII, two of the three most-watched broadcasts in American television history.

The Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969, is reported to have been watched by 125–150 million people. [3] This figure has not been substantiated by Nielsen Media Research, which has only published figures for the moon landing based on household viewership. [4] [5]

Top 20 list of most-watched telecasts by average viewership according to Nielsen
RankBroadcastAverage viewersDateNetwork(s)
1 Super Bowl LVIII 123,714,000 [6] February 11, 2024 CBS / Univision / Nickelodeon
2 Super Bowl LVII 115,096,000 [6] February 12, 2023 Fox / Fox Deportes
3 Super Bowl XLIX 114,810,000 [6] February 1, 2015 NBC / Universo
4 Super Bowl XLVIII 112,752,000 [6] February 2, 2014 Fox / Fox Deportes
5 Super Bowl 50 112,336,000 [6] February 7, 2016 CBS / ESPN Deportes
6 Super Bowl LI 111,973,000 [6] February 5, 2017 Fox / Fox Deportes
7 Super Bowl XLVI 111,346,000 [6] February 5, 2012 NBC
8 Super Bowl XLV 111,041,000 [6] February 6, 2011 Fox
9 Super Bowl XLVII 108,693,000 [6] February 3, 2013 CBS
10 Super Bowl XLIV 106,476,000 [6] February 7, 2010 CBS
11 M*A*S*H ("Goodbye, Farewell and Amen")105,970,000 [7] February 28, 1983 CBS
12 Super Bowl LII 104,016,000 [6] February 4, 2018 NBC / Universo
13 Super Bowl LIV 102,086,000 [6] February 2, 2020 Fox / Fox Deportes
14 Super Bowl LVI 101,470,000 [6] February 13, 2022 NBC / Telemundo
15 Super Bowl LIII 98,950,000 [6] February 3, 2019 CBS / ESPN Deportes
16 Super Bowl XLIII 98,732,000 [6] February 1, 2009 NBC
17 Super Bowl XLII 97,448,000 [6] February 3, 2008 Fox
18 Super Bowl LV 95,877,000 [6] February 7, 2021 CBS / ESPN Deportes
19 Super Bowl XXX 94,080,000 [6] January 28, 1996 NBC
20 Super Bowl XLI 93,184,000 [6] February 4, 2007 CBS

Excluding Super Bowls

List of most-watched television broadcasts by average viewership excluding Super Bowls
RankBroadcastAverage viewers
(millions)		DateNetwork
1 O.J. Simpson Trial Verdict coverage150.0 [8] [ better source needed ][ clarification needed ]October 3, 1995Multiple
2 M*A*S*H ("Goodbye, Farewell and Amen")106.0 [9] February 28, 1983 CBS
3 Gulf War coverage85.6 [5] January 16, 1991Multiple
4 Clinton–Trump presidential debate 84.0 [10] September 26, 2016Multiple
5 Dallas ("Who Done It")83.6 [9] November 21, 1980 CBS
6 Carter–Reagan presidential debate 80.6 [11] October 28, 1980Multiple
7 Cheers ("One for the Road")80.5 [9] May 20, 1993 NBC
8 1994 Winter Olympics – Ladies' singles figure skating 78.8 [12] February 23, 1994 CBS
9 The Day After 77.4 [9] November 20, 1983 ABC
10 Roots ("Part VIII")76.7 [9] January 30, 1977 ABC

