List of most watched television broadcasts in the United States
The following is a list of most watched television broadcasts in the United States based on average viewership of the broadcasts by Nielsen. The Super Bowl has frequently been the most watched American television broadcast of the year. Super Bowl XLIX is currently the most watched U.S. television broadcast with 114.4 million viewers.[1]
Contents
Most watched broadcasts by average viewership[edit]
The following is the list of the most watched television broadcasts in the United States by average viewership according to Nielsen.
No. | Show | Viewership | Date | Network |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Super Bowl XLIX | 114,442,000[2] | February 1, 2015 | NBC |
2 | Super Bowl XLVIII | 112,191,000[2] | February 2, 2014 | Fox |
3 | Super Bowl 50 | 111,864,000[2] | February 7, 2016 | CBS |
4 | Super Bowl XLVI | 111,346,000[2] | February 5, 2012 | NBC |
5 | Super Bowl LI | 111,319,000[2] | February 5, 2017 | Fox |
6 | Super Bowl XLV | 111,041,000[2] | February 6, 2011 | Fox |
7 | Super Bowl XLVII | 108,693,000[2] | February 3, 2013 | CBS |
8 | Super Bowl XLIV | 106,476,000[2] | February 7, 2010 | CBS |
9 | M*A*S*H ("Goodbye, Farewell and Amen") | 105,970,000[3] | February 28, 1983 | CBS |
10 | Super Bowl LII | 103,471,000[2] | February 4, 2018 | NBC |
11 | Super Bowl XLIII | 98,732,000[2] | February 1, 2009 | NBC |
12 | Super Bowl LIII | 98,190,000[4] | February 3, 2019 | CBS |
13 | Super Bowl XLII | 97,448,000[2] | February 3, 2008 | Fox |
14 | Super Bowl XXX | 94,080,000[2] | January 28, 1996 | NBC |
15 | Super Bowl XLI | 93,184,000[2] | February 4, 2007 | CBS |
16 | Super Bowl XX | 92,570,000[2] | January 26, 1986 | NBC |
17 | Super Bowl XXVII | 90,990,000[2] | January 31, 1993 | NBC |
18 | Super Bowl XL | 90,745,000[2] | February 5, 2006 | ABC |
19 | Super Bowl XXVIII | 90,000,000[2] | January 30, 1994 | NBC |
Super Bowl XXXII | 90,000,000[2] | January 25, 1998 | NBC |
Note
There have been television audiences this large or larger for certain news events, but those totals include coverage on multiple networks and total viewership. For example, 125 to 150 million viewers watched the first moon landing on July 20, 1969; CBS had the largest share of those viewers with 57 million.[5][failed verification] Richard Nixon's resignation speech on August 9, 1974 attracted 128 million viewers. 118 million viewers watched the start of the "Operation Desert Storm" military attack on Iraq on January 17, 1991. 95 million viewers watched the police highway pursuit of O. J. Simpson on June 17, 1994.
Most watched television broadcasts by year[edit]
2019[edit]
2018[edit]
The following is a list of the ten most watched TV broadcasts in the United States in 2018 according to Nielsen.[6]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to sports.
No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Super Bowl LII | 103.4 | February 4, 2018 | NBC |
2 | 2018 State of the Union Address | 45.6 | January 30, 2018 | Various |
3 | Jaguars vs. Patriots | 44.1 | January 21, 2018 | CBS |
4 | Vikings vs. Eagles | 42.3 | January 21, 2018 | Fox |
5 | Saints vs. Vikings | 35.6 | January 14, 2018 | Fox |
6 | Jaguars vs. Steelers | 31.4 | January 14, 2018 | CBS |
7 | Panthers vs. Saints | 31.1 | January 7, 2018 | Fox |
8 | Redskins vs. Cowboys | 30.5 | November 22, 2018 | Fox |
9 | Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | 29.2 | May 19, 2018 | Various |
10 | Crimson Tide vs. Bulldogs | 28.4 | January 8, 2018 | ESPN |
2017[edit]
The following is a list of the ten most watched TV broadcasts in the United States in 2017 according to Nielsen.[7]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to sports.
