List of most-watched television broadcasts#Australia

{{Short description|None}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

This article lists the television broadcasts that had the most viewers within individual countries, as measured by ratings and research agencies in those countries. The research methodology and choice of statistics varies between sources, and is explained in individual sections.

Because many events are watched simultaneously around the world and recorded programs are exported to multiple countries, it is difficult to collate reliable figures for global audiences. Those countries where reliable figures are available may use incompatible methodologies, such as the minimum age of counted viewers, and what proportion of the program must be watched when measuring the "reach" of a program, rather than its average or peak audience.{{cite conference|url=http://docplayer.net/34741072-Methodological-pitfalls-in-analysing-tv-audiences-for-sport.html|title=Methodological pitfalls in analysing TV audiences for sport|author=Prof. Dr. Daam Van Reeth|conference=8th Conference of the European Sports Economics Association Gröningen|date=1 September 2016}} Figures published by organisers and journalists are routinely exaggerated or misrepresented, claiming billions of viewers worldwide, where independent analysis suggests few if any broadcasts have reached 1 billion viewers.{{cite news|title=Why Fifa's claim of one billion TV viewers was a quarter right|work=The Independent|date=1 March 2007|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/why-fifas-claim-of-one-billion-tv-viewers-was-a-quarter-right-5332287.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305020833/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/why-fifas-claim-of-one-billion-tv-viewers-was-a-quarter-right-5332287.html|archive-date=5 March 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2011/04/26/sincere-good-wishes-to-wills-and-kate-but-a-2bn-tv-audience-garbage-only-the-olympic-games-and-the-world-cup-are-truly-global-events-and-only-half-as-big-as-that-at-best-260406/|title=Sincere good wishes to Wills and Kate, but a 2bn TV audience? Garbage. Only the Olympics and the World Cup are truly global events, and half as big as that at best|author=Nick Harris|website=Sporting Intelligence|date=26 April 2011}}

Although numbers are unreliable, it is generally accepted that the most widely watched events worldwide are international sporting events such as the Summer Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, and the Cricket World Cup{{Cite web |title=2023 ODI World Cup shatters viewership records |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/2023-odi-world-cup-shatters-viewership-records-1410361 |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}} with annual events such as the CMG New Year's Gala in China,{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Louisa |date=November 28, 2012 |title=Will China's First Lady Outshine Her Husband? |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/11/28/165947540/will-chinas-first-lady-outshine-her-husband |access-date=2025-03-01 |work=NPR |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Linda |date=January 31, 2025 |title=New Year’s Gala Celebrates Tech and International Outlook |url=https://jamestown.org/program/new-years-gala-celebrates-tech-and-international-outlook/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Jamestown Foundation |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2018-02-15 |title=The world's most-watched television show airs tonight |url=https://time.com/5159412/cctv-spring-festival-gala/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Time |language=en}} Super Bowl in the U.S., the Indian Premier League in India{{cite web |url=https://www.livemint.com/Sports/fGCIL5JxhO2HEe0LCFhWhM/IPL-final-viewership-jumps-41-to-556-mn-impressions-on-TV.html |title=IPL final viewership jumps 41% to 55.6 mn impressions on TV |work=live Mint |date=8 June 2018}} and the UEFA Champions League finals in Europe picking up large regional audiences.{{cite news|title=Champions League final tops Super Bowl for TV market |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8490351.stm|access-date=27 November 2011|work=BBC Sport|date=31 January 2010}} Other broadcasts frequently claimed to have broken records include news events such as the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing,{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html|title=NASA – Apollo 11|website=NASA|date=17 April 2015|access-date=21 December 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/news_events/apollo11/pasa/on_eagles_wings.pdf |title=On Eagle's Wings: The Parkes Observatory's Support of the Apollo 11 Mission| publisher=Astronomical Society of Australia|date=1 July 2001 |access-date=19 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831164351/http://www.parkes.atnf.csiro.au/news_events/apollo11/pasa/on_eagles_wings.pdf |archive-date=31 August 2007 |url-status=live }} funerals of significant figures such as Michael Jackson,{{Cite book |last=Glenday |first=Craig |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GJ-Lts1QgrkC&dq=jackson+funeral++guinness+world+records&pg=PA304 |title=Guinness World Records 2011 - Most Watched TV: The Funeral of Michael Jackson was watched by a global audience of 2-3 billion people |date=2011 |publisher=Random House Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-440-42310-2 |language=en}} Diana, Princess of Wales,{{Cite news |date=1997-09-06 |title=1997: Diana's funeral watched by millions |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/6/newsid_2502000/2502307.stm |access-date=2024-05-11 |work=BBC |language=en-GB |quote=It was estimated that a total of 2.5 billion people watched the princess's funeral, a testament to her global celebrity}}{{Cite web |title=Some 2.5 billion TV viewers watch Princess Diana's funeral {{!}} September 6, 1997 |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/some-2-5-billion-tv-viewers-watch-princess-dianas-funeral |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=HISTORY |language=en}} or Elizabeth II, and music events such as the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert,{{Cite web |date=2013-03-12 |title=BBC - History of the BBC, July 1985 - Live Aid - a new global campaign phenomenon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0166vn9 |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=BBC |language=en-GB |quote=Live Aid, a multi-venue rock music concert, was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for Ethiopia famine relief. It was one of the largest-scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time with an estimated 400 million viewers, across 60 countries}} 1993 Super Bowl Halftime Show,{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u2dKAAAAIBAJ&dq=super+bowl+halftime+show+750+million+jackson&pg=PA14&article_id=6853,78464 |title=For Dazzle, You Couldn't Beat It Super. |date=1 Feb 1993 |publisher=The Telegraph |language=en |quote=The 10 minute performance, in which Jackson did for free reached a TV Audience of more than 750 million people worldwide.}}{{Cite web |last=Oates |first=Bob |date=1993-02-16 |title=PRO FOOTBALL / BOB OATES : L.A. Shrank, Super Bowl Expanded |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-16-sp-290-story.html |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |quote=“Along with a national rating of 45.5 for Michael Jackson’s half hour, the foreign press and TV corps numbered 340. Internationally, the game went live to an estimated 750 million viewers"}}{{Cite web |last=Rabun |first=Mike |date=31 Jan 1993 |title=Cowboys 52, Bills 17 - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/01/31/Cowboys-52-Bills-17/4232728456400/ |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=UPI |language=en |quote=Before a Rose Bowl crowd of 98,374 and a worldwide television audience of some 750 million}} or the CMG New Year's Gala that is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's most watched television program.{{cite web |date= 2018-02-14 |title=The world's most-watched television show airs tonight|url=https://time.com/5159412/cctv-spring-festival-gala/|access-date=2025-02-18|website=Time|language=en|quote=Guinness World Records in 2012 said the show had unique viewership of 498.7 million, making it the globe’s “Most Watched National Network TV Broadcast.” By contrast, the audience for this year’s NFL Super Bowl, typically the most-watched show in the U.S., was 103.4 million viewers, according to NBC.}}{{Cite web |title=Most watched national network TV broadcast (reach) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/102651-most-watched-national-network-tv-broadcast-reach |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Guinness World Records |language=en-GB |quote=The most watched national TV show is the annual Spring Festival Gala (aka Chinese New Year) on CCTV (China Central Television), which in 2012 had a unique reach of 498,659,000 on CCTV-1, 3 or 4.}}

Australia

=Most-watched broadcasts of all time (total viewers)=

The following is David Dale's approximate ranking of the most-watched television shows of all time in Australia using data from Nielsen Corporation and OzTAM.{{cite news|title=Australia's Most Watched Shows of All Time|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/blogs/the-tribal-mind/australias-most-watched-television-shows-of-all-time-the-tribal-mind-archive-2014-20140703-3b9r1.html|access-date=14 March 2015|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 July 2014}}

class="sortable wikitable"
RankShowDateNetwork
align="center"|12023 FIFA Women's World Cup semi-final, Australia vs England2023Seven Network, Optus Sport
align="center"|2Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II2022ABC, Seven Network, Nine Network, Ten Network
align="center"|32023 FIFA Women's World Cup quarter-final, Australia vs France2023Seven Network, Optus Sport
align="center"|4Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer1981ABC, Seven Network, Nine Network, Ten Network
align="center"|52000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony2000Seven Network
align="center"|62000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony2000Seven Network
align="center"|7Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton2011ABC, Seven Network, Nine Network, Ten Network
align="center"|81984 Summer Olympics opening ceremony1984Ten Network
align="center"|9The World of The Seekers1968Ten Network
align="center"|10Boxing: Lionel Rose v Alan Rudkin1964Seven Network

Note: the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the Wedding of Prince Charles and the Wedding of Prince William were all carried by all 4 major networks and are counted together.