Series by year

SeasonLiveLive + 3 DVR Live + 7 DVR
SeriesNetworkHouseholds
(millions)		Viewers
(millions)		SeriesNetworkViewers
(millions)		SeriesNetworkViewers
(millions)
1950s
1950–1951 Texaco Star Theatre NBC 6.28 [13] Un­known——————
1951–1952 Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts CBS 8.23 [14] Un­known——————
1952–1953 I Love Lucy 13.73 [15] Un­known——————
1953–1954 15.29 [16] Un­known——————
1954–1955 15.14 [17] Un­known——————
1955–1956 The $64,000 Question 16.58 [18] Un­known——————
1956–1957 I Love Lucy 17.00 [19] Un­known——————
1957–1958 Gunsmoke 18.07 [20] Un­known——————
1958–1959 17.40 [21] Un­known——————
1959–1960 18.44 [22] Un­known——————
1960s
1960–1961 Gunsmoke CBS 17.61 [23] Un­known—{cnn}}————
1961–1962 Wagon Train NBC 15.59 [24] Un­known——————
1962–1963 The Beverly Hillbillies CBS 18.11 [25] Un­known——————
1963–1964 20.18 [26] Un­known——————
1964–1965 Bonanza NBC 19.13 [27] Un­known——————
1965–1966 17.12 [28] Un­known——————
1966–1967 16.04 [29] Un­known——————
1967–1968 The Andy Griffith Show CBS 15.64 [30] Un­known——————
1968–1969 Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In NBC 18.52 [31] Un­known——————
1969–1970 15.39 [32] Un­known——————
1970s
1970–1971 Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC 17.79 [33] Un­known——————
1971–1972 All in the Family CBS 21.11 [34] Un­known——————
1972–1973 21.58 [35] Un­known——————
1973–1974 20.65 [36] Un­known——————
1974–1975 20.69 [37] Un­known——————
1975–1976 20.95 [38] Un­known——————
1976–1977 Happy Days ABC 22.43 [39] Un­known——————
1977–1978 Laverne & Shirley 23.04 [40] Un­known——————
1978–1979 22.72 [41] Un­known——————
1979–1980 60 Minutes CBS 21.67 [42] Un­known——————
1980s
1980–1981 Dallas CBS 27.57 [43] Un­known——————
1981–1982 23.15 [44] Un­known——————
1982–1983 60 Minutes 21.24 [45] Un­known——————
1983–1984 Dallas 21.54 [46] Un­known——————
1984–1985 Dynasty ABC 21.23 [47] Un­known——————
1985–1986 The Cosby Show NBC 28.95 [48] Un­known——————
1986–1987 30.50 [49] Un­known——————
1987–1988 Un­knownUn­known——————
1988–1989 23.14 [50] Un­known——————
1989–1990 21.28 [51] Un­known——————
Roseanne ABC Un­known——————
1990s
1990–1991 Cheers NBC 19.83 [52] Un­known——————
1991–1992 60 Minutes CBS 20.17 [53] Un­known——————
1992–1993 20.39 [54] Un­known——————
1993–1994 19.69 [55] Un­known——————
1994–1995 Home Improvement [upper-alpha 1] ABC—32.50 [56] ——————
Seinfeld [upper-alpha 1] NBC19.56 [57] ———————
1995–1996 ER 21.10 [58] 32.00 [59] ——————
1996–1997 20.56 [60] 30.79 [61] ——————
1997–1998 Seinfeld 21.27 [60] 34.10 [62] ——————
1998–1999 ER 17.69 [63] 25.40 [64] ——————
1999–2000 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Tues) ABC Un­known28.53 [65] ——————
2000s
2000–2001 Survivor CBS 28.80 [66] 29.80 [67] ——————
2001–2002 Friends NBC 22.30 [68] 24.50 [69] ——————
2002–2003 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CBS Un­known26.12 [70] ——————
2003–2004 American Idol (Tues) Fox Un­known25.73 [71] ——————
2004–2005 Un­known27.32 [72] ——————
2005–2006 Un­known31.17 [73] ——————
2006–2007 American Idol (Wed)Un­known30.58 [74] ——————
2007–2008 American Idol (Tues)Un­known28.80 [75] ——————
2008–2009 American Idol (Wed)Un­known25.53 [76] ——— American Idol (Wed) Fox 26.88 [76]
2009–2010 American Idol (Tues)Un­known22.97 [77] ——— American Idol (Tues)24.71 [78]
2010s
2010–2011 American Idol (Wed) Fox Un­known23.95 [79] ——— American Idol (Wed) Fox 26.20 [79]
2011–2012 NBC Sunday Night Football NBC Un­knownUn­known——— NBC Sunday Night Football NBC 20.74 [80]
2012–2013 Un­knownUn­known——— NCIS [upper-alpha 2] CBS 21.34 [82]
2013–2014 Un­known21.42 [83] ——— The Big Bang Theory 23.10 [83]
2014–2015 Un­known20.69 [84] ——— NBC Sunday Night Football NBC 20.81 [84]
2015–2016 Un­known21.30 [85] NBC Sunday Night Football NBC 21.38 [86] 21.39 [87]
2016–2017 Un­known19.63 [88] 19.73 [89] 19.75 [90]
2017–2018 Un­known17.58 [91] Roseanne ABC 18.21 [92] Roseanne ABC 19.96 [93]
2018–2019 Un­known18.80 [94] NBC Sunday Night Football NBC 18.92 [94] NBC Sunday Night Football NBC 18.94 [95]
2019–2020 Un­known19.96 [96] ———20.09 [97]