No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Super Bowl LI | 111.3 | February 5, 2017 | Fox |
2 | Packers vs. Cowboys | 48.5 | January 15, 2017 | Fox |
3 | Steelers vs. Patriots | 48.0 | January 22, 2017 | CBS |
4 | Donald Trump Congressional Address | 47.7 | February 28, 2017 | Various |
5 | Packers vs. Falcons | 46.3 | January 22, 2017 | Fox |
6 | Giants vs. Packers | 39.3 | January 8, 2017 | Fox |
7 | Steelers vs. Chiefs | 37.1 | January 15, 2017 | NBC |
8 | 89th Academy Awards | 32.9 | February 26, 2017 | ABC |
9 | Inauguration of Donald Trump | 30.6 | January 20, 2017 | Various |
10 | Dolphins vs. Steelers | 29.9 | January 8, 2017 | CBS |
2016[edit]
The following is a list of the ten most watched TV broadcasts in the United States in 2016 according to Nielsen.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to the 2016 election.
No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Super Bowl 50 | 111.9 | February 7, 2016 | CBS |
2 | First presidential debate | 84.0 | September 26, 2016 | Various |
3 | Third presidential debate | 71.6 | October 19, 2016 | Various |
4 | Super Bowl 50 post-game show | 70.0 | February 7, 2016 | CBS |
5 | Second presidential debate | 66.5 | October 9, 2016 | Various |
6 | World Series Game 7: Cubs vs. Indians | 40.5 | November 2, 2016 | Fox |
7 | Vice presidential debate | 37.0 | October 4, 2016 | Various |
8 | Redskins vs. Cowboys | 35.1 | November 24, 2016 | Fox |
9 | Donald Trump RNC acceptance speech | 34.9 | July 21, 2016 | Various |
10 | 88th Academy Awards | 34.4 | February 28, 2016 | ABC |
2015[edit]
The following is a list of the ten most watched TV broadcasts in the United States in 2015 according to Nielsen.[14]
Indicates broadcast unrelated to sports.
No. | Show | Viewership (in millions) |
Date | Network |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Super Bowl XLIX | 115.2 | February 1, 2015 | NBC |
2 | Super Bowl XLIX post-game show | 73.2 | February 1, 2015 | NBC |
3 | Colts vs. Patriots | 42.3 | January 18, 2015 | CBS |
4 | 87th Academy Awards | 37.2 | February 22, 2015 | ABC |
5 | College Football Playoff National Championship | 33.7 | January 12, 2015 | ESPN |
6 | Lions vs. Cowboys post-game show | 33.1 | January 4, 2015 | Fox |
7 | Panthers vs. Seahawks | 31.1 | January 10, 2015 | Fox |
8 | The Blacklist ("Luther Braxton", Super Bowl XLIX lead-out) | 30.5 | February 1, 2015 | NBC |
9 | Colts vs. Broncos post-game show | 28.6 | January 11, 2015 | CBS |
10 | Alabama vs. Ohio State | 28.5 | January 1, 2015 | ESPN |
Most watched television series[edit]
Most watched by year[edit]
Nielsen began compiling ratings for television beginning in 1950. Prior to that year, television ratings were compiled by a number of other sources, including C. E. Hooper (which was bought out by Nielsen in February 1950) and Variety.