= Most viewed broadcasts since 2001 (OzTAM 5 City Metro Average) =

The following table is a list of the most viewed programs based on the OzTAM 5 City Metro Average rating system.{{cite web|title=Screen Australia TV Ratings|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/research/statistics/tvfreetoptitlesall.aspx|access-date=4 March 2015}}{{cite web|title=Screen Australia TV Ratings 1998 – 2009|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/research/statistics/archwftvtopprog.aspx#Rbb89179|access-date=4 March 2015}} It does not include regional numbers (40% of the population) and uses the average viewership, not the peak viewership. Also note these ratings are not comparable with ratings before 2001 due to different methodologies used after this time.

class="sortable wikitable"
RankShowNumber of viewersRatingsYearNetwork
align="center"|12023 FIFA Women's World Cup semi-final, Australia vs England7.13 million{{cite web | url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/matildas-take-down-cathy-freeman-record-staggering-tv-ratings-semi-final-011825632.html | title=Matildas take down Cathy Freeman in staggering development after semi-final | date=17 August 2023 }}{{efn|6.9 million viewers watched on the Seven Network alone. The peak viewership was 11.15 million.}}-2023Seven Network, Optus Sport
align="center"|2Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton6.0 million2011ABC, Network 7, Network 9, Network Ten, 7Two{{cite web|title=Australia's most watched television shows of all time|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/blogs/the-tribal-mind/australias-most-watched-television-shows-of-all-time-the-tribal-mind-archive-2014-20140703-3b9r1.html|access-date=4 March 2015}}
align="center"|32023 FIFA Women's World Cup quarter-final, Australia vs France4.17 million{{cite web | url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/matildas-take-down-ash-barty-record-tv-ratings-womens-world-cup-203621794.html | title=Matildas take down Ash Barty in staggering development at Women's World Cup | date=13 August 2023 }}{{efn|The peak viewership was 7.2 million.}}-2023Seven Network, Optus Sport
align="center"|4Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle4.09 Million2018Seven Network, Nine Network, ABC, SBS, BBC UKTV, Sky News Live
align="center"|52005 Australian Open – Men's singles final4.043 Million29.32005Seven Network
align="center"|6MasterChef Australia (season 2) – finale challenge4.029 Million27.12010Network Ten
align="center"|72003 Rugby World Cup final4.016 Million29.72003Seven Network
align="center"|8MasterChef Australia (season 1) – finale challenge3.726 Million25.62009Network Ten
align="center"|92006 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony3.561 Million25.52006Nine Network
align="center"|102005 AFL Grand Final (Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles)3.386 Million24.52005Network Ten

Brazil

class="sortable wikitable"
RankShowEpisodeRatingShareDateChannelContentSource(s)
align="center" rowspan=2|1Roque SanteiroEpisode 209style="text-align: center;" | 96style="text-align: center;" | 100%{{dts|format=dmy|1986|February|21}}TV GloboTelenovela{{cite web|url=http://www.grandescuriosidades.com/2012/07/a-maior-audiencia-da-historia-da-tv.html|title=A maior audiência da história da tv brasileira|access-date=1 October 2014|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031025505/http://www.grandescuriosidades.com/2012/07/a-maior-audiencia-da-historia-da-tv.html|archive-date=31 October 2012}}{{Cite web|date=2003-07-19|title=Roque Santeiro chegou a alcançar 100 pontos no Ibope | + Pop|url=https://tribunapr.uol.com.br/mais-pop/roque-santeiro-chegou-a-alcancar-100-pontos-no-ibope/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Tribuna do Paraná|language=pt-br}}
Selva de PedraEpisode 152style="text-align: center;" | —style="text-align: center;" | 100%{{dts|format=dmy|1972|October|4}}TV GloboTelenovela{{cite web|url=https://super.abril.com.br/mundo-estranho/qual-foi-a-maior-audiencia-da-tv-brasileira/|title=Qual foi a maior audiência de todos os tempos na TV brasileira?|access-date=2 February 2020}}
align="center"|2Vale TudoEpisode 192style="text-align: center;" | 81align="center"|{{mdash}}{{dts|format=dmy|1988|December|24}}TV GloboTelenovela{{Cite web|last=MEbbCwIVSx|date=2016-09-20|url=http://www.estrelando.com.br/foto/2016/09/20/relembre-as-cenas-mais-marcantes-das-novelas-177087/foto-10|title=Relembre as cenas marcantes das novelas que deram o que falar!|access-date=9 January 2019}}
align="center"|3TietaEpisode 196style="text-align: center;" | 78align="center"|{{mdash}}{{dts|format=dmy|1990|March|27}}TV GloboTelenovela{{Cite web|last=MEbbCwIVSx|date=2019-08-14|title=Maior sucesso da história, Tieta estreava há exatos 30 anos|url=https://www.jcorreiodopovo.com.br/sem-categoria/maior-sucesso-da-historia-tieta-estreava-ha-exatos-30-anos/|access-date=2022-01-15|language=pt-BR}}
align="center"|4State funeral of Ayrton SennaDeath of Ayrton Sennastyle="text-align: center;" | 75style="text-align:center;" | 100%{{dts|format=dmy|1994|May|4}} {{dts|format=dmy|1994|May|5}}TV Cultura, SBT, TV Globo, Record, Manchete, TV Gazeta and Rede BandeirantesMotorsport{{cite news|title=Motor Racing: Prost's touching tribute to Senna: Friends and colleagues bear a champion's body to his grave|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-prosts-touching-tribute-to-senna-friends-and-colleagues-bear-a-champions-body-to-his-grave-1433924.html|work=The Independent|date=6 May 1994|access-date=9 September 2012|location=London|archive-date=10 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110063639/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-prosts-touching-tribute-to-senna-friends-and-colleagues-bear-a-champions-body-to-his-grave-1433924.html|url-status=live}}
align="center"|51998 FIFA World CupBrazil vs. Netherlands (semi-final)style="text-align: center;" | 73align="center"|{{mdash}}{{dts|format=dmy|1998|July|7}}SBT, TV Globo, Manchete and Rede BandeirantesAssociation football{{cite web|url=https://cassiozirpoli.com.br/as-audiencias-na-tv-aberta-da-selecao-brasileira-no-mundial-de-1998-a-2018/|title=As audiências na TV aberta da Seleção Brasileira no Mundial de 1998 a 2018|author=Cassio Zirpoli |date=19 June 2018|publisher=Blog do Cassio Zirpoli}}
align="center"|62002 FIFA World CupBrazil vs. Turkey (semi-final)style="text-align: center;" | 71align="center"|{{mdash}}{{dts|format=dmy|2002|June|26}}TV GloboAssociation football{{Cite web|date=2019-10-18|title=Semifinal da Copa de 2002 foi jogo de futebol mais visto da TV brasileira, mostra pesquisa|url=https://oparana.com.br/noticia/semifinal-da-copa-de-2002-foi-jogo-de-futebol-mais-visto-da-tv-brasileira-mostra-pesquisa/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Jornal O Paraná|language=pt-BR}}
align="center"|7AméricaEpisode 203style="text-align: center;" | 68align="center"|82%{{dts|format=dmy|2005|November|4}}TV GloboTelenovela{{cite web|url=http://www.ofuxico.com.br/noticias-sobre-famosos/america-termina-superando-expectativas-70-pontos-de-audiencia/2005/11/04-12177.html|title=América termina superando expectativas: 70 pontos de audiência!|publisher=O Fuxico|date=4 November 2005}}{{cite web|url= http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ilustrada/ult90u54943.shtml|title="América" bate recorde e veta beijo gay|author= Redação Folha Online|publisher=Folha Online|date=4 November 2005}}|
align="center"|82002 FIFA World CupGermany vs. Brazil (final)style="text-align: center;" | 67align="center"|91%{{dts|format=dmy|2002|June|30}}TV GloboAssociation football{{cite web|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/esporte/ult92u43997.shtml|title=TV Globo registra 67 pontos de audiência na decisão|access-date=25 February 2020|date=30 June 2002|publisher=Folha de S. Paulo}}

Canada

{{further|List of most watched television broadcasts in Canada}}

The two most-watched television broadcasts in Canadian history occurred during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. For the gold medal game of the men's hockey tournament at the 2010 Winter Olympics, played between the United States and Canada, confirmed 16.6 million Canadians watched the whole game, roughly one-half of the country's entire population.{{cite web|url= http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=519476 |title=Olympic final most watched hockey game in 30 years |publisher=NHL |date= 1 March 2010 |access-date=4 May 2011}} A groundbreaking 26.5 million Canadians watched some part of the game, over 80 percent of the country's 34-million-person population.{{cite news|url= https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/gold-medal-game-huge-tv-hit-on-both-sides-1.934116 |title=Gold medal game huge TV hit on both sides |publisher=CBC |date= 1 March 2010 |access-date=1 November 2011}} According to multiple sources, 13.3 million Canadians watched the games' opening ceremony, which was the previous record.{{cite news|last=Grohmann |first=Karolos |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61C2GL20100213 |title=Games opening ceremony is most watched TV event in Canada |work=Reuters |date= 13 February 2010|access-date=4 May 2011}}

Many believed the final game of the 1972 Summit Series had up to 18 million viewers, but only 4.3 million TVs tuned in. This statistic does not represent the reality that most school children (representing the tail end of the baby-boom i.e. a large population) nationwide watched the game in gymnasiums on only one or two TVs. 10.3 million people watched the ice hockey gold medal final of the 2002 Winter Olympics.{{cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2010/12/c9483.html |title=2010 Gold Medal Game Is the Apex of TV Viewing in Canada as Legend of '72 Summit Series Finally Laid to Rest |publisher=Newswire.ca |date= March 2010|access-date=4 May 2011}}

China

China Central Television's Spring Festival Gala has regularly attracted between 700 million{{cite news|url=http://travel.cnn.com/7-ways-celebrate-chinese-new-year-395376|title=7 ways to celebrate Chinese New Year|publisher=CNN|date=8 February 2013|quote=It's also probably the biggest show on the planet, attracting 700 million viewers, six times the Super Bowl's audience.}} to 1.17 billion viewers annually.{{cite web|url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/I4FMzYzQjutyUNOQ_M8eFg|title=A record 1.17 billion viewers struggled through the 2019 Gala|publisher=Shanghaiist|date=8 January 2019|quote=According to the China Media Group, there were a whopping 1.17 billion masochists who tuned in for the gala on Monday night, watching on TV, through apps, and online. That's about 42 million more viewers than last year.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sony.com/SCA/company-news/press-releases/sony-columbia-records/2013/pop-star-celine-dion-set-to-sing-at-the-2013-cctv-.shtml|title=Pop Star Celine Dion Set to Sing at the 2013 CCTV Spring Festival Gala|publisher=Sony|date=30 January 2013|quote=The gala has made some world records: It has the world's highest audience numbers of its kind, reaching more than one billion (1,000,000,000.) viewers.}}

The CCTV's main evening news broadcast Xinwen Lianbo has a daily audience of around 135 million people,{{cite web|url=http://www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/articles/11211|title=TV in the PRC|publisher=that's Shanghai|date=5 December 2012|quote=With an estimated daily audience of around 135 million– 14 times the audience of the highest-rated US news show – CCTV's Xinwen Lianbo is one of the world's most-watched programs. Such is its power that last month the 2013 advertising slots were sold for a record RMB5.4 billion, with Wuliangye, Maotai and Gome spending over RMB1 billion between them on the five-second countdown before the show begins.}} and it is also one of the most expensive shows in the world per advertising spots, with its 2013 advertising slots selling for a record of 5.4 billion yuan.

