List of most-watched television broadcasts: Difference between revisions
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The following content contains the tentative list of the most |
The following content contains the tentative list of the most-watched television broadcasts around the world in selected countries, with the corresponding peak viewership (or ratings share) records, the corresponding year of such broadcast, and the mentioned media research organizations tallying nationwide viewership records. However, the most-watched television broadcast in any of the following nations can also be broadcast simultaneously in other countries and rank among their most-watched television broadcasts as well. |
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On 20 July 1969, an estimated 530 million people watched the live global broadcast of the [[Apollo 11]] moonlanding (this constituted around 14% of total population of the world at the time),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html|title=NASA – Apollo 11|website=[[NASA]]|accessdate=21 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="Parkes">{{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| format=PDF| publisher=Astronomical Society of Australia|date=1 July 2001 |accessdate=2013-08-19}}</ref> despite the fact that the first moonwalk took place in the middle of the night in Europe (at 01:56 in Iceland; 02:56 in Ireland, Portugal and the United Kingdom; 03:56 in Andorra. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia and 04:56 in Finland, Greece and Turkey) and it was not broadcast in the [[Eastern Bloc]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://samlib.ru/g/gawrjuchenkow_j_f/moonbase.shtml|script-title=ru:Лунные базы великой Америки|language=Russian}}</ref> (except in [[Romania]] (04:56)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvr.ro/articol.php?id=66102 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822233108/http://www.tvr.ro/articol.php?id=66102 |archivedate=2011-08-22|title=TVR – unica televiziune din spaţiul comunist care a transmis în direct aselenizarea}}</ref> and [[Poland]]) (03:56).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvp.info/4025936/te-transmisje-przyciagnely-miliony|title=Te transmisje przyciągnęły miliony; Na żywo z kosmosu | first=Anna | last=Dyda | date=24 February 2011 | publisher=[[Telewizja Polska]] | accessdate=21 April 2017 }}</ref> |
On 20 July 1969, an estimated 530 million people watched the live global broadcast of the [[Apollo 11]] moonlanding (this constituted around 14% of total population of the world at the time),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html|title=NASA – Apollo 11|website=[[NASA]]|accessdate=21 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="Parkes">{{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| format=PDF| publisher=Astronomical Society of Australia|date=1 July 2001 |accessdate=2013-08-19}}</ref> despite the fact that the first moonwalk took place in the middle of the night in Europe (at 01:56 in Iceland; 02:56 in Ireland, Portugal and the United Kingdom; 03:56 in Andorra. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia and 04:56 in Finland, Greece and Turkey) and it was not broadcast in the [[Eastern Bloc]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://samlib.ru/g/gawrjuchenkow_j_f/moonbase.shtml|script-title=ru:Лунные базы великой Америки|language=Russian}}</ref> (except in [[Romania]] (04:56)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvr.ro/articol.php?id=66102 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822233108/http://www.tvr.ro/articol.php?id=66102 |archivedate=2011-08-22|title=TVR – unica televiziune din spaţiul comunist care a transmis în direct aselenizarea}}</ref> and [[Poland]]) (03:56).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvp.info/4025936/te-transmisje-przyciagnely-miliony|title=Te transmisje przyciągnęły miliony; Na żywo z kosmosu | first=Anna | last=Dyda | date=24 February 2011 | publisher=[[Telewizja Polska]] | accessdate=21 April 2017 }}</ref> |
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The boxer [[Muhammad Ali]] drew record global television audiences during the 1970s to early 1980s. Estimates of Ali's worldwide television audiences for his "[[Rumble in the Jungle]]" fight against [[George Foreman]] in 1974,<ref name="usatoday">{{cite news|title=Revisiting 'The Rumble in the Jungle' 40 years later|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/boxing/2014/10/29/muhammad-ali-george-foreman-rumble-in-the-jungle-40th-anniversary/18097587/|work=[[USA Today]]|date=29 October 2014}}</ref> "[[Thrilla in Manila]]" fight against [[Joe Frazier]] in 1975,<ref name="thrilla">{{cite book|title=Current Biography Yearbook|date=1984|publisher=[[H. W. Wilson Company]]|page=201|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yvwZAAAAYAAJ&q=billion+people|quote=Dubbed "the thrilla of Manila, the saga of our lifetime," the last-named fight took place on the fourth anniversary of King's release from prison, September 30, 1975, and was viewed over television by nearly one billion people.