American Idol holds the record for most consecutive seasons at No. 1 (also its total), with eight. Note however that American Idol usually airs two episodes a week; for the 2005-2006 season, only the Tuesday show was ranked No. 1, overall American Idol was ranked No. 2 that season. For the show taken as a whole, it was No. 1 for six consecutive seasons.[15] All in the Family, and The Cosby Show share second place for most consecutive (and total) seasons at No. 1, with five each. Counting in for total seasons at No. 1, 60 Minutes also holds a share of a three-way second place, and is the first (and currently only) U.S. primetime television show to lead the annual Nielsen ratings in at least 3 separate decades - 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
Season | Live | Live + 3 DVR | Live + 7 DVR | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Show | Network | Households (in millions) |
Viewers (in millions) |
Show | Network | Viewers (in millions) |
Show | Network | Viewers (in millions) | |
1950s | ||||||||||
1950–1951 | Texaco Star Theatre | NBC | 6.28[16] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1951–1952 | Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts | CBS | 8.23[17] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1952–1953 | I Love Lucy | 13.73[18] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
1953–1954 | 15.29[19] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1954–1955 | 15.14[20] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1955–1956 | The $64,000 Question | 16.58[21] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
1956–1957 | I Love Lucy | 17.00[22] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
1957–1958 | Gunsmoke | 18.07[23] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
1958–1959 | 17.40[24] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1959–1960 | 18.44[25] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1960s | ||||||||||
1960–1961 | Gunsmoke | CBS | 17.61[26] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1961–1962 | Wagon Train | NBC | 15.59[27] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1962–1963 | The Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 18.11[28] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1963–1964 | 20.18[29] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1964–1965 | Bonanza | NBC | 19.13[30] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1965–1966 | 17.12[31] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1966–1967 | 16.04[32] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1967–1968 | The Andy Griffith Show | CBS | 15.64[33] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1968–1969 | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In | NBC | 18.52[34] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1969–1970 | 15.39[35] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1970s | ||||||||||
1970–1971 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | ABC | 17.79[36] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1971–1972 | All in the Family | CBS | 21.11[37] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1972–1973 | 21.58[38] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1973–1974 | 20.65[39] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1974–1975 | 20.69[40] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1975–1976 | 20.95[41] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1976–1977 | Happy Days | ABC | 22.43[42] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1977–1978 | Laverne & Shirley | 23.04[43] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
1978–1979 | 22.72[44] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1979–1980 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 21.67[45] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1980s | ||||||||||
1980–1981 | Dallas | CBS | 27.57[46] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1981–1982 | 23.15[47] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1982–1983 | 60 Minutes | 21.24[48] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
1983–1984 | Dallas | 21.54[49] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
1984–1985 | Dynasty | ABC | 21.23[50] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1985–1986 | The Cosby Show | NBC | 28.95[51] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1986–1987 | 30.50[52] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1987–1988 | Unknown | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1988–1989 | 23.14[53] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1989–1990 | 21.28[54] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
Roseanne | ABC | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1990s | ||||||||||
1990–1991 | Cheers | NBC | 19.83[55] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1991–1992 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 20.17[56] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1992–1993 | 20.39[57] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1993–1994 | 19.69[58] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1994–1995 | Seinfeld | NBC | 19.65[59] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1995–1996 | ER | 21.10[60] | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
1996–1997 | 20.56[61] | 30.79[62] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
1997–1998 | Seinfeld | 21.27[63] | 34.10[64] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
1998–1999 | ER | 17.69[65] | 25.40[66] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
1999–2000 | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Tues) | ABC | Unknown | 28.53[67] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2000s | ||||||||||
2000–2001 | Survivor | CBS | Unknown | 29.80[68] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2001–2002 | Friends | NBC | Unknown | 24.50[69] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2002–2003 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | CBS | Unknown | 26.12[70] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2003–2004 | American Idol (Tues) | Fox | Unknown | 25.73[71] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2004–2005 | Unknown | 27.32[72] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
2005–2006 | Unknown | 31.17[73] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
2006–2007 | American Idol (Wed) | Unknown | 30.58[74] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
2007–2008 | American Idol (Tues) | Unknown | 28.80[75] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
2008–2009 | American Idol (Wed) | Unknown | 25.53[76] | N/A | N/A | N/A | American Idol (Wed) | Fox | 26.88[76] | |
2009–2010 | American Idol (Tues) | Unknown | 22.97[77] | N/A | N/A | N/A | American Idol (Tues) | 24.71[78] | ||
2010s | ||||||||||
2010–2011 | American Idol (Wed) | Fox | Unknown | 23.95[79] | N/A | N/A | N/A | American Idol (Wed) | Fox | 26.20[79] |
2011–2012 | NBC Sunday Night Football | NBC | Unknown | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | NBC Sunday Night Football | NBC | 20.74[80] |
2012–2013 | Unknown | Unknown | N/A | N/A | N/A | NCIS[a] | CBS | 21.34[82] | ||
2013–2014 | Unknown | 21.42[83] | N/A | N/A | N/A | The Big Bang Theory | 23.10[83] | |||
2014–2015 | Unknown | 20.69[84] | N/A | N/A | N/A | NBC Sunday Night Football | NBC | 20.81[84] | ||
2015–2016 | Unknown | 21.30[85] | NBC Sunday Night Football | NBC | 21.38[86] | 21.39[87] | ||||
2016–2017 | Unknown | 19.63[88] | 19.73[89] | 19.75[90] | ||||||
2017–2018 | Unknown | 17.58[91] | Roseanne | ABC | 18.21[92] | Roseanne | ABC | 19.96[93] | ||
2018–2019 | Unknown | 18.80[94] | NBC Sunday Night Football | NBC | 18.92[94] | NBC Sunday Night Football | NBC | 18.94[95] |
- Notes
- ^ NBC Sunday Night Football aired three broadcasts before the official start of 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]
Most watched series finales[edit]
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The number of viewers for M*A*S*H (105.9 million) and Cheers (84.4 million) are the numbers most commonly reported. M*A*S*H has also been reported at 121.6 million viewers and Cheers has been reported at 93.5 million viewers.[96][97] For M*A*S*H and Cheers, 121.6 million and 93.5 million represent the total audience who watched at least six minutes and the 105.9 million and 84.4 million represent the viewers who watched the average minute.[98] Regular episodes of M*A*S*H were thirty minutes long, but the final episode was a 2.5-hour long television movie, which reached a peak audience of 125 million by the primetime telecast conclusion of the 1983 M*A*S*H series finale.