The Legend of Bruce Lee (2008), based on the life of Bruce Lee, has been watched by over {{Nowrap|400 million}} viewers in China, making it the most-watched Chinese television drama series of all time, as of 2017.{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Hollywood Stage |date=23 November 2017 |title=Ted Duran, a star in The Legend of Bruce Lee TV series is becoming known for his adaptability in Films & TV around the world |url=http://hollywoodstagemagazine.com/2017/11/23/ted-duran-one-of-the-stars-of-the-legend-of-bruce-lee-tv-series-wanted-in-china/ |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Hollywood Stage Magazine |language=en-US}}{{cite news |title=Largest Bruce Lee Museum opens in S. China |url=http://www.china.org.cn/culture/2008-11/11/content_16746809.htm |access-date=16 May 2022 |work=China.org.cn |publisher=China Internet Information Center |date=November 11, 2008}}

A Chinese boxer Zou Shiming's professional boxing debut on 6 April 2013 generated an estimated 300 million viewers.{{cite news|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2273769-why-zou-shiming-is-the-real-star-of-the-manny-pacquiao-pay-per-view-card|title=Why Zou Shiming Is the Real Star of the Manny Pacquiao Pay-Per-View Card|access-date=20 May 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2013/4/8/4202886/zou-shiming-pro-debut-draws-reported-300-million-tv-viewers-china-boxing-news#comments|title=Zou Shiming's pro debut draws reported 300 million TV viewers in China|access-date=20 May 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/344353/china-is-the-future-for-boxing-bob-arum-claims|title=China is the future for boxing, Bob Arum claims|access-date=20 May 2020}} Another professional boxer Qiu Xiaojun attracted around 200 million people for his fight against Ghanaian fighter Raymond Commey on 12 February 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/qiu-xiao-juns-big-win-draws-200-million-tv-viewers-china--101318|title=Qiu Xiao Jun's Big Win Draws 200 Million TV Viewers in China|access-date=23 May 2020}}{{cite news|url=http://www.bokser.org/content/2016/02/13/135050/index.jsp|title=CHINY. 200 MILIONÓW WIDZÓW OGLĄDAŁO PIĄTKOWĄ WALKĘ|access-date=2 July 2020|language=pl}}

Denmark

The following are the ten most watched programs from 1992 onwards.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-01 |title=Seerrekord holder stadig på 14. år |url=https://www.dr.dk/om-dr/nyheder/seerrekord-holder-stadig-paa-14-aar |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401104212/https://www.dr.dk/om-dr/nyheder/seerrekord-holder-stadig-paa-14-aar |archive-date=2018-04-01 |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=DR |language=da-DK}}

class="sortable wikitable"
RankShow

!Viewers

DateChannel
align="center" |1Krøniken - Episode 10

|2,714,000

2004DR1
align="center" |2Eurovision Song Contest 2001

|2,667,000

2001DR1
align="center" |3The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang

|2,658,000

1995TV2
align="center" |4UEFA Euro 1992 semi-final: Denmark vs Netherlands

|2,657,000

1992TV2
align="center" |5UEFA Euro 1992 final: Denmark vs Germany

|2,632,000

1992TV2
align="center" |61994 FIFA World Cup qualification: Denmark vs Spain

|2,547,000

1993DR1
align="center" |7Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 1992

|2,506,000

1992DR1
align="center" |8The Girl and the Press Photographer

|2,422,000

1992TV2
align="center" |91998 FIFA World Cup quarter-final: Denmark vs Brazil

|2,390,000

1998DR1
align="center" |10UEFA Euro 2012 Group Stage: Denmark vs Germany

|2,378,000

2012DR1

France

class="sortable wikitable"
Rank

!Event

!Viewers

!Share

!Date

!Network

align="center"|1rowspan="3" | Speech of the French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the COVID-19 pandemic36,730,00094.5%{{cite web|title=Audiences : Record historique pour la troisième allocution d'Emmanuel Macron sur le coronavirus (màj)|url=https://www.ozap.com/actu/audiences-quel-score-pour-la-troisieme-allocution-d-emmanuel-macron-sur-le-coronavirus/591844|website=ozap.com|date=14 April 2020 |language=fr}}{{cite web|title=Confinement : l'allocution d'Emmanuel Macron suivie par 36,7 millions de téléspectateurs, un record|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/maladie/coronavirus/l-allocution-d-emmanuel-macron-sur-le-confinement-a-etabli-un-record-absolu-d-audience-avec-36-7-millions-de-telespectateurs_3914385.html|website=Franceinfo|language=fr|date=14 April 2020|access-date=14 April 2020}}{{dts|format=dmy|2020|April|13}}TF1, France 2, France 3, Canal+, M6, C8, TMC, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo
align="center"|235,300,00096.1%{{cite web |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/sante/virus/coronavirus/coronavirus-audience-record-pour-l-allocution-d-emmanuel-macron-6783223 |title=Coronavirus. Audience record pour l'allocution d'Emmanuel Macron |trans-title=Coronavirus. Record audience for Emmanuel Macron's speech |language=fr |access-date=12 February 2022 |date=17 March 2020 |website=ouest-france.fr}}{{dts|format=dmy|2020|March|16}}TF1, France 2, France 3, M6, C8, TMC, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo, L'Équipe
align="center"|332,700,00093.6%{{dts|format=dmy|2020|October|28}}TF1, France 2, France 3, M6, C8, TMC, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo, L'Équipe
align="center"|42018 FIFA World Cup final: France vs Croatia26,200,000{{N/A}}{{dts|format=dmy|2018|July|15}}TF1, beIN Sports
align="center"|5Speech of the French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the COVID-19 pandemic24,600,00087%{{dts|format=dmy|2020|March|12}}TF1, France 2, France 3, M6, C8, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo, L'Equipe
align="center"|62022 FIFA World Cup final: Argentina vs France24,080,00081%{{cite web|title=Le découpage initial ne reflétait pas la tranche horaire précise" : Médiamétrie corrige l'audience de la cérémonie d'ouverture des JO de Paris 2024 sur France 2 et présente ses excuses|url=https://www.ozap.com/actu/-le-decoupage-initial-ne-refletait-pas-la-tranche-horaire-precise-mediametrie-corrige-l-audience-de-la-ceremonie-d-ouverture-des-jo-de-paris-2024-et-presente-ses-excuses/645071|website=ozap.com|date=27 July 2024 |language=fr}}{{dts|format=dmy|2022|December|18}}TF1, beIN Sports
align="center"|71998 FIFA World Cup final: Brazil vs France23,647,00088.4%{{dts|format=dmy|1998|July|12}}TF1, Canal+
align="center"|8Speech of the French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the COVID-19 pandemic23,610,00085.6%{{dts|format=dmy|2020|June|14}}TF1, France 2, France 3, M6, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo
align="center"|92024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony23,240,00083.1%{{dts|format=dmy|2024|July|26}}France 2
align="center"|10Speech of the French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the Yellow vests movement23,000,00081.4%{{dts|format=dmy|2018|December|10}}TF1, France 2, M6, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo

Germany

class="sortable wikitable"
RankShowEpisodeNumber of viewersShareDateNetwork
align="center"|12014 FIFA World CupGermany vs Argentina (final)34,650,00086.3%{{dts|format=dmy|2014|July|13}}Das Erste
align="center"|22014 FIFA World CupBrazil vs Germany (semi-final)32,570,00087.8%{{dts|format=dmy|2014|July|08}}ZDF
align="center"|32010 FIFA World CupGermany vs Spain (semi-final)31,100,000 1, 483.2%{{dts|format=dmy|2010|July|7}}Das Erste
align="center"|4UEFA Euro 2016Germany vs France (semi-final)29,820,00080.6%{{dts|format=dmy|2016|July|7}}ZDF
align="center"|52006 FIFA World CupGermany vs Italy (semi-final)29,660,000 1, 2, 384.1%{{dts|format=dmy|2006|July|4}}ZDF
align="center"|6UEFA Euro 2008Germany vs Turkey (semi-final)29,460,00081.6%{{dts|format=dmy|2008|June|25}}ZDF
align="center"|72010 FIFA World CupGhana vs. Germany (group game)29,190,000 1, 4 79.7%{{dts|format=dmy|2010|June|23}}Das Erste
align="center"|81990 FIFA World CupWest Germany vs Argentina (final)28,660,00087.9%{{dts|format=dmy|1990|July|9}}Das Erste
align="center"|9UEFA Euro 1996Germany vs Czech Republic (final)28,440,00076.3%{{dts|format=dmy|1996|June|30}}ZDF
align="center"|10UEFA Euro 2016Germany vs Italy (quarter-final)28,320,00079.8%{{dts|format=dmy|2016|July|2}}Das Erste
colspan=7 style="font-size:85%" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | Notes:

  1. Public viewing areas were not included in these ratings.
  2. The approximated rating is about 60 to 70 million.[http://www.quotenmeter.de/index.php?newsid=15312 Quotenmeter.de] article on FIFA World Cup game (German)
  3. The extra time period reached 31.31 million viewers.[http://www.quotenmeter.de/index.php?newsid=23025 Quotenmeter.de] article (German)
  4. Summary of the [http://www.quotenmeter.de/cms/?p1=n&p2=43347&p3= 2010 FIFA World Cup ratings].
  5. Summary of the [http://forum.quotenmeter.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=8736&view=next UEFA Euro 2008 ratings].
  6. Summary of the [http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/tv/em-quoten-27-98-millionen-zuschauer-schalteten-das-erste-ein-a-841639.html UEFA Euro 2012 Germany vs Italy semi-final game].

Note: The UEFA Euro 2008 final is missing from the list, because the lengthy trophy presentation was included into the official ratings. The game itself was watched by 28.05 million viewers.{{Cite web|title=Tv Tipps|url=https://www.tv-tipps.net/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Tv Tipps|language=fr-FR}}

Italy

class="sortable wikitable"
ShowViewersDateChannelRef.(s)
align="center"| Madonna in Concerto30—35 million1987Rai 1{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-12-05.pdf|title=Italian Tour Circuit Attracts the World's Superstars|page=l-3|magazine=Billboard|date=December 5, 1987|access-date=August 29, 2023|volume=99|number=49}}

India

{{original research|discuss=Talk:List_of_most-watched_television_broadcasts#India:_original-research_in_the_section?|date=April 2020}}

India measures the viewership of shows through TRP (Television Rating Point). Shows used to have higher ratings in 2000s as compared to present decade. The present shows that regularly score above or around the 3.5 mark are Kumkum Bhagya, and its spin off Kundali Bhagya along with Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Sometimes these shows touch 4 which is still quite low as compared to highest rated shows of the last decade. Other than that Naagin is the only show now that scores above 4.7. All of these shows are produced by the same banner (Balaji Telefilms) except Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Currently, Bigg Boss 13 has been the most watched show of 2020, recording an 11.3 TRP for the final and an average of 8.3 TRP on regular episodes, being the most watched reality show in India. Ironically, 2.5–3.5 TRP was considered an average in the 2000s era of classic serials. In the 2000s, the most watched show in India was Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2008) which garnered double digit ratings for 6 years on StarPlus. The most-watched channel for years has been StarPlus, then Zee TV with major competition from Colors. Mahabharat (1988{{ndash}}1990), the television adaptation of Indian epic Mahabharata, had a share of 97.8% among Indian viewers.{{cite web |url=http://www.omnimb.ca/info/press/p_20050809.shtml |title=:: Omnimb.ca > Epic Hindi Language Series Mahabharat Launches Exclusively on Rogers OMNI Television Channels in Ontario and British Columbia :: |website=www.omnimb.ca |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429193553/http://www.omnimb.ca/info/press/p_20050809.shtml |archive-date=29 April 2008 |url-status=dead}}

Aamir Khan's talk show Satyamev Jayate (2012{{ndash}}2014) drew an estimated audience of 600{{nbsp}}million viewers in India.{{cite news|title=Bollywood star Aamir Khan on shattering the status quo in India|url=http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2015/04/22/bollywood-star-aamir-khan-on-shattering-the-status-quo-in-india/|work=The New York Times|date=23 April 2015}} The 2016 ICC World Twenty20 cricket cup was watched by an estimated 730{{nbsp}}million viewers in India, with India vs. Pakistan being the most widely watched live event during the tournament.{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Ravi Teja |title=ICC T20 World Cup was watched by 730 million viewers in India |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/icc-t20-world-cup-was-watched-by-730-million-viewers-in-india/articleshow/51877800.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=18 April 2016}}

class="sortable wikitable"
RankShowTVR (million impressions)Network
align="center"| 1Ramayan (Lakshman vs Meghnad yuddha)77Doordarshan
align="center"| 2Luv Kush (finale)67.10Doordarshan
align="center"| 32018 Indian Premier League final55.6Star Network
align="center"| 4 Metti Oli50.0Sun TV
align="center"| 5Mahabharat22.9Doordarshan
align="center"| 6Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi22.4StarPlus
align="center"| 7Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin9.2Sony TV India
align="center"| 8Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai8.4StarPlus
align="center"| 9Diya Aur Baati Hum7.7StarPlus
align="center"| 10Pavitra Rishta7.3Zee TV
align="center"| 11Jai Hanuman7.2Sahara One

=Most viewed broadcasts=

class="sortable wikitable"
RankShowEpisodeViewership (millions)DateNetwork
align="center"| 12011 Cricket World Cup finalSri Lanka vs India (final)340{{cite news |title=India-Pak game second most-watched cricket match ever on television |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-pak-game-second-most-watched-cricket-match-ever-on-television-115022700004_1.html |work=Business Standard |date=27 February 2015}}{{dts|format=dmy|2011|April|2}}Star Sports Network
align="center" | 22015 Cricket World CupAustralia vs India (semi-final)309{{cite news |title=India-Australia semi most watched match in ICC WC 2015 |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/india-australia-semi-most-watched-match-in-icc-wc-2015-115040200864_1.html |work=Business Standard |date=3 April 2015}}{{dts|format=dmy|2015|March|26}}Star Sports
align="center" | 32023 Cricket World CupIndia vs Australia (final)300{{dts|format=dmy|2023|November|19}}Star Sports
align="center" | 42019 Cricket World CupIndia vs New Zealand (semi-final)283{{Cite web |title=Indian Viewership During Cricket World Cup 2019 Breaks Records - News18 |url=https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/indian-viewership-during-cricket-world-cup-2019-breaks-records-2310753.html |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=www.news18.com |language=en}}{{dts|format=dmy|2019|June|16}}Star Sports
align="center" | 52015 Cricket World CupIndia vs Pakistan (group stage match)282{{dts|format=dmy|2015|February|15}}Star Sports
align="center" | 62015 Cricket World CupIndia vs West Indies (group stage match)262{{dts|format=dmy|2019|June|16}}Star Sports
align="center" | 72015 Cricket World CupIndia vs South Africa (group stage match)257{{dts|format=dmy|2015|February|22}}Star Sports
align="center" | 82015 Cricket World CupIndia vs Bangladesh (quarter-final)251{{dts|format=dmy|2015|March|19}}Star Sports
align="center" |9

|2025 ICC Champions Trophy

|India vs New Zealand (final)

|230{{Cite news |date=2025-03-21 |title=ICC Champions Trophy 2025 breaks viewership record, outperforms World Cup 2023 by 23 per cent {{!}} Mint |url=https://www.livemint.com/sports/cricket-news/icc-champions-trophy-2025-breaks-viewership-record-outperforms-world-cup-2023-by-23-per-cent-11742567922798.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250321195820/https://www.livemint.com/sports/cricket-news/icc-champions-trophy-2025-breaks-viewership-record-outperforms-world-cup-2023-by-23-per-cent-11742567922798.html |archive-date=2025-03-21 |access-date=2025-03-26 |work=mint |language=en}}

|9 Match 2025

|Star Sports

align="center" |10

|2025 ICC Champions Trophy

|India vs Pakistan (group stage match)

|206{{Cite web |last=Bureau |first=BL New Delhi |date=2025-03-07 |title=ICC Champion’s Trophy: India-Pak clash watched by 20.6 crore TV viewers |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/sports/india-vs-pakistan-icc-mens-champions-trophy-2025-match-becomes-second-most-watched-cricket-match-in-barc-history/article69303402.ece |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=BusinessLine |language=en}}

|23 February 2025

|Star Sports

Ireland

A list of most-watched shows in the Republic of Ireland in the 21st century was released in January 2015. The Late Late Toy Show held the top six spots, with the 2014 edition drawing 1,593,000 viewers: over one-third of the country's population. Other high-performing shows were Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, crime drama Love/Hate, Mrs. Brown's Boys, The Sunday Game, UEFA Euro 2012 and the Eurovision Song Contest.{{cite web|title=The Top 50 most watched programmes on Irish TV this CENTURY|date=12 January 2015|url=http://entertainment.ie/tv/news/The-Top-50-most-watched-programmes-on-Irish-TV-this-CENTURY/329837.htm}}

Japan

The following is a list of the top 50 highest rated broadcasts of all time in Japan since Video Research started their ratings survey on December 3, 1962.{{Cite web|url=https://www.videor.co.jp/tvrating/past_tvrating/top50/50.html|title=全局高世帯視聴率番組50|publisher=Video Research|access-date=22 June 2024}}

class="wikitable"

!No.

