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Top 10 Most-Watched TV Broadcasts in US History

The ten most-watched television broadcasts in American history by average viewership, from the Super Bowl LIX record to the Apollo 11 moon landing and the M*A*S*H finale.

Updated July 31, 2026 10 ranked 3 sources

Quick answer: 1. Apollo 11 Moon Landing, 2. Super Bowl LIX (2025), 3. Super Bowl LX (2026), 4. Super Bowl LVIII (2024), 5. Super Bowl LVII (2023), 6. Super Bowl XLIX (2015), 7. Super Bowl XLVIII (2014), 8. Super Bowl 50 (2016), 9. Super Bowl LI (2017), 10. M*A*S*H — "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen".

Television has been the central medium of American culture for over seven decades, and the most-watched broadcasts in history represent the moments when the entire country stopped to watch together. Super Bowl telecasts dominate the list, with the most recent games breaking viewership records year after year. The Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 remains the most-watched broadcast of all time when all networks are combined, while the 1983 finale of M*A*S*H stands as the most-watched scripted television episode in history. This list ranks the top ten most-watched television broadcasts in the United States by average viewership, based on Nielsen Media Research data and historical estimates. The Apollo 11 moon landing is listed separately as a news event carried across multiple networks rather than a single-network telecast.

Average viewers (millions)

Average viewers (millions)
Apollo 11 Moon Landing
150 million (estimated)
Super Bowl LIX (2025)
127.7 million
Super Bowl LX (2026)
125.6 million
Super Bowl LVIII (2024)
123.7 million
Super Bowl LVII (2023)
115.1 million
Super Bowl XLIX (2015)
114.8 million
Super Bowl XLVIII (2014)
112.8 million
Super Bowl 50 (2016)
112.3 million
Super Bowl LI (2017)
112 million
M*A*S*H — "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen"
106 million

The ranking

1

Apollo 11 Moon Landing

The Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969, is the most-watched television event in American history, with an estimated 125–150 million viewers across all networks. When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface, more than 650 million people worldwide watched the broadcast. In the United States, all three major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) interrupted their regular programming to provide continuous coverage. It was the first time humanity watched a live event from another world, and it remains the most culturally significant broadcast in television history.

Date: July 20, 1969Type: News / Space eventDuration: Continuous coverageNetwork: ABC, CBS, NBC (combined)Matchup: N/A
2

Super Bowl LIX (2025)

Super Bowl LIX, played on February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, holds the record for the largest average viewership of any single-network US television broadcast, with 127.7 million viewers on Fox. The game saw the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in a close contest. The halftime show, featuring Kendrick Lamar, peaked at 133.5 million viewers during the second quarter and halftime period. The broadcast was also carried on Fox Deportes, Telemundo, and streamed on Tubi, with the combined audience approaching 140 million.

Date: February 9, 2025Type: Super BowlNetwork: Fox / Fox Deportes / Telemundo / TubiMatchup: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia EaglesDuration: ~4 hours (game + coverage)
3

Super Bowl LX (2026)

Super Bowl LX, played on February 8, 2026, drew an average of 125.6 million viewers on NBC, making it the second most-watched single-network telecast in US history. The game featured a peak viewership of 137.8 million during the second quarter, which surpassed all previous quarter-hour viewership records. The broadcast was also carried on Universo and streamed on Peacock. The continued growth of Super Bowl viewership reflects the NFL's dominance of American television and the event's status as the country's largest shared cultural moment.

Date: February 8, 2026Type: Super BowlNetwork: NBC / UniversoMatchup: TBDDuration: ~4 hours (game + coverage)
4

Super Bowl LVIII (2024)

Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024, averaged 123.7 million viewers on CBS, making it the most-watched Super Bowl at the time. The game featured the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime, the second overtime game in Super Bowl history. The broadcast was also carried on Univision and Nickelodeon, with the Nickelodeon kids-oriented broadcast generating significant media attention. The overtime thriller delivered the highest viewership for any US television broadcast since the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Date: February 11, 2024Type: Super BowlNetwork: CBS / Univision / NickelodeonMatchup: Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ersDuration: ~4 hours (game + coverage)
5

Super Bowl LVII (2023)

Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023, averaged 115.1 million viewers on Fox, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in a high-scoring affair. The game was notable for the halftime show featuring Rihanna, which drew significant attention and generated widespread social media discussion. The matchup between the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and the Eagles' Jalen Hurts was one of the most compelling quarterback duels in Super Bowl history, with the game coming down to a last-minute field goal.

Date: February 12, 2023Type: Super BowlNetwork: Fox / Fox DeportesMatchup: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia EaglesDuration: ~4 hours (game + coverage)
6

Super Bowl XLIX (2015)

Super Bowl XLIX on February 1, 2015, averaged 114.8 million viewers on NBC, featuring the New England Patriots defeating the Seattle Seahawks. The game is remembered for one of the most dramatic finishes in Super Bowl history: the Seahawks' Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson's pass at the goal line with 20 seconds remaining, preserving a 28-24 Patriots victory. The play is one of the most replayed moments in NFL history. The halftime show featured Katy Perry with a memorable left shark performance.