When TV miniseries are taken into the Nielsen tallies, ABC's Roots posted the second most watched series finale in U.S. history, watched on 30 January 1977, by 100 million viewers (51.1% of American households and more than 71% of the total U.S. television viewers that year), but attracted the largest viewership for any type of primetime television series in U.S. history – a record currently standing at between 130 million and 140 million.[99][100]
The M*A*S*H finale was notorious in that after the episode finished, water flow in New York City increased by 6.7 million gallons, representing about 1 million people using the bathroom. While contributing to the CD-ROM computer game Blast from the Past, in association with TV Land, Loretta Swit commented on the event, stating she thought it was due to the fact viewers stayed glued to the screens for the whole show, and then rushed to the facilities. The 2004 finale of Friends had overtaken the record of Seinfeld in 1998 since in its last 6 minutes were seen by almost 80 million people, but viewership remained at 65.9 million because it was the audience for most of the episode. Part one of the Friends finale had 52.47 million viewers and part 2 had 65.9 million viewers and both parts were broadcast on May 6, 2004 on NBC from 21:00 to 22:06.[101]
Series[a] | Viewership (in millions) |
Household rating | Share | Date | Network |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
M*A*S*H | 105.9[98] | 60.2%[98] | 77%[98] | February 28, 1983[98] | CBS[98] |
Roots | 100.0[102] | 51.1% | 71% | Jan 30, 1977 | ABC |
Cheers | 84.4[103] | 45.5% | 64%[96] | May 20, 1993 | NBC |
The Fugitive | 78.0[104] | 45.9% | 72% | Aug 29, 1967 | ABC |
Seinfeld | 76.3[103] | 41.3% | 58% | May 14, 1998 | NBC |
Friends^ | 150.5[105] | 29.8% | 43%[106] | May 6, 2004 | NBC |
Magnum, P.I. | 50.7 | 32.0% | 48% | May 1, 1988 | CBS |
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 50.0[103] | 30.0% | 46% | May 22, 1992 | NBC |
The Cosby Show | 44.4[103] | 28.0% | 45% | April 30, 1992 | NBC |
All in the Family | 40.2[103][107] | 26.6% | 43% | April 8, 1979 | CBS |
Family Ties | 36.3 | 20.8% | 35% | May 14, 1989 | NBC |
Home Improvement | 35.5[108] | 21.6%[109] | 43%[108] | May 25, 1999 | ABC |
Frasier | 33.7[110] | 16.3% | 25% | May 13, 2004 | NBC |
Dallas | 33.3 | 22.0% | 38% | May 3, 1991 | CBS |
Everybody Loves Raymond | 32.9[110] | 20.2% | 29% | May 16, 2005 | CBS |
Star Trek: The Next Generation | 31.0[111] | 17.4% | 34% | May 23, 1994 | Syndication |
Gunsmoke | 30.9[107] | N/A | N/A | March 31, 1975 | CBS |
Happy Days | 30.5 | 20.5% | 31% | September 24, 1984 | ABC |
Newhart | 29.5[112] | 18.7% | 29% | May 21, 1990 | CBS |
The Golden Girls | 27.2 | 18.9% | 38% | May 9, 1992 | NBC |
- Notes
- ^ Bold text indicates the series was revived.