!Show

!Household Rating

!Date

!Network

1

|14th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen

|81.4%

|31 December 1963

|NHK

2

|1964 Summer Olympics - Women's Volleyball, Japan vs. Soviet Union

|66.8%

|23 October 1964

|NHK

3

|2002 FIFA World Cup - Japan vs Russia (group game)

|66.1%

|9 June 2002

|Fuji TV

4

|Professional wrestling - The Destroyer vs. Rikidōzan

|64.0%

|24 May 1963

|NTV

5

|World Bantamweight Championship - Fighting Harada x Éder Jofre

|63.7%

|31 May 1966

|Fuji TV

6

|Oshin

|62.9%

|12 November 1983

|NHK

7

|1998 FIFA World Cup - Japan vs Croatia (group game)

|60.9%

|20 June 1998

|NHK

8

|World Bantamweight Championship - Fighting Harada x Alan Rudkin

|60.4%

|30 November 1965

|Fuji TV

9

|Yoshinobu-chan Never Came Home

|59.0%

|5 July 1965

|NHK

10

|1972 Summer Olympics

|58.7%

|8 September 1972

|NHK

11

|Yukutoshi Kurutoshi

|57.4%

|31 December 1963

|NHK

12

|2010 FIFA World Cup - Japan vs Paraguay (knockout game)

|57.3%

|29 June 2010

|TBS

13

|World Bantamweight Championship - Fighting Harada x Bernardo Caraballo

|57.0%

|4 July 1967

|Fuji TV

14

|Tabiji

|56.9%

|9 March 1968

|NHK

15

|The Beatles Japan Tour

|56.5%

|1 July 1966

|NTV

16

|Ohanahan

|56.4%

|19 September 1966

|NHK

16

|2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

|56.4%

|23 July 2021

|NHK

18

|Arigato

|56.3%

|21 December 1972

|TBS

19

|Ashita Koso

|55.5%

|31 January 1969

|NHK

20

|Moscow State Circus broadcast

|55.3%

|16 July 1963

|NHK

20

|Miotsukushi

|55.3%

|5 October 1985

|NHK

22

|Mayuko Hitori

|55.2%

|10 February 1972

|NHK

23

|World Bantamweight Championship - Fighting Harada x Éder Jofre

|54.9%

|18 May 1965

|Fuji TV

24

|World Bantamweight Championship - Fighting Harada x José Medel

|53.9%

|18 May 1965

|Fuji TV

25

|News (Yoshinobu-chan incident)

|53.6%

|5 July 1965

|NHK

26

|World Bantamweight Championship - Fighting Harada x Lionel Rose

|53.4%

|27 February 1968

|Fuji TV

27

|Ai Yori Aoku

|53.3%

|8 September 1972

|NHK

27

|Hatoko no Umi

|53.3%

|22 March 1975

|NHK

29

|1972 Winter Olympics

|53.1%

|11 February 1972

|NHK

30

|Akō Roshi

|53.0%

|29 November 1964

|NHK

31

|2006 FIFA World Cup - Japan vs Croatia (group game)

|52.7%

|18 June 2006

|TV Asahi

32

|Final day of the 1981 Hatsu basho (Chiyonofuji Mitsugu's first victory)

|52.2%

|25 January 1981

|NHK

33

|1968 Summer Olympics

|51.8%

|25 October 1968

|NHK

33

|Kita no Kazoku

|51.8%

|1 March 1974

|NHK

35

|Professional wrestling - Toyonobori vs. The Destroyer

|51.2%

|26 February 1965

|NTV

36

|News (Asama-Sansō incident)

|50.8%

|28 February 1972

|NHK

36

|19th Japan Record Awards

|50.8%

|31 December 1977

|TBS

36

|60th Japanese High School Baseball Championship - Closing Ceremony

|50.8%

|20 August 1978

|NHK

39

|World Flyweight Championship - Horacio Accavallo vs. Katsuyoshi Takayama

|50.7%

|1 March 1966

|Fuji TV

40

|Ben Casey

|50.6%

|11 January 1963

|TBS

40

|Prime Minister Tanaka visits China

|50.6%

|25 September 1972

|NHK

40

|Final day of the 1975 Haru basho (Takanohana Kenshi's first victory)

|50.6%

|23 March 1975

|NHK

40

|Non-chan no Yume

|50.6%

|24 September 1988

|NHK

44

|Hachiji da yo! Zen'in shūgō

|50.5%

|7 April 1973

|TBS

45

|Otei-chan

|50.0%

|11 September 1978

|NHK

45

|News and weather forecast (Typhoon Judy)

|50.0%

|12 September 1982

|NHK

45

|Oshin

|50.0%

|17 August 1983

|NHK

48

|Ma-neechan

|49.9%

|25 September 1979

|NHK

49

|Yubikiri

|49.8%

|25 January 1973

|TBS

50

|Hanekomma

|49.7%

|30 August 1986

|NHK

The following list is for Japanese anime only. The list covers broadcasts after 26 September 1977. Video Research had previously recorded an episode of the 1960s Astro Boy anime that earned a 40.3% rating.{{Cite web|url=https://www.videor.co.jp/vr-digest/pdf/vrd526_201304/vrd526_article3.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922194834/https://www.videor.co.jp/vr-digest/pdf/vrd526_201304/vrd526_article3.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 September 2016|title=視聴率から振り返る「テレビアニメ」の歴史|publisher=Video Research|access-date=13 May 2019}}

class="wikitable"

!No.

!Show

!Household Rating

!Date

!Network

1

|Chibi Maruko-chan

|39.9%{{Cite news|url=https://gakumado.mynavi.jp/gmd/articles/28414|title=1位は40%!? アニメの歴代視聴率ランキングTop10 {{!}} ネタ・おもしろ・エンタメ {{!}} 大学生活 {{!}} マイナビ 学生の窓口|newspaper=マイナビ学生の窓口 {{!}} マイナビ学生の窓口|access-date=6 October 2016}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-12-30/chibi-maruko-chan-sazae-san-dr-slump-top-list-of-most-viewed-anime-episodes/.97077|title=Chibi Maruko-chan, Sazae-san, Dr. Slump Top List of Most-Viewed Anime Episodes|newspaper=Anime News Network|access-date=6 October 2016}}

|28 October 1990

|Fuji TV

2

|Sazae-san

|39.4%

|16 September 1979

|Fuji TV

3

|Dr. Slump

|36.9%

|16 December 1981

|Fuji TV

4

|Dokonjō Gaeru

|34.5%

|23 February 1979

|NTV

5

|Japanese Folklore Tales 2

|33.6%

|10 January 1981

|TBS

6

|Lupin the Third

|32.5%

|8 December 1978

|NTV

7

|Touch

|31.9%

|22 December 1985

|Fuji TV

8

|Ashita no Joe

|31.6%

|13 March 1980

|NTV

9

|Doraemon

|31.2%

|11 February 1983

|TV Asahi

10

|GeGeGe no Kitarō

|29.6%

|22 March 1986

|Fuji TV

The following is a list of the most-watched films of all time on Nippon TV (NTV), {{as of|2007|June|lc=y}}.{{cite book |last1=Hamano |first1=Keiji |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/18620778/the-japanese-market-for-uk-films-bfi |title=The Japanese Market for UK Films |last2=Kitae |first2=Hiroyuki |last3=Udagawa |first3=Shoji |last4=Watanabe |first4=Yasuko |last5=Uchiyama |first5=Takashi |date=November 2007 |publisher=Cinema Alliance Limited, UK Film Council, British Film Institute |pages=58–9 |access-date=22 April 2022 |via=Yumpu}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

!Rank

!Film

!Rating

!Airing date

1

|Spirited Away

|46.9%

|2003-01-24

2

|Princess Mononoke

|35.1%

|1999-01-22

3

|Howl's Moving Castle

|32.9%

|2006-07-21

4

|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

|30.8%

|2004-06-25

5

|Tsuribaka Nisshi 4

|28.4%

|1994-02-04

6

|Tsuribaka Nisshi 6

|28.3%

|1994-12-23

7

|Tsuribaka Nisshi 2

|27.7%

|1995-01-13

8

|Tora-san's Forbidden Love

|27.6%

|1996-08-09

9

|Shall We Dance?

|27.4%

|1997-03-28

10

|Tsuribaka Nisshi 5

|27.1%

|1994-09-16

Mexico

A list of most-watched shows in the Mexico, Televisa and TV Azteca broadcasters (Liga MX Apertura and

Clausura), Boxing, 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, (FIFA World Cup hosts 1970 & 1986), some concerts like Maná's Unidos por La Paz at Estadio Azteca in March 2001; in 2007, the last episode of La Fea Más Bella", Funeral events like Chespirito in December 2014 the creator of TV Series El Chavo and El Chapulín Colorado, and Celebration of Mexican political anniversaries in 2010 celebrate independence from Spain also called Bicentenario 2010, had an average audience of over 40 million views in Mexican Television.