The highest-rated broadcasts of all time

The highest-rated broadcast of all time is the final episode of M*A*S*H in 1983, with 60.2% of all households with television sets in the United States at that time watching the episode. [98] [99] Aside from Super Bowls, the most recent broadcast to receive a rating above 40 was the Seinfeld finale in 1998, with a 41.3. [100] [101]

Nielsen only began recording a list of ratings for individual broadcasts starting in July 1960, therefore ratings before that time are not included in their official count. [102]

RankBroadcastRatingShareDateNetwork
1 M*A*S*H ("Goodbye, Farewell and Amen")60.277February 28, 1983 CBS
2 Dallas ("Who Done It")53.376November 21, 1980CBS
3 Roots ("Part VIII")51.171January 30, 1977ABC
4 Super Bowl XVI 49.173January 24, 1982CBS
5 Super Bowl XVII 48.669January 30, 1983NBC
6 1994 Winter Olympics (Ladies' singles)48.564February 23, 1994CBS
7 Super Bowl XX 48.370January 26, 1986NBC
8 The Big Event (Gone with the Wind (Part 1))47.765November 7, 1976NBC
9 Super Bowl XLIX 47.571February 1, 2015NBC
10 Monday Night at the Movies (Gone with the Wind (Part 2))47.464November 8, 1976NBC
11 Super Bowl XII 47.267January 15, 1978CBS
12 Super Bowl XIII 47.174January 21, 1979NBC
12 Super Bowl XLVI 47.071February 5, 2012NBC
13 Super Bowl XLVIII 46.769February 2, 2014 Fox
14The Bob Hope Vietnam Christmas Show46.664January 15, 1970NBC
Super Bowl 50 46.672February 7, 2016CBS
16 Super Bowl XVIII 46.471January 22, 1984CBS
Super Bowl XIX 46.463January 20, 1985ABC
Super Bowl XLVII 46.469February 3, 2013CBS
19 Super Bowl XIV 46.367January 20, 1980CBS
20 The ABC Sunday Night Movie ( The Day After )46.062November 20, 1983ABC
Super Bowl XXX 46.068January 28, 1996NBC
Super Bowl XLV 46.069February 6, 2011Fox
23 The Fugitive ("The Judgment: Part 2")45.972August 29, 1967ABC
Roots ("Part VI")45.966January 28, 1977ABC
25 Super Bowl XXI 45.866January 25, 1987CBS
26Roots ("Part V")45.771January 27, 1977ABC
27 Cheers ("One for the Road")45.564May 20, 1993NBC
Super Bowl XXVIII 45.566January 30, 1994NBC
29 The Ed Sullivan Show (The Beatles first appearance)45.360February 9, 1964CBS
Super Bowl LI 45.370February 5, 2017Fox
30 Super Bowl XXVII 45.166January 31, 1993NBC

