List of most-watched television broadcasts

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(Redirected from
List of most watched television interviews
)

This page is here to list 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.[1] 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.[2][3]

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 and FIFA World Cup,[3] with annual events such as the Super Bowl in the U.S., and the UEFA Champions League finals in Europe picking up large regional audiences.[4] Record-breaking audiences are also claimed for news events such as the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing,[5][6] and music events such as the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert.[7]

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.[8]

Rank Show Date Network
1 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup semi-final, Australia vs England 2023 Seven Network, Optus Sport
2 Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II 2022
Ten Network
3 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup quarter-final, Australia vs France 2023 Seven Network, Optus Sport
4 Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer 1981
Ten Network
5 2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony 2000 Seven Network
6 2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony 2000 Seven Network
7 Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton 2011
Ten Network
8 1984 Summer Olympics opening ceremony 1984
Ten Network
9 The World of The Seekers 1968
Ten Network
10 Boxing: Lionel Rose v Alan Rudkin 1964 Seven 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.[9][10] 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.

Rank Show Number of viewers Ratings Year Network
1 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup semi-final, Australia vs England 7.13 million[11][a] - 2023 Seven Network, Optus Sport
2 Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton 6.0 million 2011
7Two[12]
3 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup quarter-final, Australia vs France 4.17 million[13][b] - 2023 Seven Network, Optus Sport
4 Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 4.09 Million 2018
Sky News Live
5
2005 Australian Open – Men's singles final
4.043 Million 29.3 2005 Seven Network
6
MasterChef Australia (season 2) – finale challenge
4.029 Million 27.1 2010
Network Ten
7 2003 Rugby World Cup final 4.016 Million 29.7 2003 Seven Network
8
MasterChef Australia (season 1) – finale challenge
3.726 Million 25.6 2009
Network Ten
9 2006 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony 3.561 Million 25.5 2006 Nine Network
10 2005 AFL Grand Final (Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles) 3.386 Million 24.5 2005
Network Ten

Brazil

Rank Show Episode Rating Share Date Channel Content Source(s)
1 Roque Santeiro Episode 209 96 100% 22 February 1986 TV Globo Telenovela [14][15]
Selva de Pedra Episode 152 100% 4 October 1972 TV Globo Telenovela [16]
3
Tieta
Episode 196 78 27 March 1990 TV Globo Telenovela [17]
4 State funeral of Ayrton Senna Death of Ayrton Senna 75 100% 4 May 1994 5 May 1994 Motorsport [18]
5 1998 FIFA World Cup Brazil vs. Netherlands (semi-final) 73 7 July 1998 SBT, TV Globo, Manchete and Rede Bandeirantes Association football [19]
6 2002 FIFA World Cup Brazil vs. Turkey (semi-final) 71 26 June 2002 TV Globo Association football [16][20]
7 América Episode 203 68 82% 4 November 2005 TV Globo Telenovela
8 2002 FIFA World Cup Germany vs. Brazil (final) 67 91% 30 June 2002 TV Globo Association football [23]

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.[24] A groundbreaking 26.5 million Canadians watched some part of the game, over 80 percent of the country's 34-million-person population.[25] According to multiple sources, 13.3 million Canadians watched the games' opening ceremony, which was the previous record.[26]

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.[27]

China

Spring Festival Gala has regularly attracted between 700 million[28] to 1.17 billion viewers annually.[29][30]

The CCTV's main evening news broadcast Xinwen Lianbo has a daily audience of around 135 million people,[31] 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.[31]

The Legend of Bruce Lee (2008), based on the life of Bruce Lee, has been watched by over 400 million viewers in China, making it the most-watched Chinese television drama series of all time, as of 2017.[32][33]

A Chinese boxer Zou Shiming's professional boxing debut on 6 April 2013 generated an estimated 300 million viewers.[34][35][36] Another professional boxer Qiu Xiaojun attracted around 200 million people for his fight against Ghanaian fighter Raymond Commey on 12 February 2016.[37][38]

Denmark

The following are the ten most watched programs from 1992 onwards.[39]

Rank Show Viewers Date Channel
1 Krøniken - Episode 10 2,714,000 2004 DR1
2 Eurovision Song Contest 2001 2,667,000 2001 DR1
3 The Last Exploits of the Olsen Gang 2,658,000 1995 TV2
4 UEFA Euro 1992 semi-final: Denmark vs Netherlands 2,657,000 1992 TV2
5 UEFA Euro 1992 final: Denmark vs Germany 2,632,000 1992 TV2
6 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification: Denmark vs Spain 2,547,000 1993
DR1
7 Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 1992 2,506,000 1992
DR1
8 The Girl and the Press Photographer 2,422,000 1992 TV2
9 1998 FIFA World Cup quarter-final: Denmark vs Brazil 2,390,000 1998 DR1
10 UEFA Euro 2012 Group Stage: Denmark vs Germany 2,378,000 2012
DR1