Netherlands

Since 2002, Stichting KijkOnderzoek is keeping track of viewership of Dutch television channels.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kijkonderzoek.nl/|title=Stichting Kijkonderzoek|website=Stichting KijkOnderzoek}} All programs with a viewership over 7 million since the start of tracking are shown in the table below.

class="sortable wikitable"
RankShowEpisodeNumber of viewersDateNetwork
align="center"| 12014 FIFA World CupNetherlands vs Argentina (semi-final)9,058,000{{dts|format=dmy|2014|July|9}}NPO 1
align="center"| 22014 FIFA World CupNetherlands vs Mexico (round of 16)8,738,000{{dts|format=dmy|2014|June|29}}NPO 1
align="center"| 32010 FIFA World CupNetherlands vs Spain (final)8,513,000{{dts|format=dmy|2010|July|11}}Nederland 1
align="center"| 4UEFA Euro 2004Portugal vs Netherlands (semi-final)8,512,000{{dts|format=dmy|2004|June|30}}Nederland 2
align="center"| 52010 FIFA World CupUruguay vs Netherlands (semi-final)8,501,000{{dts|format=dmy|2010|July|6}}NPO 1
align="center"| 62006 FIFA World CupPortugal vs Netherlands (round of 16)8,252,000{{dts|format=dmy|2006|June|25}}Nederland 2
align="center"| 7colspan="2"| Press Conference by Prime Minister Mark Rutte on the COVID-19 pandemic8,179,000{{dts|format=dmy|2020|October|13}}NPO 1, RTL 4
align="center"| 82014 FIFA World CupNetherlands vs Chile (group stage)8,098,000{{dts|format=dmy|2014|June|23}}NPO 1
align="center"| 9UEFA Euro 2012Portugal vs Netherlands (group stage)7,993,000{{dts|format=dmy|2012|June|17}}Nederland 1
align="center"| 10UEFA Euro 2012Netherlands vs Germany (group stage)7,984,000{{dts|format=dmy|2012|June|13}}Nederland 1

New Zealand

In 2011, the television website Throng published a list of the 12 most-watched television broadcasts in New Zealand from 1995 to 2011. This is based on average viewership of the program, but it does not include broadcasts from before 1995 or after 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.throng.co.nz/2011/10/the-12-most-watched-events-on-nz-television/ |title=The 12 Most Watched Events on NZ Television |publisher=Throng |date=26 October 2011 |access-date=5 September 2016 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306001111/http://www.throng.co.nz/2011/10/the-12-most-watched-events-on-nz-television/ |url-status=dead }}

The Rugby World Cup has frequently had large audiences – the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, and a semi-final, both had an average audience of over 2 million.

{{inc-tv|date=October 2021}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
No.

! Show

! Viewship

! Date

! Network

1

| 2011 Rugby World Cup final (NZ v France)

| 2,036,900

| 23 October 2011

| TV 1, TV 3, Prime, Sky Sports, Maori TV

2

| 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-final (NZ v Australia)

| 2,024,000

| 16 October 2011

| TV 1, TV 3, Prime, Sky Sports, Maori TV

3

| 2011 Rugby World Cup opening game (NZ v Tonga)

| 1,930,000

| 9 September 2011

| TV 1, Prime, Sky Sports, Maori TV

4

| Boxing: Lennox Lewis vs. David Tua World Title Defence

| 1,841,230

| 12 November 2000

| TV 3

5

| One News special – Death of Diana, Princess of Wales

| 1,703,310

| 31 August 1997

| TV 1

6

| 2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

| 1,654,310

| 15 September 2000

| TV 1

7

| One News special – Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales

| 1,649,710

| 6 September 1997

| TV 1

8

| 2011 Rugby World Cup quarter-final (NZ v Argentina)

| 1,624,400

| 9 October 2011

| TV 1, TV 3, Prime, Sky Sports, Maori TV

9

| 2003 Rugby World Cup final (England v Australia)

| 1,604,800

| 22 November 2003

| TV 1

10

| Martin Bashir's interview with Diana, Princess of Wales

| 1,516,780

| 21 November 1995

| TV 2

Philippines

=AGB Nielsen=

The following table shows the all-time highest rating television shows in Mega Manila as tallied by AGB Nielsen since 1992. However, ratings are from a single highest recorded episode of the show (in the case of the TV series) and it is not the average over-all ratings for the whole season or series.

class="sortable wikitable"

|+ Top 10 highest rated television programs in Mega Manila since 1992
(AGB Nielsen tallies){{cite web|title=AGB Nielsen: Highest Rating TV Programs in Mega Manila (2012 Update)|url=http://nationwidehitsandflopsph.blogspot.com/2012/01/highest-rated-tv-programs-in-mega.html|archive-date=24 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024024211/http://nationwidehitsandflopsph.blogspot.com/2012/01/highest-rated-tv-programs-in-mega.html|access-date=23 January 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBC9Hk0vUgE | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622172206/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBC9Hk0vUgE| archive-date=2014-06-22 | url-status=dead|title=Cheche Lazaro Presents: Si Ser Chief, si Maya at ang Teleserye Part 5 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=17 June 2014}}[https://www.pep.ph/guide/tv/151721/thalia-top-rating-telenovelas-a724-20200529 Ratings Throwback: Record-breaking Thalia telenovelas on Philippine TV]

RankNetworkProgramYearRating
1ABS-CBNThe Battle: Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales200683.5%
2ABS-CBNRosalinda199969.8%
3ABS-CBNEsperanza199767.0%
4ABS-CBNPangako Sa 'Yo200264.9%
5ABS-CBNMeteor Garden200363.8%
6ABS-CBNMiss Universe 1994199462.5%
7RPNMarimar199661.7%
8ABS-CBNMaría Mercedes199659.7%
9RPNMiss Universe 1999199958.4%
10GMABubble Gang199757.6%

Poland

List of the 10 most-watched television broadcasts since the beginning of telemetry research in Poland (since 1997) by Nielsen Media Research:{{cite news|url=https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/2005-tvp-1-liderem-tvp-2-zyskala-najwiecej-5-1-mld-zl-z-reklam-6108704087377025a|title=2005: TVP 1 liderem, TVP 2 zyskała najwięcej – 5,1 mld zł z reklam|date=5 January 2006|publisher=wiadomosci.wp.pl}}{{cite magazine|title=Tematyczne stacje sportowe w Polsce. Gwiazdy kontra nisze|url=http://www.telekabel.pl/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/sport-wakacje.pdf|magazine=Telekabel & digital TV|page=10|date=July–August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819190222/http://www.telekabel.pl/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/sport-wakacje.pdf|archive-date=19 August 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|title=Bitwa o widzów|url=http://www.tvlider.pl/pliki/2016_10.pdf|magazine=TV Lider|page=68|date=October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819191922/http://www.tvlider.pl/pliki/2016_10.pdf|archive-date=19 August 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/polscy-pilkarze-na-euro-2012-hitem-mecz-polska-rosja-dane-minuta-po-minucie|title=Polscy piłkarze na Euro 2012: hitem mecz Polska-Rosja (dane minuta po minucie)|date=19 June 2012|publisher=wirtualnemedia.pl}}{{cite news|url=https://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/ogladalnosc-meczu-polska-kolumbia|title=13,6 mln widzów meczu Polska-Kolumbia w TVP1 i TVP Sport|date=25 June 2018|publisher=wirtualnemedia.pl}}{{cite news|url=https://media2.pl/badania/92964-Polska-Grecja-srednio-133-mln-widzow.-Ogladalnosc-TV-minuta-po-minucie.html|title=Polska – Grecja: średnio 13,3 mln widzów. Oglądalność TV minuta po minucie|date=11 June 2012|publisher=media2.pl}}{{cite news|url=http://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/13-mln-widzow-ogladalo-pogrzeb-prezydenta-kaczynskiego|title=13 mln widzów oglądało pogrzeb prezydenta Kaczyńskiego|date=20 April 2010|publisher=wirtualnemedia.pl}}

class="sortable wikitable"

!Rank

!Program

!Date

!Channel

!Number of
viewers

!Share

1

|Funeral of Pope John Paul II

|{{dts|format=dmy|2005|April|08}}

|TVP1, TVP2, TVP3, Polsat, TVN, TVN24 and others

|Over 21,400,000

|Almost 90%

2

|UEFA Euro 2016: Poland vs Portugal (quarter-final)

|{{dts|format=dmy|2016|June|30}}

|TVP1, Polsat, Polsat Sport

|15,974,822

|86.57%

3

|UEFA Euro 2012: Poland vs Russia (group stage)

|{{dts|format=dmy|2012|June|12}}

|TVP1, TVP Sport, TVP HD

|14,683,216

|81.51%

4

|UEFA Euro 2016: Germany vs Poland (group stage)

|{{dts|format=dmy|2016|June|16}}

|TVP1, Polsat, Polsat Sport

|14,352,012

|80.89%

5

|UEFA Euro 2012: Czech Republic vs Poland (group stage)

|{{dts|format=dmy|2012|June|16}}

|TVP1, TVP Sport, TVP HD

|14,070,492

|81.28%

6

|FIFA World Cup 2018: Poland vs Colombia (group stage)

|{{dts|format=dmy|2018|June|24}}

|TVP1, TVP Sport

|13,631,335

|75.45%

7

|UEFA Euro 2012: Poland vs Greece (group stage)

|{{dts|format=dmy|2012|June|8}}

|TVP1, TVP Sport, TVP HD

|13,308,343

|83.78%

8

|2002 Winter Olympics: Ski Jumping Men's K120 Individual
(Adam Małysz's silver medal)

|{{dts|format=dmy|2002|February|13}}

|TVP1

|13,259,612

|75.15%

9

|Funeral of President Lech Kaczyński and First Lady Maria Kaczyńska

|{{dts|format=dmy|2010|April|18}}

|TVP1, TVP2, TVP Info, Polsat, Polsat News, TVN, TVN 24 and others

|13,033,967

|86.68%

10

|UEFA Euro 2016: Ukraine vs Poland (group stage)