}}</ref> [[Leon Spinks vs. Muhammad Ali II|rematch against Leon Spinks]] in 1978,<ref name="Riccella">{{cite book|last=Riccella|first=Christopher|title=Muhammad Ali|date=1991|publisher=[[Holloway House Publishing]]|isbn=9780870675744|page=178|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s8ZCwt-l3IoC&pg=PA178}}</ref><ref name="Detroit">{{cite news|title=Ali maps plans to retire with cameras running|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/98931508/|work=[[Detroit Free Press]]|date=1 February 1979}}</ref> and "[[Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes|Last Hurrah]]" fight against [[Larry Holmes]] in 1980, range between 1{{nbsp}}billion and 2{{nbsp}}billion people.<ref name="nevada">{{cite journal|title=Nevada Magazine|journal=Nevada Magazine|date=1981|volume=41-42|page=93|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HqDXVCNwViUC&dq=ali+holmes+billion|publisher=State of Nevada, Department of Economic Development|quote=The biggest of all was Holmes-Ali. The dollar figures and publicity, not to mention the impact on Las Vegas and Caesars Palace itself, stagger the imagination. The event drew a net live gate of $5,766,125 (the largest in the history of boxing), with 25,000 people (the most ever in Nevada) paying $50 to $500 a ticket. Tax revenue to the state was $280,645. Caesar's telephone operators handled 48,000 calls that day, double any other day in hotel history. The estimated world-wide TV audience was a record two billion people, and for the first time in history, a boxing event was televised in Red China.}}</ref> The [[1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony]], where Muhammad Ali lit the torch, was watched by an estimated 3.5{{nbsp}}billion viewers.<ref name="Hajeski">{{cite book|last=Hajeski|first=Nancy J.|title=Ali: The Official Portrait of "The Greatest" of All Time|date=2013|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=9781607109839|page=293|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ClZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA293}}</ref> The [[funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales]] in 1997 was watched by an estimated 2{{nbsp}}billion people globally, making it the all-time most |
The boxer [[Muhammad Ali]] drew record global television audiences during the 1970s to early 1980s. Estimates of Ali's worldwide television audiences for his "[[Rumble in the Jungle]]" fight against [[George Foreman]] in 1974,<ref name="usatoday">{{cite news|title=Revisiting 'The Rumble in the Jungle' 40 years later|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/boxing/2014/10/29/muhammad-ali-george-foreman-rumble-in-the-jungle-40th-anniversary/18097587/|work=[[USA Today]]|date=29 October 2014}}</ref> "[[Thrilla in Manila]]" fight against [[Joe Frazier]] in 1975,<ref name="thrilla">{{cite book|title=Current Biography Yearbook|date=1984|publisher=[[H. W. Wilson Company]]|page=201|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yvwZAAAAYAAJ&q=billion+people|quote=Dubbed "the thrilla of Manila, the saga of our lifetime," the last-named fight took place on the fourth anniversary of King's release from prison, September 30, 1975, and was viewed over television by nearly one billion people.}}</ref> [[Leon Spinks vs. Muhammad Ali II|rematch against Leon Spinks]] in 1978,<ref name="Riccella">{{cite book|last=Riccella|first=Christopher|title=Muhammad Ali|date=1991|publisher=[[Holloway House Publishing]]|isbn=9780870675744|page=178|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s8ZCwt-l3IoC&pg=PA178}}</ref><ref name="Detroit">{{cite news|title=Ali maps plans to retire with cameras running|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/98931508/|work=[[Detroit Free Press]]|date=1 February 1979}}</ref> and "[[Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes|Last Hurrah]]" fight against [[Larry Holmes]] in 1980, range between 1{{nbsp}}billion and 2{{nbsp}}billion people.<ref name="nevada">{{cite journal|title=Nevada Magazine|journal=Nevada Magazine|date=1981|volume=41-42|page=93|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HqDXVCNwViUC&dq=ali+holmes+billion|publisher=State of Nevada, Department of Economic Development|quote=The biggest of all was Holmes-Ali. The dollar figures and publicity, not to mention the impact on Las Vegas and Caesars Palace itself, stagger the imagination. The event drew a net live gate of $5,766,125 (the largest in the history of boxing), with 25,000 people (the most ever in Nevada) paying $50 to $500 a ticket. Tax revenue to the state was $280,645. Caesar's telephone operators handled 48,000 calls that day, double any other day in hotel history. The estimated world-wide TV audience was a record two billion people, and for the first time in history, a boxing event was televised in Red China.}}</ref> The [[1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony]], where Muhammad Ali lit the torch, was watched by an estimated 3.5{{nbsp}}billion viewers.<ref name="Hajeski">{{cite book|last=Hajeski|first=Nancy J.|title=Ali: The Official Portrait of "The Greatest" of All Time|date=2013|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=9781607109839|page=293|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ClZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA293}}</ref> The [[funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales]] in 1997 was watched by an estimated 2{{nbsp}}billion people globally, making it the all-time most-watched royal event on live television in the world. |