Most watched series episode of the decade[edit]
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This table lists the most watched overall television episode for every decade in the United States, as tallied by the Nielsen Media Research since the 1950–1951 television season. The audience share category of the Nielsen ratings only began in the 1959–1960 television season, and that all the Nielsen ratings for U.S. telecasts starting 2003 were adjusted from the 2008–09 season to incorporate both the standard live primetime and time-shifted or delayed DVR viewership figures (based on the telecast's final 5-minute standard run) in the United States only (from the dates of their original series finale runs).
Decade | Title | Episode | Viewers (in millions) |
Household share |
Audience share |
Date | Network |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1950s | The Ed Sullivan Show | Special guesting of Elvis Presley | 60.71 | 43.7% | 82.6% | 9 Sep 1956 | CBS |
1960s | The Fugitive | "The Judgment" Part 2 | 78.02 | 45.9% | 72% | 29 Aug 1967 | ABC |
1970s | Roots (miniseries) | "Part VIII" | 100.0[102] | 51.1% | 71% | 30 Jan 1977 | ABC |
1980s | M*A*S*H | "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" | 125.02[102] | 60.2% | 77% | 28 Feb 1983 | CBS |
1990s | Cheers | "One for the Road" | 93.51[103] | 51.7% | 72%[96] | 20 May 1993 | NBC |
2000s | Friends | "The Last One" | 80.0[113] | 40.2% | 62% | 6 May 2004 | NBC |
2010s | Undercover Boss | "Waste Management, Inc" (Series Premiere) | 42.3 | 29.4% | 36% | 7 Feb 2010 | CBS |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Mark Koba (January 28, 2014). "Super Bowl TV ratings: Fast facts at a glance". CNBC. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Historical Super Bowl Viewership". Nielsen Media Research. February 4, 2019. Archived from the original on February 5, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "Super Bowl XLV Most Viewed Telecast in U.S. Broadcast History". Nielsen. February 7, 2011. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ^ Welch, Alex (February 5, 2019). "Super Bowl LIII adjusts up, 'The World's Best' adjusts down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ Estimates of viewing figures vary:
- 125 million:
- MSNBC (August 18, 2009). "Buzz Aldrin to accept NASA's Emmy Award". NBC News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- Davis, Jason (July 17, 2014). "45 Years after Apollo 11, NASA Prepares for Another Big Splashdown". The Planetary Society. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- 150 million:
- Higgins, Bill (October 11, 2018). "Hollywood Flashback: Neil Armstrong's Moonwalk Killed the Box Office in 1969". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
CBS estimated 150 million total viewers tuned in across all three networks, while NBC put the number at 125 million.
- Higgins, Bill (October 11, 2018). "Hollywood Flashback: Neil Armstrong's Moonwalk Killed the Box Office in 1969". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- 125 million:
- ^ Crupi, Anthony (January 3, 2019). "Network TV can't survive without the NFL". Ad Age. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
- ^ Crupi, Anthony. "Despite Another Ratings Slump, the NFL Remains TV's Top Dog". AdAge. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ Patten, Dominic (June 20, 2016). "NBA Finals Game 7 Most Watched Game Ever On ABC As Cavs Win First Title". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Porter, Rick (February 9, 2016). "Broadcast weekly Top 25: Super Bowl 50 dominates the week of Feb. 1-7".
- ^ Stelter, Brian (September 27, 2016). "Debate breaks record as most-watched in U.S. history". CNN.
- ^ "U.S. vice presidential debate watched by 37 million on TV". Reuters. October 5, 2016.
- ^ de Moraes, Lisa (October 10, 2016). "Viewership of the second presidential debate dropped by a lot". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Associated Press (October 20, 2016). "Final debate is third most-watched presidential match ever". Fox News.
- ^ "The 10 biggest television events of 2015". Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ^ "5 reasons 'American Idol' may go on nearly forever—or not". USA Today. January 17, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
- ^ "TV Ratings: 1950-1951". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "TV Ratings: 1951-1952". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "TV Ratings: 1952-1953". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "TV Ratings: 1953-1954". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "TV Ratings: 1954-1955". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "TV Ratings: 1955-1956". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "TV Ratings: 1956-1957". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "TV Ratings: 1957-1958". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "TV Ratings: 1958-1959". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "TV Ratings: 1959-1960". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "TV Ratings: 1960-1961". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
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