|{{dts|format=dmy|2016|June|21}}

|TVP1, Polsat, Polsat Sport

|12,639,308

|81.67%

Portugal

{{cite web|title=Audiências de programas antigos| date=21 March 2013 |url=http://forum.atelevisao.com/topic/4675-audiências-de-programas-antigos/?p=363111|access-date=15 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dn.pt/inicio/tv/interior.aspx?content_id=3840475|title=Juventus-Benfica une quase 3 milhes em frente ao ecr – TV & Media – DN|work=DN|access-date=1 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031202549/http://www.dn.pt/inicio/tv/interior.aspx?content_id=3840475|archive-date=31 October 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.atelevisao.com/tvi/tvi-leva-concorrencia-minimos-com-final-da-liga-dos-campeoes/|title=TVI leva concorrência a mínimos com a final da "Liga dos Campeões"|work=A Televisão|date=25 May 2014 |access-date=1 November 2014}}{{cite web|title=Porto mobiliza audiência|url=http://www.marktest.com/wap/a/n/id~2d4.aspx|website=Marktest.com|publisher=Marktest|access-date=31 March 2015}}{{cite web|title=Audiências Tv em Janeiro|url=http://www.marktest.com/wap/a/n/a/n/a/n/a/n/id~6f6.aspx|access-date=31 March 2015}}{{cite web|title=Audiências Tv em Maio|url=http://www.marktest.com/wap/a/n/a/n/id~801.aspx|access-date=31 March 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.marktest.com/wap/a/n/a/n/a/n/a/n/a/n/id~b6f.aspx|title=Audiências Tv em Julho de 2006|access-date=31 March 2015}}{{cite web|title=Audiências Tv em Junho de 2010|url=http://www.marktest.com/wap/a/n/id~15b8.aspx|access-date=31 March 2015}}{{cite web|title=Debate entre Passos e Costa com audiência histórica de 3,4 milhões|url=https://expresso.sapo.pt/politica/2015-09-10-Debate-entre-Passos-e-Costa-com-audiencia-historica-de-34-milhoes|access-date=10 September 2015}}{{cite web|title=Audiência recorde para o Portugal-França

|url=http://www.tsf.pt/arquivo/2000/desporto/interior/audiencia-recorde-para-o-portugal-franca-723300.html|access-date=26 June 2016}}{{cite web|title=3 milhões viram o 'Portugal – Espanha'|date=16 June 2018|url=http://www.zapping-tv.com/audiencias-3-milhoes-viram-o-portugal-espanha/|access-date=17 June 2018}}{{cite web|title=TVI tem melhor dia do ano com segundo jogo de Portugal|date=20 June 2021|url=https://espalhafactos.com/2021/06/20/audiencias-tvi-tem-melhor-dia-do-ano-com-segundo-jogo-de-portugal/|access-date=20 June 2021}}

class="sortable wikitable"
RankShowEpisodeRatingShareDateChannel
align="center"| 1UEFA Euro 2020Belgium vs Portugal (round of 16)40.269.9%{{dts|format=dmy|2021|June|27}}TVI
align="center"| 2UEFA Euro 2004Portugal vs Netherlands (semi-final)40.185.4%{{dts|format=dmy|2004|June|30}}RTP1
align="center"| 3UEFA Euro 2012Portugal vs Spain (semi-final)39.576.0%{{dts|format=dmy|2012|June|27}}SIC
align="center"| 42022 FIFA World CupPortugal vs Switzerland (round of 16)39.168.4%{{dts|format=dmy|2022|December|6}}RTP1
align="center"| 5UEFA Euro 2004Portugal vs England (quarter-final)39.085.1%{{dts|format=dmy|2004|June|24}}RTP1
align="center"| 6UEFA Euro 2016Portugal vs Wales (semi-final)38.475.4%{{dts|format=dmy|2016|July|6}}RTP1
align="center"| 7UEFA Euro 2016Portugal vs France (final)38.278.1%{{dts|format=dmy|2016|July|10}}RTP1
align="center"| 8UEFA Euro 2012Portugal vs Netherlands (group stage match)38.173.4%{{dts|format=dmy|2012|June|17}}TVI
align="center"| 92022 FIFA World CupPortugal vs Uruguay (group stage match)3866%{{dts|format=dmy|2022|November|28}}RTP1
align="center"| 102014 FIFA World CupUnited States vs Portugal (group stage match)37.875.4%{{dts|format=dmy|2014|June|22}}RTP1

Serbia

class="sortable wikitable"
ShowViewersDateChannelRef.(s)
align="center"| Eurovision Song Contest 20084.562 million2008RTS 1[https://web.archive.org/web/20210916005725/https://www.rts.rs/page/rts/ci/%D0%95%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3/eurosong2008/story/48/vesti/703/rekordna-gledanost-pesme-evrovizije-2008-u-srbiji.html Рекордна гледаност "Песме Евровизије 2008" у Србији] May 25, 2008

South Korea

Viewership ratings are provided by two companies in South Korea, AGB Nielsen Media Research and TNmS. Originally Media Service Korea was the only company providing such information, and it was later acquired by Nielsen Media Research. In 1999, TNS Media Korea also began such service, and later changed its name to TNmS. AGB collects viewership data based on 2050 households, while TNmS has 2000 households with measuring devices. Drama ratings usually vary between the two companies by 2–3%.{{cite web|url=http://www.soompi.com/2011/06/21/south-korea-tv-ratings-tns-vs-ac-nielsen/|title=South Korean TV Ratings: TNmS vs. AGB Nielsen|date=21 June 2011|access-date=10 September 2014|publisher=Soompi}}

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Top 10 most-watched South Korean dramas since 1992 (AGB Nielsen tallies)

#DramaChannelViewershipDate
1First LoveKBS265.8%20 April 1997
2Was It Love?MBC64.9%24 May 1992
3SandglassSBS64.5%6 February 1995
4Hur JunMBC63.7%27 June 2000
5A Sunny Place of the YoungKBS262.7%12 November 1995
6You and IMBC62.4%12 April 1998
7Son and DaughterMBC61.1%21 March 1993
8Taejo Wang GeonKBS160.2%20 May 2001
9Eyes of DawnMBC58.4%6 February 1992
10Dae Jang GeumMBC57.8%23 March 2004

Sweden

Statistics from Mediamätning Skandinavien{{cite web |url=http://www.mms.se/rapporter-lista.php/?t=ty |title=Årsrapporter TV " Rapporter och publiceringar " MMS |publisher=Mms.se |access-date=14 May 2016 |archive-date=24 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224170453/http://www.mms.se/rapporter-lista.php/?t=ty |url-status=dead }}

=Most-watched programmes per year=

class="sortable wikitable"
Year

!Programme

!Date

!Number of
viewers
(millions)

!Network

1983Eurovision Song Contest 198323 April6.1SVT1
2000Melodifestivalen 200010 March4.175SVT2
2001Melodifestivalen 200123 February3.84SVT1
2002Melodifestivalen 20021 March3.72SVT1
2003Melodifestivalen 200315 March3.815SVT1
2004Melodifestivalen 200420 March4.105SVT1
2005Melodifestivalen 200512 March4.055SVT1
2006Melodifestivalen 200618 March4.240SVT1
2007Melodifestivalen 200710 March3.975SVT1
2008Melodifestivalen 200815 March4.045SVT1
2009Melodifestivalen 200914 March3.59SVT1
2010Melodifestivalen 201013 March3.87SVT1
2011Melodifestivalen 201112 March3.67SVT1
2012Melodifestivalen 201210 March4.11SVT1
2013Melodifestivalen 20139 March4.15SVT1
2014Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar god jul24 December3.705SVT1
2018Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar god jul24 December3.786SVT1
2019Melodifestivalen 201914 March3.652SVT1

=Most-watched sport events per year=

class="sortable wikitable"

!Year

!Programme

!Date

!Number of
viewers
(millions)

!Network

2000UEFA Euro 2000 final (FRA–ITA)2 July2.34SVT2
20012001 World Men's Handball Championship final (FRA–SWE)4 February2.635TV4
20022002 European Men's Handball Championship final (SWE–GER)3 February3.06TV4
20032003 FIFA Women's World Cup final (GER–SWE)12 October3.525TV4
2004UEFA Euro 2004 (SWE–DEN)22 June3.796TV4
20052005 World Championships in Athletics7 August4.055TV4
20062006 Men's Olympic Ice Hockey final (SWE–FIN)26 February3.52SVT2
2007FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2007 – Women's slalom16 February2.23SVT1
2008UEFA Euro 2008 (GRE–SWE)10 June3.03TV4
20092010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1 (DEN–SWE)10 October1.805Kanal 5
20102010 FIFA World Cup final (NED–ESP)11 July2.66SVT1
20112011 IIHF World Championship final (SWE–FIN)15 May2.035TV3
2012UEFA Euro 2012 (UKR–SWE)11 June2.94SVT1
20132013 IIHF World Championship final (SWE–SUI)19 May2.915TV4
20142014 FIFA World Cup (GER–ARG)13 July2.810TV4
2015FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 20151 May2.272SVT1

United Kingdom

{{main|List of most watched television broadcasts in the United Kingdom}}

United States

{{further|List of most watched television broadcasts in the United States|Super Bowl television ratings}}