France

Rank Event Viewers Share Date Network
1 Speech of the French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the COVID-19 pandemic 36,730,000 94.5%[40][41] 13 April 2020
franceinfo
2 35,300,000 96.1%[42] 16 March 2020 TF1, France 2, France 3, M6, C8, TMC, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo,
L'Equipe
3 32,700,000 93.6%[42] 28 October 2020 TF1, France 2, France 3, M6, C8, TMC, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo,
L'Equipe
4 2018 FIFA World Cup final: France vs Croatia 26,200,000 15 July 2018 TF1,
BeIN Sports
5 Speech of the French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the COVID-19 pandemic 24,600,000 87% 12 March 2020 TF1, France 2, France 3, M6, C8, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo, L'Equipe
6 1998 FIFA World Cup final: Brazil vs France 23,647,000 88.4% 12 July 1998 TF1, Canal+
7 Speech of the French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the COVID-19 pandemic 23,610,000 85,6% 14 June 2020 TF1, France 2, France 3, M6, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo
8 Speech of the French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the
Yellow vests movement
23,000,000 81,4% 10 December 2018 TF1, France 2, M6, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo
9 Speech of the French President François Hollande in response to the November 2015 Paris attacks 22,400,000 13 November 2015 TF1, France 2, France 3, M6, BFMTV, CNews, LCI, franceinfo
10
UEFA Euro 2016 Final
: Portugal vs France
22,292,000 72.9% 10 July 2016 M6, BeIN Sports

Germany

Rank Show Episode Number of viewers Share Date Network
1 2014 FIFA World Cup
Germany vs Argentina
(final)
34,650,000 86.3% 13 July 2014 Das Erste
2 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil vs Germany (semi-final) 32,570,000 87.8% 8 July 2014 ZDF
3 2010 FIFA World Cup Germany vs Spain (semi-final) 31,100,000 1, 4 83.2% 7 July 2010 Das Erste
4 UEFA Euro 2016
Germany vs France
(semi-final)
29,820,000 80.6% 7 July 2016 ZDF
5 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany vs Italy (semi-final) 29,660,000 1, 2, 3 84.1% 4 July 2006 ZDF
6 UEFA Euro 2008 Germany vs Turkey (semi-final) 29,460,000 81.6% 25 June 2008 ZDF
7 2010 FIFA World Cup Ghana vs. Germany (group game) 29,190,000 1, 4 79.7% 23 June 2010 Das Erste
8 1990 FIFA World Cup
West Germany vs Argentina
(final)
28,660,000 87.9% 9 July 1990 Das Erste
9 UEFA Euro 1996 Germany vs Czech Republic (final) 28,440,000 76.3% 30 June 1996 ZDF
10 UEFA Euro 2016
Germany vs Italy
(quarter-final)
28,320,000 79.8% 2 July 2016 Das Erste
Notes:
  1. Public viewing areas were not included in these ratings.
  2. The approximated rating is about 60 to 70 million.[43]
  3. The extra time period reached 31.31 million viewers.[44]
  4. Summary of the 2010 FIFA World Cup ratings.
  5. Summary of the UEFA Euro 2008 ratings.
  6. Summary of the 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.[45]

Italy

Show Viewers Date Channel Ref.(s)
Madonna in Concerto 30—35 million 1987 Rai 1 [46]

India

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 (1988–1990), the television adaptation of Indian epic Mahabharata, had a share of 97.8% among Indian viewers.[47]

Satyamev Jayate (2012–2014) drew an estimated audience of 600 million viewers in India.[48] The 2016 ICC World Twenty20 cricket cup was watched by an estimated 730 million viewers in India, with India vs. Pakistan being the most widely watched live event during the tournament.[49]

Rank Show TVR(mn impressions) Network
1 Ramayan (1987 TV series) (Laxman vs Meghnath yudh) 77 Doordarshan
2 Luv Kush (finale) 67.10 Doordarshan
3 2018 Indian Premier League final 55.6[50]
Star Network
4 Mahabharat (1988 TV series) 22.9 Doordarshan
5 Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 22.4 StarPlus
6 Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin 9.2 Sony TV India
7 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 8.4 StarPlus
8 Diya Aur Baati Hum 7.7 StarPlus
9 Pavitra Rishta 7.3 Zee TV
10 Jai Jai Jai Bajrang Bali 7.2 Sahara One