Timeline

The following is a timeline of the highest rated television broadcasts since December 17, 1960. [98] [99] [103]

Timeline of the highest rated television broadcasts
M*A*S*H (TV series)Dallas (1978 TV series)Roots (1977 miniseries)NBC Sunday Night MovieBob Hope television specialsThe Fugitive (1963 TV series)The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Beverly HillbilliesThe Beverly HillbilliesMiss America 1961Gunsmoke#Television series (1955–1975) and TV moviesList of most watched television broadcasts in the United States

Series by year

The following is a list of the highest rated television series by year. [104] [105]

SeasonSeriesNetworkRating
1950s
1950–1951 Texaco Star Theatre NBC 61.6
1951–1952 Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts CBS 53.8
1952–1953 I Love Lucy 67.3
1953–1954 58.8
1954–1955 49.3
1955–1956 The $64,000 Question 47.5
1956–1957 I Love Lucy 43.7
1957–1958 Gunsmoke 43.1
1958–1959 39.6
1959–1960 40.3
1960s
1960–1961 Gunsmoke CBS 37.3
1961–1962 Wagon Train NBC 32.1
1962–1963 The Beverly Hillbillies CBS 36.0
1963–1964 39.1
1964–1965 Bonanza NBC 36.3
1965–1966 31.8
1966–1967 29.1
1967–1968 The Andy Griffith Show CBS 27.6
1968–1969 Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In NBC 31.8
1969–1970 26.3
1970s
1970–1971 Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC 29.6
1971–1972 All in the Family CBS 34.0
1972–1973 33.3
1973–1974 31.2
1974–1975 30.2
1975–1976 30.1
1976–1977 Happy Days ABC 31.5
1977–1978 Laverne & Shirley 31.6
1978–1979 30.5
1979–1980 60 Minutes CBS 28.4
1980s
1980–1981 Dallas CBS 34.5
1981–1982 28.4
1982–1983 60 Minutes 25.5
1983–1984 Dallas 25.7
1984–1985 Dynasty ABC 25.0
1985–1986 The Cosby Show NBC 33.7
1986–1987 34.9
1987–1988 27.8
1988–1989 25.6
1989–1990 23.1
Roseanne ABC 23.1
1990s
1990–1991 Cheers NBC 21.3
1991–1992 60 Minutes CBS 21.9
1992–1993 21.9
1993–1994 20.9
1994–1995 Seinfeld NBC20.6
1995–1996 ER 22.0
1996–1997 21.2
1997–1998 Seinfeld 21.7
1998–1999 ER 17.8
1999–2000 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Tues)ABC18.6
2000s
2000–2001 Survivor CBS17.4
2001–2002 Friends NBC15.0
2002–2003 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CBS16.3
2003–2004 15.9
2004–2005 16.5
2005–2006 American Idol (Tues) Fox 17.6
2006–2007 American Idol (Wed)17.3
2007–2008 American Idol (Tues)16.1
2008–2009 American Idol (Wed)15.1
2009–2010 American Idol (Tues)13.7
2010s
2010–2011 American Idol (Wed)Fox14.5
2011–2012 NBC Sunday Night Football NBC12.4
2012–2013 NCIS CBS13.5
2013–2014 12.6
NBC Sunday Night FootballNBC12.6
2014–2015 12.3
2015–2016 NCIS CBS12.8
2016–2017 The Big Bang Theory 11.5
2017–2018 11.1
2018–2019 NBC Sunday Night FootballNBC10.9
2019–2020 20.09
2020–2021 16.50
2021–2022 18.0


See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 During the 1994–1995 television season, ABC's Home Improvement was watched by the most viewers (32.50 million), while NBC's Seinfeld was watched by the most households (19.56 million). [56] [57]
  2. ↑ NBC Sunday Night Football aired three broadcasts before the official start of 2012–2013 television season which are not counted in the rankings. If these broadcasts were counted, NBC Sunday Night Football would average 21.44 million viewers—more than NCIS. [81]

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