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The original [[Live Aid]] was a dual-venue [[benefit concert]] held on 13 July 1985. It became an ongoing music-based fundraising initiative. The original event was organised by [[Bob Geldof]] and [[Midge Ure]] to raise funds for relief of the ongoing [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia|Ethiopian famine]]. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] in [[London]], England, United Kingdom (attended by 72,000 people) and [[John F. Kennedy Stadium (Philadelphia)|John F. Kennedy Stadium]] in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, United States (attended by about 100,000 people).<ref>[http://www.bobgeldof.info/Charity/liveaid.html Live Aid on Bob Geldof's official site] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205101201/http://www.bobgeldof.info/Charity/liveaid.html |date=5 February 2011 }}</ref> Many similar events happened the same day in other countries, such as the [[Soviet Union]], [[Canada]], [[Japan]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], [[Austria]], [[Oz for Africa|Australia]] and [[West Germany]]. It was one of the largest-scale television event of all time, watched across 150 nations, with an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion who watched the live broadcast.<ref name="liveaid">{{Cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/01/liveaid.memories/index.html|title=CNN - Live Aid 1985: A day of magic|}}</ref> |
The original [[Live Aid]] was a dual-venue [[benefit concert]] held on 13 July 1985. It became an ongoing music-based fundraising initiative. The original event was organised by [[Bob Geldof]] and [[Midge Ure]] to raise funds for relief of the ongoing [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia|Ethiopian famine]]. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] in [[London]], England, United Kingdom (attended by 72,000 people) and [[John F. Kennedy Stadium (Philadelphia)|John F. Kennedy Stadium]] in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, United States (attended by about 100,000 people).<ref>[http://www.bobgeldof.info/Charity/liveaid.html Live Aid on Bob Geldof's official site] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205101201/http://www.bobgeldof.info/Charity/liveaid.html |date=5 February 2011 }}</ref> Many similar events happened the same day in other countries, such as the [[Soviet Union]], [[Canada]], [[Japan]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], [[Austria]], [[Oz for Africa|Australia]] and [[West Germany]]. It was one of the largest-scale television event of all time, watched across 150 nations, with an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion who watched the live broadcast.<ref name="liveaid">{{Cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/01/liveaid.memories/index.html|title=CNN - Live Aid 1985: A day of magic|}}</ref> |
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In 1990, [[Roger Waters]] played a concert in [[Berlin]] known as [[The Wall – Live in Berlin]] to commemorate the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. The concert was subject to a live audience of 450,000 and was broadcast to 35 countries, with an estimated broadcasting audience of 500 million to 1 billion people.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Wall Live in Berlin |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991008011708/www.rogerwaters.org/about_berlin.html |website=Roger Waters |accessdate=3 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="Blake">{{cite book |last=Blake |first=Mark |title=Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd |date=2007 |publisher=Da Capo Press |isbn=1568583834 |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1962086.Comfortably_Numb |accessdate=3 June 2018}}</ref> |
In 1990, [[Roger Waters]] played a concert in [[Berlin]] known as [[The Wall – Live in Berlin]] to commemorate the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]]. The concert was subject to a live audience of 450,000 and was broadcast to 35 countries, with an estimated broadcasting audience of 500 million to 1 billion people.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Wall Live in Berlin |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991008011708/www.rogerwaters.org/about_berlin.html |website=Roger Waters |accessdate=3 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="Blake">{{cite book |last=Blake |first=Mark |title=Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd |date=2007 |publisher=Da Capo Press |isbn=1568583834 |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1962086.Comfortably_Numb |accessdate=3 June 2018}}</ref> |