Most viewed broadcasts

Rank Show Episode Viewership(millions) Date Network
1 2011 Cricket World Cup Sri Lanka vs India (final) 340[51] 2 April 2011
Star Sports Network
2 2015 Cricket World Cup Australia vs India (semi-final) 309[52] 26 March 2015 Star Sports
3 2023 Cricket World Cup India vs Australia (final) 300[53] 19 November 2023 Star Sports
4 2015 Cricket World Cup India vs Pakistan (group stage match) 288[52] 15 February 2015 Star Sports
5 2019 Cricket World Cup India vs Pakistan (group stage match) 273[54] 16 June 2019 Star Sports
6 2015 Cricket World Cup West Indies vs India (group stage match) 262[52] 6 March 2015 Star Sports
7 2015 Cricket World Cup India vs South Africa (group stage match) 257[52] 22 February 2015 Star Sports
8 2015 Cricket World Cup India vs Bangladesh (quarter-final) 251[52] 19 March 2015 Star Sports
9 2015 Cricket World Cup Zimbabwe vs India (group stage match) 205[52] 14 March 2015 Star Sports
10 2017 ICC Champions Trophy India vs Pakistan (group stage match) 201[55] 4 June 2017 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.[56]

Japan

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.[57]

No. Show Household Rating Date Network
1 Chibi Maruko-chan 39.9%[58][59] 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 June 2007.[60]

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,

Chespirito at 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.[61] All programs with a viewership over 7 million since the start of tracking are shown in the table below.

Rank Show Episode Number of viewers Date Network
1 2014 FIFA World Cup Netherlands vs Argentina (semi-final) 9,058,000 9 July 2014 NPO 1
2 2014 FIFA World Cup Netherlands vs Mexico (round of 16) 8,738,000 29 June 2014 NPO 1
3 2010 FIFA World Cup
Netherlands vs Spain
(final)
8,513,000 11 July 2010
Nederland 1
4 UEFA Euro 2004 Portugal vs Netherlands (semi-final) 8,512,000 30 June 2004
Nederland 2
5 2010 FIFA World Cup Uruguay vs Netherlands (semi-final) 8,501,000 6 July 2010 NPO 1
6 2006 FIFA World Cup Portugal vs Netherlands (round of 16) 8,252,000 25 June 2006 Nederland 2
7 Press Conference by Prime Minister Mark Rutte on the COVID-19 pandemic 8,179,000 13 October 2020 NPO 1, RTL 4
8 2014 FIFA World Cup Netherlands vs Chile (group stage) 8,098,000 23 June 2014 NPO 1
9 UEFA Euro 2012 Portugal vs Netherlands (group stage) 7,993,000 17 June 2012 Nederland 1
10 UEFA Euro 2012 Netherlands vs Germany (group stage) 7,984,000 13 June 2012 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.[62]

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.

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.

Top 20 highest rated television programs in Mega Manila since 1992
(AGB Nielsen tallies)[63][64][65]
Rank Network Program Year Rating
1 ABS-CBN
The Battle: Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales
2006 83.5%
2 ABS-CBN
Rosalinda
1999 69.8%
3 ABS-CBN Esperanza 1997 67.0%
4 ABS-CBN Pangako Sa 'Yo 2002 64.9%
5 ABS-CBN Meteor Garden 2003 63.8%
6 ABS-CBN Miss Universe 1994 1994 62.5%
7 RPN
Marimar
1996 61.7%
8 ABS-CBN
María Mercedes
1996 59.7%
9 RPN Miss Universe 1999 1999 58.4%
10 GMA Bubble Gang 1997 57.6%

Poland

List of the 10 most-watched television broadcasts since the beginning of telemetry research in Poland (since 1997) by Nielsen Media Research:[66][67][68][69][70][71][72]