Date: February 1, 2015Type: Super BowlNetwork: NBC / UniversoMatchup: New England Patriots vs. Seattle SeahawksDuration: ~4 hours (game + coverage)
7

Super Bowl XLVIII (2014)

Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014, averaged 112.8 million viewers on Fox, featuring the Seattle Seahawks' dominant 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos. The game was notable for the Seahawks' Legion of Boom defense overwhelming Peyton Manning's record-setting Broncos offense. The game also featured a safety on the first play from scrimmage — the first time a Super Bowl began with a safety. The halftime show featured Bruno Mars, with a surprise appearance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Date: February 2, 2014Type: Super BowlNetwork: Fox / Fox DeportesMatchup: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver BroncosDuration: ~4 hours (game + coverage)
8

Super Bowl 50 (2016)

Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016, averaged 112.3 million viewers on CBS, featuring the Denver Broncos defeating the Carolina Panthers 24-10. The milestone 50th Super Bowl was celebrated with a halftime show featuring Coldplay, with special guest appearances by Beyoncé and Bruno Mars. The game was defined by the Broncos' dominant defense, led by Von Miller, who was named Super Bowl MVP after forcing two fumbles. It was the final game of Peyton Manning's Hall of Fame career.

Date: February 7, 2016Type: Super BowlNetwork: CBS / ESPN DeportesMatchup: Denver Broncos vs. Carolina PanthersDuration: ~4 hours (game + coverage)
9

Super Bowl LI (2017)

Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017, averaged 112.0 million viewers on Fox, featuring the New England Patriots' historic 34-28 overtime comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The Patriots overcame a 28-3 deficit in the third quarter — the largest comeback in Super Bowl history — and won in overtime, the first Super Bowl to go to overtime. Tom Brady was named Super Bowl MVP for the fourth time. The game was widely considered one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played.

Date: February 5, 2017Type: Super BowlNetwork: Fox / Fox DeportesMatchup: New England Patriots vs. Atlanta FalconsDuration: ~4 hours (game + coverage)
10

M*A*S*H — "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen"

The series finale of M*A*S*H, titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," aired on February 28, 1983, and was watched by 106.0 million viewers on CBS — the most-watched scripted television episode in American history. The 2.5-hour episode concluded the 11-season run of the Korean War comedy-drama, with Hawkeye Pierce dealing with a traumatic breakdown and the 4077th finally being decommissioned. The record stood for over 40 years and remains the highest-rated non-sports broadcast in US television history, with a 60.2 Nielsen rating and 77 share.

Date: February 28, 1983Type: TV series finaleNetwork: CBSDuration: 2.5 hoursMatchup: N/A

Full comparison

# Name DateTypeDurationNetworkMatchup
1 Apollo 11 Moon Landing July 20, 1969News / Space eventContinuous coverageABC, CBS, NBC (combined)N/A
2 Super Bowl LIX (2025) February 9, 2025Super Bowl~4 hours (game + coverage)Fox / Fox Deportes / Telemundo / TubiKansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles
3 Super Bowl LX (2026) February 8, 2026Super Bowl~4 hours (game + coverage)NBC / UniversoTBD
4 Super Bowl LVIII (2024) February 11, 2024Super Bowl~4 hours (game + coverage)CBS / Univision / NickelodeonKansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers
5 Super Bowl LVII (2023) February 12, 2023Super Bowl~4 hours (game + coverage)Fox / Fox DeportesKansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles
6 Super Bowl XLIX (2015) February 1, 2015Super Bowl~4 hours (game + coverage)NBC / UniversoNew England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks
7 Super Bowl XLVIII (2014) February 2, 2014Super Bowl~4 hours (game + coverage)Fox / Fox DeportesSeattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos
8 Super Bowl 50 (2016) February 7, 2016Super Bowl~4 hours (game + coverage)CBS / ESPN DeportesDenver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers
9 Super Bowl LI (2017) February 5, 2017Super Bowl~4 hours (game + coverage)Fox / Fox DeportesNew England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons
10 M*A*S*H — "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" February 28, 1983TV series finale2.5 hoursCBSN/A

How we ranked this

Broadcasts are ranked by average viewership in millions, as reported by Nielsen Media Research. For Super Bowl telecasts, the figure represents the average audience across all networks that carried the game (including Spanish-language broadcasters). For the Apollo 11 moon landing, figures are historical estimates across all networks as Nielsen did not publish a single combined figure at the time. The Super Bowl LIX figure (127.7 million) represents the largest single-network average viewership in US history. Only the top 10 Nielsen-ranked single-network broadcasts are included in the primary ranking.

FAQ

What is the most-watched TV broadcast in American history?

The Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969, is the most-watched broadcast in American history, with an estimated 125-150 million viewers across all three networks. However, it was not a single-network telecast but a news event covered simultaneously by ABC, CBS, and NBC.

What is the most-watched single-network telecast in US history?

Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, holds the record for the largest average viewership of any single-network US television broadcast, with 127.7 million viewers on Fox. Super Bowl LX in 2026 was second at 125.6 million viewers on NBC.

What is the most-watched scripted TV episode in history?

The M*A*S*H series finale "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" (February 28, 1983) is the most-watched scripted television episode in US history, with 106.0 million viewers. It held the record for the most-watched single-network broadcast of any kind for over 40 years before being surpassed by Super Bowl viewership growth.

Sources