Television has played a major role in our modern social fabric, with some broadcasts being so significant, they were able to dominate the majority of American households during their broadcasting. The following list contains the 11 highest rated TV broadcasts of all time. In order to compose this ranking, the Nielsen TV Ratings were referenced in order to provide the system of measurement that offers broadcasters and advertisers with the metrics of performance. Read on to understand what rating means, so you have the context around the overall values provided below.
The Nielsen TV Ratings provide inside into how many households were tuned into a particular broadcast during their airing. For example, a rating of 20.5 would indicate that 20.5% of all US households with televisions were tuned into a broadcast. In other words, one rating point is equal to one percent of all households with TVs in the US. When reading through the below list, you will see how some broadcasts were able to capture massive percentages of the total available audience at that time. The following 11 TV broadcasts are the highest rated of all time. Some would even go as far to say, these moments were an important part of recent human history.
The List of the 11 Highest Rated TV Broadcasts of All Time
11. Super Bowl XII
Nielsen Rating: 47.2
Network: CBS
Viewers: 78.9 million
Broadcast Date: January 15, 1978
The Details of the Super Bowl XII Record Making Rating
Super Bowl XII is the eleventh highest rated TV broadcast of all time, with a rating of 47.2, drawing 78.9 million viewers. The American football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos aired on January 15, 1978 on the CBS network. The Cowboys would play the Broncos at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, where Dallas would win their second Super Bowl, 27–10.
This was the first time that the game was played during prime time in the Eastern United States and the first Super Bowl in a domed stadium. This repeat game was a highly anticipated rematch of the last week of the regular season. During their previous game, the Cowboys beat the Broncos 14-6 at Texas Stadium.
10. Monday Night at the Movies
Gone with the Wind (Part 2)
Nielsen Rating: 47.4
Network: NBC
Viewers: 83.4 million
Broadcast Date: November 8, 1976
The Details of the Monday Night at the Movies Record Making Rating
Gone with the Wind (Part 2) was aired on NBC as part the Monday Night at the Movies anthology series and is the tenth highest rated TV broadcast of all time, with a rating of 47.4, drawing 83.4 million viewers. The movie was considered unattainable at the time, but NBC was able to secure the rights to this movie by paying $5 million for one showing in 1976 ($25 million in 2022).
With a running time of 3 hours and 40 minutes, Gone with the Wind is a notoriously long movie. In order to accommodate the full length of the film, NBC would split the film into a two part series, shown on separate days. The investment proved to a smart business move, drawing tens of millions of viewers during each airing.
9. Super Bowl XLIX
Nielsen Rating: 47.5
Network: NBC
Viewers: 114.4 million
Broadcast Date: February 1, 2015
The Details of the Super Bowl XLIX Record Making Rating
Super Bowl XLIX is the ninth highest rated TV broadcast of all time, with a rating of 47.5, drawing 114.4 million viewers. The American football game aired on NBC, February 1, 2015, between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The AFC champions would take on the NFC champions at the University of Phoenix Stadium, with the New England Patriots (NFC) beating the Seattle Seahawks (AFC) 28–24.
Patriot’s quarterback Tom Brady would tie Joe Montana’s record for completions in this Super Bowl (37) and also be named MVP. This Super Bowl victory was the Patriots’ first since 2004, finishing the regular season with a record of 12–4. This was the team’s eighth super bowl appearance, ending their 10 year championship drought.
8. The Big Event
Gone with the Wind (Part 1)
Nielsen Rating: 47.7
Network: NBC
Viewers: 84 million
Broadcast Date: November 7, 1976
The Details of the The Big Event Record Making Rating
Gone with the Wind (Part 1) was aired on NBC as part of the Sunday Night Movies weekly film block and is the eighth highest rated TV broadcast of all time, with a rating of 47.7, drawing 84 million viewers. The periodically released 1939 MGM film investment would prove a massive success with viewers. As a result of the highly watched broadcast, NBC would be able to sell advertising time at $200,000 per minute.
The astronomical sum paid for the one time showing would be the highest price ever paid for a single TV program. The reason for doing so was that Gone with the Wind represented the most mass appealing broadcast at the time. The network would prove this to be true, airing Part 1 on November 7, 1976 to astronomical rating results.
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7. Super Bowl XX
Nielsen Rating: 48.3
Network: NBC
Viewers: 92.5 million
Broadcast Date: January 26, 1986
The Details of the Super Bowl XX Record Making Rating
Super Bowl XX is the seventh highest rated TV broadcast of all time, with a rating of 48.3, drawing 92.5 million viewers. The American football game between the Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots aired on January 26, 1986 on NBC. Chicago would go up against New England, playing at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The Bears would best the Patriots, winning 46–10.
Chicago would be the second team in NFL history to win 15 regular season games. They entered the game a heavy favorite, leading the league in many defensive categories; the favoritism proved to be true as the Bears would absolutely dominate the Patriots, only allowing for 123 offensive yards. Super XX was the last to date in which both teams would make their Super Bowl debuts.