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Prominent personalities in the 1990s and 2000s such as [[David Hasselhoff]] and [[Mexico]]'s [[Thalia (actress)|Thalia]] (currently based in the U.S.) starred in primetime series such as the ''Las Tres Marias'' trilogy shows (''[[Maria Mercedes (telenovela)|Maria Mercedes]]'', ''[[Marimar (Mexican telenovela)|Marimar]]'' and ''[[Maria la del Barrio]]''), ''[[Rosalinda (telenovela)|Rosalinda]]'' and ''[[Baywatch]]'', which were broadcast in about 180 countries and still remained among the world's most |
Prominent personalities in the 1990s and 2000s such as [[David Hasselhoff]] and [[Mexico]]'s [[Thalia (actress)|Thalia]] (currently based in the U.S.) starred in primetime series such as the ''Las Tres Marias'' trilogy shows (''[[Maria Mercedes (telenovela)|Maria Mercedes]]'', ''[[Marimar (Mexican telenovela)|Marimar]]'' and ''[[Maria la del Barrio]]''), ''[[Rosalinda (telenovela)|Rosalinda]]'' and ''[[Baywatch]]'', which were broadcast in about 180 countries and still remained among the world's most-watched non-U.S.-produced television series. |
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[[Television in the United States|U.S. television programming]] remains one of the most popular forms of entertainment worldwide. This trend was initiated by U.S.-made broadcast network [[soap opera]]s and [[sitcom]]s such as ''[[Dallas (1978 TV series)|Dallas]]'', ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'', ''[[The Cosby Show]]'', ''[[Seinfeld]]'', ''[[Friends]]'' and ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'' by the mid-2000s, and then in the late 2000s and 2010s by U.S. [[medical drama]]s and [[police procedurals]] such as ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'', and the ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|CSI]]'' and ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' franchises. All of these are currently [[broadcast syndication|syndicated]] in more than 100 countries, and rank among the most |
[[Television in the United States|U.S. television programming]] remains one of the most popular forms of entertainment worldwide. This trend was initiated by U.S.-made broadcast network [[soap opera]]s and [[sitcom]]s such as ''[[Dallas (1978 TV series)|Dallas]]'', ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'', ''[[The Cosby Show]]'', ''[[Seinfeld]]'', ''[[Friends]]'' and ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'' by the mid-2000s, and then in the late 2000s and 2010s by U.S. [[medical drama]]s and [[police procedurals]] such as ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'', and the ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|CSI]]'' and ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' franchises. All of these are currently [[broadcast syndication|syndicated]] in more than 100 countries, and rank among the most-watched television series in the world, extending their dominance to a three-decade span. |
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In recent decades, the global popularity of U.S. television is rivaled by European television programming and [[Drama (film and television)|television dramas]] from [[Latin America]] and [[Asia]]. The annual [[Eurovision Song Contest]], considered to be one of the world's longest running and most |
In recent decades, the global popularity of U.S. television is rivaled by European television programming and [[Drama (film and television)|television dramas]] from [[Latin America]] and [[Asia]]. The annual [[Eurovision Song Contest]], considered to be one of the world's longest running and most-watched [[reality television]] franchises, annually attracts a peak of 600 million viewers. Eurovision has consistently ranked among the all-time most-watched live non-sports entertainment telecasts worldwide in the last 2 decades.<ref>{{cite web |publisher= [[Al Jazeera English]] |date= 21 May 2006 |url= http://english.aljazeera.net/archive/2006/05/2008410141723346664.html|author=Staff |title= Finland wins Eurovision contest|accessdate=2012-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Matthew |last=Murray |url=http://www.museum.tv/Archives/Etv/E/htmlE/eurovisionso/eurovisionso.htm |title=Eurovision Song Contest – International Music Program |publisher=[[Museum of Broadcast Communications]] |accessdate=2012-04-29 |deadurl=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050113034609/http://www.museum.tv/Archives/Etv/E/htmlE/eurovisionso/eurovisionso.htm |archivedate=13 January 2005 }}</ref> ''[[Idols (TV series)|Idols]]'', airing since 2001, has the largest collective global franchise viewership in the world to date, shown in versions in over 150 countries worldwide and has been watched by over 3.2{{nbsp}}billion viewers.<ref name="idol">{{cite journal |last1=Rautiainen-Keskustalo |first1=Tarja |title=Pop Idol: Global Economy – Local Meanings |journal=The Ashgate Research Companion to Popular Musicology |date=23 December 2009 |issue=26 |doi=10.4324/9781315613451.ch26 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |url=https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.4324/9781315613451.ch26}}</ref> |