Although the Apollo 11 Moon landing is considered as the most watched television event in American history, it is considered a news event, meaning that CBS'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.{{Cite web |title=Buzz Aldrin to accept NASA's Emmy award |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32469279 |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=NBC News |date=19 August 2009 |language=en}}{{cite web |author1=ESPN News Services |title=Super Bowl LVII was most-watched telecast ever, according to updated data |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/36920001/super-bowl-lvii-was-most-watched-telecast-ever-according-updated-data |website=ESPN |access-date=2 May 2023 |date=2 May 2023}} During this broadcast, the halftime show was watched by 129.1 million viewers.{{cite web |last1=Campione |first1=Katie |title=Super Bowl LVII Now Most-Watched In History After Nielsen Adjusts Viewing Measurement |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/super-bowl-lvii-most-watched-ever-nielsen-adjusts-audience-1235353710/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=2 May 2023 |date=2 May 2023}} Super Bowl XLV's live broadcast in February 2011 helped Fox become the first television network in the United States to be watched by at least 100 million American viewers by average for a single primetime night of programming.{{cite news | url=https://deadline.com/2011/02/the-super-bowl-tied-as-highest-rated-ever-104171/ | title=Super Bowl XLV Most Watched TV Show; Post-Game 'Glee' Trails 'Undercover Boss' | access-date=14 September 2014}} Moreover, Super Bowl telecasts account for 22 of the most-watched television broadcasts based on overall viewership in U.S. television history.{{cite web|title=Super Bowl XLVI Breaks Total Viewership Record|url=http://fangsbites.com/2012/02/super-bowl-xlvi-breaks-total-viewership-record/|publisher=Fang's Bites|access-date=4 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804234443/http://fangsbites.com/2012/02/super-bowl-xlvi-breaks-total-viewership-record/|archive-date=4 August 2012|date=6 February 2012}} Fox's live telecast of Super Bowl LI in 2017 currently holds the largest total viewership (those who watched any part of the broadcast) in U.S. television history, with 172 million viewers.{{cite web|title=Super Bowl LI Audience Hits a Record 172 Million Viewers|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/811507-super-bowl-li-audience-hits-a-record-172-million-viewers|website=Coming Soon|date=February 6, 2017}} In 2025, the Super Bowl attracted 127.7 million viewers on Fox's television broadcast, surpassing the previous year's viewership of 123.7 million.

=Most-watched broadcasts=

{{Legend0|#EEDC82|Denotes news event|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
Rank

!Broadcast

!Average viewers (millions)

!Date

!Network(s)

bgcolor="#EEDC82"

| 1

| Apollo 11 Moon landing

| 125–150{{cite news |author=MSNBC |date=18 August 2009 |title=Buzz Aldrin to accept NASA's Emmy Award |work=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32469279 |access-date=9 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126151634/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/32469279/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/buzz-aldrin-accept-nasas-emmy-award/#.W-XkHRNKg8Y |archive-date=26 November 2018 |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Les |date=10 August 1974 |title=Nixon Talk Fails to Set TV Record |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/10/archives/nixon-talk-fails-to-set-tv-record-but-estimates-of-audience-place.html |access-date=9 November 2018}}{{cite magazine |last=Higgins |first=Bill |date=11 October 2018 |title=Hollywood Flashback: Neil Armstrong's Moonwalk Killed the Box Office in 1969 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/neil-armstrongs-moonwalk-killed-box-office-1969-1149903 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=9 November 2018 |quote=CBS estimated 150 million total viewers tuned in across all three networks, while NBC put the number at 125 million.}}

| 20 July 1969

| multiple

2

|Super Bowl LIX

|133.5

|9 February 2025

|Fox

3

|Super Bowl XXVII Halftime Show

|133.4{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YmxKAAAAIBAJ&dq=guinness+world+records+1993+133.4+million+jackson&pg=PA15&article_id=4235,2406159 |title=A Statue Facts: Michael's All Wax - Guinness World Records |date=20 May 1993 |publisher=The Vindicator |pages=15 |language=en |quote=Jackson was also saluted for performing in front of one of the largest TV audiences ever, 133.4 million viewers during halftime at the 1993 Super Bowl.}}{{Cite web |last=Abramovitch |first=Seth |date=2021-02-06 |title=Super Bowl Flashback: Michael Jackson Turned the Halftime Show Into an Extravaganza in 1993 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/super-bowl-flashback-michael-jackson-turned-the-halftime-show-into-an-extravaganza-in-1993-4125874/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rolli |first=Bryan |title=Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg And Mary J. Blige To Perform At 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrolli/2021/09/30/dr-dre-eminem-kendrick-lamar-snoop-dogg-and-mary-j-blige-to-perform-at-2022-super-bowl-halftime-show/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2018-02-11 |title=From Elvis Presto to Michael Jackson: How the Super Bowl halftime show found its groove - |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/02/02/from-elvis-presto-to-michael-jackson-how-the-super-bowl-halftime-show-found-its-groove/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211125150/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/02/02/from-elvis-presto-to-michael-jackson-how-the-super-bowl-halftime-show-found-its-groove/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2018-02-11 |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=The Washington Post}}

|31 January 1993

|NBC

4

| Super Bowl LVIII

| 123.7

| 11 February 2024

| CBS

5

| Super Bowl LVII

| 115.1

| 12 February 2023

| Fox

6

| Super Bowl XLIX

| 114.4

| 1 February 2015

| NBC

7

| Super Bowl LVI

| 112.3

| 13 February 2022

| NBC

8

| Super Bowl XLVIII

| 112.2

| 2 February 2014

| Fox

9

| Super Bowl 50

| 111.9

| 7 February 2016

| CBS

rowspan="2" | 10

| Super Bowl XLVI

| rowspan="2" | 111.3

| 5 February 2012

| NBC

Super Bowl LI

| 5 February 2017

| Fox

bgcolor="#EEDC82"

=Most-watched television interviews=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
Rank

!Interviewee

!Interviewer

!Average viewers (millions)

!Series

!Air date

!Network

1Michael JacksonOprah Winfrey62.30{{Cite news |date=1993-02-12 |title=Jackson Interview High in Ratings (Published 1993) |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/12/news/jackson-interview-high-in-ratings.html |access-date=2023-08-03}}"Michael Jackson Talks ... to Oprah"{{dts|format=mdy|1993|February|10}}ABC
2Monica LewinskyBarbara Walters48.54{{cite news |date=March 10, 1999 |title=National Nielsen viewership |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41321373/the-los-angeles-times/ |work=Los Angeles Times |page=F11 |via=Newspapers.com}}20/20{{dts|format=mdy|1999|March|3}}ABC
3Richard NixonDavid Frost45.00{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Les |date=May 6, 1977 |title=Surveys rank program with leading series |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/06/archives/surveys-rank-program-with-leading-series.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 8, 2021}}Nixon Talks{{dts|format=mdy|1977|May|4}}CBS
4Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie PresleyDiane Sawyer37.50{{Cite news |date=June 14, 1995 |title=Nielsen ratings |page=3D |work=USA Today}}Prime Time Live{{dts|format=mdy|1995|June|14}}ABC
5Bill and Hillary ClintonSteve Kroft34.00{{Cite news |date=January 29, 1992 |title=Nielsen ratings |page=3D |work=USA Today}}60 Minutes{{dts|format=mdy|1992|January|26}}CBS
6Stormy DanielsAnderson Cooper22.11{{Cite news |date=2018-03-26 |title=Stormy Daniels Attracts 22 Million Viewers to '60 Minutes' (Published 2018) |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/26/business/media/stormy-daniels-60-minutes-ratings.html |access-date=2023-08-03 |last1=Koblin |first1=John }}60 Minutes{{dts|format=mdy|2018|March|25}}CBS
7Barack ObamaMatt Lauer21.90{{cite news |url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/a-pre-game-interview-prediction-falls-short/ |last=Carter |first=Bill |title=A Pregame Interview Prediction Falls Short |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716204129/https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/a-pre-game-interview-prediction-falls-short/ |archive-date=July 16, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 8, 2021}}Today{{dts|format=mdy|2009|February|1}}NBC
8Whitney HoustonDiane Sawyer21.27{{cite web |title=Top 20 network primetime report |url=http://tv.zap2it.com/news/ratings/networks/021208network.html |publisher=Zap2it |access-date=March 8, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030226111337/http://tv.zap2it.com/news/ratings/networks/021208network.html |archive-date=February 26, 2003 |url-status=dead}}Primetime{{dts|format=mdy|2002|December|4}}ABC
9John and Patsy RamseyBarbara Walters19.60{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2015/04/bruce-jenner-interview-ratings-diane-sawyer-20-20-1201416149/ |title=Bruce Jenner interview ratings hits newsmag demo record in Live+3 |work=Deadline Hollywood |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=April 29, 2015 |access-date=March 8, 2021}}20/20{{dts|format=mdy|2000|March|17}}ABC

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

=Sources=

  • {{cite book|last=Mytton|first= Graham |editor=Ingrid Volkmer|title=The Handbook of Global Media Research|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PWxglgeb6RQC&pg=PA40|access-date=28 July 2015|date=14 August 2012 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9781118255292|pages=40–54|chapter=Global Media Research: Can We Know Global Audiences? A View from a BBC Perspective }}
  • [https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/man-vs-wild-episode-featuring-pm-modi-was-most-trending-televised-event-claims-bear-grylls-4351101.html Man Vs Wild Episode Featuring PM Modi Was ‘most Trending Televised Event’, Claims Bear Grylls]
  • [https://in.mashable.com/entertainment/5924/pm-narendra-modis-man-vs-wild-stint-with-bear-grylls-is-officially-the-most-watched-episode-on-tv PM Narendra Modi's 'Man vs Wild' Stint With Bear Grylls Is Officially the Most-Watched Episode On TV]

=Citations=

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Media series}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Most-watched television broadcasts}}

Most-watched broadcasts

Television broadcasts