Rank Program Date Channel Number of viewers Share
1
Funeral of Pope John Paul II
8 April 2005
TVN, TVN24
and others
Over 21,400,000 Almost 90%
2
Poland vs Portugal
(quarter-final)
30 June 2016 TVP1, Polsat, Polsat Sport 15,974,822 86.57%
3 UEFA Euro 2012: Poland vs Russia (group stage) 12 June 2012 TVP1, TVP Sport, TVP HD 14,683,216 81.51%
4 UEFA Euro 2016: Germany vs Poland (group stage) 16 June 2016 TVP1, Polsat, Polsat Sport 14,352,012 80.89%
5 UEFA Euro 2012: Czech Republic vs Poland (group stage) 16 June 2012 TVP1, TVP Sport, TVP HD 14,070,492 81.28%
6
FIFA World Cup 2018: Poland vs Colombia
(group stage)
24 June 2018 TVP1, TVP Sport 13,631,335 75.45%
7 UEFA Euro 2012: Poland vs Greece (group stage) 8 June 2012 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)
13 February 2002 TVP1 13,259,612 75.15%
9 Funeral of President Lech Kaczyński and First Lady Maria Kaczyńska 18 April 2010
TVN 24
and others
13,033,967 86.68%
10 UEFA Euro 2016: Ukraine vs Poland (group stage) 21 June 2016 TVP1, Polsat, Polsat Sport 12,639,308 81.67%

Portugal

[73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84]

Rank Show Episode Rating Share Date Channel
1 UEFA Euro 2020
Belgium vs Portugal
(round of 16)
40.2 69.9% 27 June 2021 TVI
2 UEFA Euro 2004 Portugal vs Netherlands (semi-final) 40.1 85.4% 30 June 2004 RTP1
3 UEFA Euro 2012
Portugal vs Spain
(semi-final)
39.5 76.0% 27 June 2012
SIC
4 2022 FIFA World Cup Portugal vs Switzerland (round of 16) 39.1 68.4% 6 December 2022 RTP1
5 UEFA Euro 2004 Portugal vs England (quarter-final) 39.0 85.1% 24 June 2004 RTP1
6 UEFA Euro 2016
Portugal vs Wales
(semi-final)
38.4 75.4% 6 July 2016 RTP1
7 UEFA Euro 2016 Portugal vs France (final) 38.2 78.1% 10 July 2016 RTP1
8 UEFA Euro 2012 Portugal vs Netherlands (group stage match) 38.1 73.4% 17 June 2012 TVI
9 2022 FIFA World Cup Portugal vs Uruguay (group stage match) 38 66% 28 November 2022 RTP1
10 2014 FIFA World Cup United States vs Portugal (group stage match) 37.8 75.4% 22 June 2014 RTP1

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%.[85]

Top 10 most-watched South Korean dramas since 1992 (AGB Nielsen tallies)
# Drama Channel Viewership Date
1 First Love KBS2 65.8% 20 April 1997
2 Was It Love? MBC 64.9% 24 May 1992
3 Sandglass SBS 64.5% 6 February 1995
4 Hur Jun MBC 63.7% 27 June 2000
5 ASunny Place of the Young KBS2 62.7% 12 November 1995
6 You and I MBC 62.4% 12 April 1998
7 Son and Daughter MBC 61.1% 21 March 1993
8 Taejo Wang Geon KBS1 60.2% 20 May 2001
9 Eyes of Dawn MBC 58.4% 6 February 1992
10
Dae Jang Geum
MBC 57.8% 23 March 2004

Sweden

Statistics from Mediamätning Skandinavien[86]

Most-watched programmes per year

Year Programme Date Number of viewers (millions) Network
1983 Eurovision Song Contest 1983 23 April 6.1 SVT1
2000
Melodifestivalen 2000
10 March 4.175 SVT2
2001
Melodifestivalen 2001
23 February 3.84 SVT1
2002 Melodifestivalen 2002 1 March 3.72 SVT1
2003 Melodifestivalen 2003 15 March 3.815 SVT1
2004 Melodifestivalen 2004 20 March 4.105 SVT1
2005 Melodifestivalen 2005 12 March 4.055 SVT1
2006 Melodifestivalen 2006 18 March 4.240 SVT1
2007 Melodifestivalen 2007 10 March 3.975 SVT1
2008 Melodifestivalen 2008 15 March 4.045 SVT1
2009 Melodifestivalen 2009 14 March 3.59 SVT1
2010 Melodifestivalen 2010 13 March 3.87 SVT1
2011 Melodifestivalen 2011 12 March 3.67 SVT1
2012 Melodifestivalen 2012 10 March 4.11 SVT1
2013 Melodifestivalen 2013 9 March 4.15 SVT1
2014 Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar god jul 24 December 3.705 SVT1
2018 Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar god jul 24 December 3.786 SVT1
2019 Melodifestivalen 2019 14 March 3.652 SVT1