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The [[2008 Summer Olympics]] opening ceremony holds the record for the largest viewing figure for any sports event, reaching an average daily audience of 593 million worldwide.<ref name="Harris (2010)"/> Over 4{{nbsp}}billion people saw some part of the 16-day coverage, including the opening and closing ceremonies of the [[Beijing]]-hosted [[Olympic games]].<ref name="Bairner"/> The [[FIFA World Cup]]<ref name="Ind010307">{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Nick |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/why-fifas-claim-of-one-billion-tv-viewers-was-a-quarter-right-5332287.html|work=[[The Independent]] |location=London |title=Why Fifa's claim of one billion TV viewers was a quarter right |date=1 March 2007 |accessdate=2013-08-19}}</ref><ref name="Harris (2010)">{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Nick |title=World Cup final 'will vie for record of second most |
The [[2008 Summer Olympics]] opening ceremony holds the record for the largest viewing figure for any sports event, reaching an average daily audience of 593 million worldwide.<ref name="Harris (2010)"/> Over 4{{nbsp}}billion people saw some part of the 16-day coverage, including the opening and closing ceremonies of the [[Beijing]]-hosted [[Olympic games]].<ref name="Bairner"/> The [[FIFA World Cup]]<ref name="Ind010307">{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Nick |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/why-fifas-claim-of-one-billion-tv-viewers-was-a-quarter-right-5332287.html|work=[[The Independent]] |location=London |title=Why Fifa's claim of one billion TV viewers was a quarter right |date=1 March 2007 |accessdate=2013-08-19}}</ref><ref name="Harris (2010)">{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Nick |title=World Cup final 'will vie for record of second most-watched event in human history' |date=10 June 2010 |publisher=Sporting Intelligence |url=http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/06/10/world-cup-final-will-vie-for-record-of-second-most-watched-event-in-human-history-100605/ |accessdate=2013-08-19}}</ref> has attracted an average of 3.2 billion viewers in [[FIFA World Cup 2010|2010]] and [[FIFA World Cup 2014|2014]], making it the most-watched overall live event by average on television worldwide in the 21st century. |
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In 2010, over 1.1 billion people were reported to have watched the 2010–2011 [[Sydney New Year's Eve 2010–11|Sydney New Year's Eve]] coverage,<ref name="sydney">{{Cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/sydney-nye-gets-extra-fireworks-show/news-story/9482e043898ff897dd24243569d323d2|title=Sydney NYE gets extra fireworks show |work=NewsComAu |access-date=2017-10-01}}</ref> constituting approximately 16% of the world population at that time and still remains the most |
In 2010, over 1.1 billion people were reported to have watched the 2010–2011 [[Sydney New Year's Eve 2010–11|Sydney New Year's Eve]] coverage,<ref name="sydney">{{Cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/sydney-nye-gets-extra-fireworks-show/news-story/9482e043898ff897dd24243569d323d2|title=Sydney NYE gets extra fireworks show |work=NewsComAu |access-date=2017-10-01}}</ref> constituting approximately 16% of the world population at that time and still remains the most-watched New Year's Eve live telecast in the world. As one of the first major New Year's celebrations globally each year, Sydney New Year's Eve annual coverage are live in all time zones in both Asia, Australia and Oceania on 31 December 2010 and 1 January 2011. |
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Few [[cable television]] programs have ranked among the world's most |
Few [[cable television]] programs have ranked among the world's most-watched television broadcasts beginning the mid-2010s. In particular, notable scripted series like ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', ''[[Sherlock (TV series)|Sherlock]]'' and ''[[Doctor Who]]'', originating from both the U.S. and UK, have been currently aired to more than 100 countries. The annual [[Miss Universe]] and [[Miss World]] pageants, headquartered in the U.S. and UK, respectively, and aired live to more than 190 countries yearly, are said to have each regularly attracted more than 500{{nbsp}}million viewers and consistently ranks among the most-watched live annual entertainment telecasts in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916203125/www.missuniverse.com/news/view/681|title=WME - IMG Acquires The Miss Universe Organization|publisher=}}</ref> |
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Regional annual sporting events like the [[Super Bowl]] in the U.S., and the [[UEFA Champions League]] finals in Europe, televised live worldwide, have emerged among the world's most |
