Nearly six decades later, the Apollo 11 moon landing still stands at the most-watched TV program of all time.
Across all networks, upwards of 150 million people tuned in to watch humans touch down on the surface of the moon. No other TV program in U.S. history has even come close to touching that record.
In second place is Super Bowl LVIII, which drew just over 123M for the Chiefs third title in five years. In fact, there are 18 Super Bowls among the Top 25 most-watched TV programs in history — and no, it’s not just the last 18 consecutive years as the record holders range from 1986 to 2023. Over the years, 12 Super Bowls have managed over 100M viewers.
As of now, to crack into the Top 25 takes more than 92M viewers, which is an increasingly hard metric for TV to hit. That’s why, as time goes on, it’s very likely that even more Super Bowls will snatch up spots on this list.
Among the others currently on the list are former President Nixon’s resignation, the O.J. Simpson police chase, and theM*A*S*Hfinale. See below for all 25.
1. Apollo 11 Moon Landing
The Apollo 11 Moon Landing in 1969 stands as the most-watched TV program in U.S. history with upwards of 150M viewers.
2. Super Bowl LVIII – San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs became back-to-back Super Bowl champions during Super Bowl LVIII, and CBS clocked 123.4M viewers for the occasion.
3. Super Bowl LVII – Eagles vs. Chiefs
In 2023, the Kansas City Chiefs won their third Super Bowl ring. With 115.1M viewers on Fox, it stands as the most-watched Super Bowl ever and second most-watched TV program in history.
4. Super Bowl XLIX – New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Patriots defeated the Seahawks 28-24 in 2015 with 114.4M people tuning in on NBC.
5. Super Bowl LVI – Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Rams won 23-20 with an audience of 112.3M on NBC.
6. Super Bowl XLVIII – Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos
In 2014, the Seahawks claimed a Super Bowl victory, and Fox scored 112.2M viewers in the process.
7. Super Bowl 50 – Broncos vs. Panthers
The Broncos laid claim to Super Bowl 50, while CBS got 111.9M viewers out of it.
8. Super Bowl XLVI – New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
The Giants won this 2012 Super Bowl. NBC saw 111.3M viewers tune in.
9. Super Bowl LI – New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime to the tune of 111.3M viewers on Fox.
10. Super Bowl XLV – Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
This Packers victory managed 111M viewers on Fox.
11. U.S. President Richard M. Nixon Resigns
U.S. President Richard M. Nixon resigned on the evening of August 8, 1974 from the Oval Office. The speech was broadcast across the U.S., drawing 110M viewers. That makes it the 10th most-watched TV program of all time.
12. Super Bowl XLVII – Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Ravens brought home the victory with 108.7M watching on CBS.
13. Super Bowl XLIV – New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Saints defeated the Colts 31-17, and 106.5M viewers tuned in on CBS.
14. ‘M*A*S*H’ Series Finale
The series finale ofM*A*S*Haired on February 28, 1983. CBS measured 105.9M viewers for the episode, making it the 13th most-watched TV program in history.
15. Super Bowl LII – Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots
Super Bowl LII saw an Eagles win and 103.4M viewers on NBC.
16. Michael Jackson Super Bowl Halftime Show
Michael Jackson’s Super Bowl Halftime Performance alone raked in 102M viewers for NBC on January 31, 1993.
17. Super Bowl LIV – San Fransciso 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs got their second Super Bowl win during this matchup, and 100.4M people watched on Fox.
18. ‘The Day After’
ABC’s broadcast of the TV movieThe Day After, about the effects of a nuclear war on a small mid-western town, managed 100M viewers in 1983.
19. ‘Roots’ Part VIII
In 1977,RootsPart VIII also saw an audience of 100M on ABC.
20. Super Bowl XLIII – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Steelers won the game 27-23, and 98.7M viewers watched on NBC.
21. Super Bowl LIII – New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Rams
In 2019, the Patriots defeated the Rams. CBS scored an audience of 98.2M.
22. Super Bowl XLII – New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
The Giants won this 2008 Super Bowl to the tune of 97.4M viewers on Fox.
23. O.J. Simpson Police Chase
The infamous police pursuit of a white Bronco carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson on June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California, was watched across multiple networks by 95M. It’s the 22nd most-watched TV program in U.S. history.
24. Super Bowl XXX – Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Cowboys won the Super Bowl, and NBC got 94.1M viewers out of it.
25. Super Bowl XLI – Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears
This Colts victory saw 93.2M viewers on CBS.
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