Most-watched sport events per year

Year Programme Date Number of viewers (millions) Network
2000 UEFA Euro 2000 final (FRA–ITA) 2 July 2.34 SVT2
2001 2001 World Men's Handball Championship final (FRA–SWE) 4 February 2.635
TV4
2002 2002 European Men's Handball Championship final (SWE–GER) 3 February 3.06
TV4
2003 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup final (GER–SWE) 12 October 3.525
TV4
2004 UEFA Euro 2004 (SWE–DEN) 22 June 3.796
TV4
2005 2005 World Championships in Athletics 7 August 4.055
TV4
2006 2006 Men's Olympic Ice Hockey final (SWE–FIN) 26 February 3.52 SVT2
2007 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2007 – Women's slalom 16 February 2.23 SVT1
2008 UEFA Euro 2008 (GRE–SWE) 10 June 3.03
TV4
2009 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1 (DEN–SWE) 10 October 1.805
Kanal 5
2010 2010 FIFA World Cup final (NED–ESP) 11 July 2.66 SVT1
2011 2011 IIHF World Championship final (SWE–FIN) 15 May 2.035
TV3
2012 UEFA Euro 2012 (UKR–SWE) 11 June 2.94 SVT1
2013 2013 IIHF World Championship final (SWE–SUI) 19 May 2.915
TV4
2014 2014 FIFA World Cup (GER–ARG) 13 July 2.810
TV4
2015 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2015 1 May 2.272 SVT1

United Kingdom

United States

Though the Apollo 11 Moon landing is the most watched television event in American history, it is considered a news event, meaning that CBS and Nickelodeon's live telecast of Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 holds the record for the largest average viewership of any live network U.S. television broadcast, with 123.7 million viewers.[87][88] During this broadcast, the halftime show was watched by 129.1 million viewers.[89] 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.[90] Moreover, Super Bowl telecasts account for 22 of the most-watched television broadcasts based on overall viewership in U.S. television history.[91] 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.[92]

Most-watched broadcasts

     Denotes news event

Rank Broadcast Average viewers Date Network(s)
1 Apollo 11 Moon landing 125–150[93][94][95] 20 July 1969 multiple
2 Super Bowl LVIII 123.7 11 February 2024 CBS, Nickelodeon
3 Super Bowl LVII 115.1 12 February 2023 Fox
4 Super Bowl XLIX 114.4 1 February 2015 NBC
5 Super Bowl LVI 112.3 13 February 2022 NBC
6 Super Bowl XLVIII 112.2 2 February 2014 Fox
7 Super Bowl 50 111.9 7 February 2016 CBS
8 Super Bowl XLVI 111.3 5 February 2012 NBC
Super Bowl LI 5 February 2017 Fox
10 Super Bowl XLV 111.0 6 February 2011 Fox

Most-watched television interviews

Rank Interviewee Interviewer Average viewers Series Air date Network
1 Michael Jackson Oprah Winfrey 62.30[96] "Michael Jackson Talks ... to Oprah" February 10, 1993 ABC
2 Monica Lewinsky Barbara Walters 48.54[97]
20/20
March 3, 1999 ABC
3 Richard Nixon David Frost 45.00[98]
Nixon Talks
May 4, 1977 CBS
4 Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley Diane Sawyer 37.50[99] Prime Time Live June 14, 1995 ABC
5 Bill and Hillary Clinton Steve Kroft 34.00[100] 60 Minutes January 26, 1992 CBS
6 Stormy Daniels Anderson Cooper 22.11[101] 60 Minutes March 25, 2018 CBS
7 Barack Obama Matt Lauer 21.90[102]
Today
February 1, 2009 NBC
8 Whitney Houston Diane Sawyer 21.27[103]
Primetime
December 4, 2002 ABC
9 John and Patsy Ramsey Barbara Walters 19.60[104]
20/20
March 17, 2000 ABC

Notes

  1. ^ 6.9 million viewers watched on the Seven Network alone. The peak viewership was 11.15 million.[11]
  2. ^ The peak viewership was 7.2 million.[13]

References

Sources

  • Mytton, Graham (14 August 2012). "Global Media Research: Can We Know Global Audiences? A View from a BBC Perspective". In Ingrid Volkmer (ed.). The Handbook of Global Media Research. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 40–54. . Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  • Man Vs Wild Episode Featuring PM Modi Was ‘most Trending Televised Event’, Claims Bear Grylls
  • PM Narendra Modi's 'Man vs Wild' Stint With Bear Grylls Is Officially the Most-Watched Episode On TV

Citations

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