6. 1994 Winter Olympics
Ladies’ Singles
Nielsen Rating: 48.5
Network: CBS
Viewers: 110.5 million
Broadcast Date: February 23, 1994
The Details of the 1994 Winter Olympics Record Making Rating
The 1994 Winter Olympics Ladies’ singles is the sixth highest rated TV broadcast of all time, with a rating of 48.5, and drawing 110.5 million viewers at its peak. The contest was held from February 23–25, 1994. A total of 16 nations would qualify to compete with 27 skaters participating. The three medal winners included Oksana Baiul winning gold, Nancy Kerrigan winning silver, and Chen Lu winning bronze.
Much of the incredibly high viewership is attributed to the controversy that occurred leading up to the games. Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan would be attacked by an associate of Tonya Harding (a fellow American competitor) to keep Ms. Kerrigan from competing in the Olympic games. The media frenzy that this would create, specifically around the two competing at the games, would draw record breaking viewership to the broadcasts.
5. Super Bowl XVII
Nielsen Rating: 48.6
Network: NBC
Viewers: 81.7 million
Broadcast Date: January 30, 1983
The Details of the Super Bowl XVII Record Making Rating
Super Bowl XX is the fifth highest rated TV broadcast of all time, with a rating of 48.6, drawing 81.7 million viewers. The American football game aired January 30, 1983 on NBC. The contest was between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins, taking place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Redskins would beat the Dolphins 27–17.
This particular Super Bowl was at the end of very short nine game season, which was due to a players’ strike that occurred during the 1982 season. As a result, the NFL would create a 4-round, 16-team playoff tournament where division seeds were ignored. The Redskins and the Dolphins both advanced through the first three rounds of the post season, leading to a rematch of Super Bowl VII, with Washington being the victor this time.
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4. Super Bowl XVI
Nielsen Rating: 49.1
Network: CBS
Viewers: 85.2 million
Broadcast Date: January 24, 1982
The Details of the Super Bowl XVI Record Making Rating
Super Bowl XVI is the fourth highest rated TV broadcast of all time, with a rating of 49.1, drawing 85.2 million viewers. The American football game took place at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, airing January 24, 1982 on CBS. The San Francisco 49ers would take on the Cincinnati Bengals, winning 26-21.
Super Bowl XVI was the first time that the game was held in a city with cold weather, albeit, in a domed stadium. It would also be the first time since Super Bowl III where both teams would be making their initial appearances. This game would also mark the first time in history where the winning team would have less yards won than the loser.
3. Roots
“Part VIII”
Nielsen Rating: 51.1
Network: ABC
Viewers: 100 million
Broadcast Date: January 30, 1977
The Details of the Roots Record Making Rating
Roots “Part VIII” is the third highest rated TV broadcast of all time, with a rating of 51.1, and drawing 100 million viewers. The TV miniseries was based on the Alex Haley novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. It would air for the first time in January 1977. The hit show would go on to win nine Emmys as-well-as a Golden Globe, and Peabody Award.
The executives at ABC television would grow concerned in the reaction to airing the series after seeing the depictions of brutality. They believed the show would create major losses and attempted to mitigate a “failure” by airing the series over eight consecutive nights. Ultimately, the series would see massive success, with “Part VIII” (the finale) seeing unprecedented TV ratings; it is currently the second most watched TV finale of all time.
2. Dallas
“Who Done It”
Nielsen Rating: 53.3
Network: CBS
Viewers: 83.6 million
Broadcast Date: November 21, 1980
The Details of the Dallas Record Making Rating
The Dallas episode “Who Done It” is the second highest rated TV broadcast of all time, with a rating of 53.3, and drawing 83.6 million viewers. “Who Done It” was the fourth episode of the fourth season of the TV series, broadcasting in November of 1980. During the episode, it was revealed who had shot the central character, J.R Ewing.
The lead up to “Who Done It” was based on the previous episode cliffhanger “A House Divided” where J.R. was shot by an unknown perpetrator. The eight month lead up created a media frenzy, with oddsmakers creating odds on who the culprit was. The episode had such high anticipation, that 76% of all US TV viewers tuned in for the answer. The episode would finally air on November 21, 1980, revealing the shooter to be Kristin.
1. M*A*S*H
“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
Nielsen Rating: 60.2
Network: CBS
Viewers: 105.9 million
Broadcast Date: February 28, 1983
The Details of the M*A*S*H Record Making Rating
The M*A*S*H television film “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” is the highest rated TV broadcast of all time, with a rating of 60.2, and drawing 105.9 million viewers. “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” served as the finale for the popular TV series. The 2 1/2 hour episode first aired on February 28, 1983 on CBS.
The finale would chronicle the final days of the Korean War at the 4077th MASH. The members of the 4077th would throw a party before taking down the camp for the last time, with each member going their separate ways. The anticipation before the airing of “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” was unprecedented, with interest from advertisers prompting CBS to sell 30-second commercial blocks for $450,000 ($1.3 million in 2022). Today it still sands as the most watched TV finale of all time.
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