Regional annual sporting events like the [[Super Bowl]] in the U.S., and the [[UEFA Champions League]] finals in Europe, televised live worldwide, have emerged among the world's most-watched television broadcasts.<ref>[http://www.statista.com/statistics/216526/super-bowl-us-tv-viewership/ Statistics on Super Bowl TV Viewership in the US], Nielsen Media Research, February 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Champions League final tops Super Bowl for TV market |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8490351.stm|accessdate=27 November 2011|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 January 2010}}</ref> |
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The [[2015 Cricket World Cup]] is estimated to have been watched by an estimated 2.2{{nbsp}}billion people.<ref name="Kumar"/> The most widely watched match during the tournament was [[India–Pakistan cricket rivalry|India vs. Pakistan]], which is estimated to have drawn over 1{{nbsp}}billion viewers.<ref name="india=pakistan">{{cite news |last1=Bynon |first1=Daffydd |title=Cricket World Cup: India v Pakistan watched by a billion people – in pictures |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2015/feb/15/cricket-world-cup-india-v-pakistan-watched-by-a-billion-people-in-pictures |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=15 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cricket World Cup 2015: India & Pakistan fans usurp the limelight |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/31479487 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=15 February 2015}}</ref> |
The [[2015 Cricket World Cup]] is estimated to have been watched by an estimated 2.2{{nbsp}}billion people.<ref name="Kumar"/> The most widely watched match during the tournament was [[India–Pakistan cricket rivalry|India vs. Pakistan]], which is estimated to have drawn over 1{{nbsp}}billion viewers.<ref name="india=pakistan">{{cite news |last1=Bynon |first1=Daffydd |title=Cricket World Cup: India v Pakistan watched by a billion people – in pictures |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2015/feb/15/cricket-world-cup-india-v-pakistan-watched-by-a-billion-people-in-pictures |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=15 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cricket World Cup 2015: India & Pakistan fans usurp the limelight |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/31479487 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=15 February 2015}}</ref> |
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Most reality television franchise broadcasts and international [[broadcasting of sports events|sporting events]] (which are aired in several countries) tend to comprise some of the most |
Most reality television franchise broadcasts and international [[broadcasting of sports events|sporting events]] (which are aired in several countries) tend to comprise some of the most-watched television programs, as tallied by their media research bases. Beginning the mid-2010s, the majority of the world's most-watched television broadcasts, including all of the world's major international sporting events, are often broadcast [[Live television|live]] [[communications satellite|via satellite]] across virtually all of the world's time zones in seven continents.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://mcs.sagepub.com/content/22/5/531.short |title=Live television is still alive: on television as an unfulfilled promise|publisher=Sage Journals|date=28 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/02/arts/television/grease-live-scores-big-ratings.html |title=‘Grease: Live!’ Ratings Make Strong Case for TV Musicals|work=The New York Times|date=28 May 2016}}</ref> |
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===List=== |
===List=== |
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===Australia=== |
===Australia=== |
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====Most |
====Most-watched broadcasts of all time (Total Viewers)==== |
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The following is [[David Dale (author)|David Dale]]'s approximate ranking of the most |
The following is [[David Dale (author)|David Dale]]'s approximate ranking of the most-watched [[television]] shows of all time in [[Australia]] using data from [[Nielsen Corporation]] and [[OzTAM]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Australia's Most Watched Shows of All Time|url=http://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|accessdate=14 March 2015|publisher=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=18 July 2014}}</ref> |
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===India=== |
===India=== |
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India measures shows through TRP (Television Rating Point). Shows had higher ratings in 2000s versus now. The only show now that scores above just the 3.3 mark is [[Kumkum Bhagya]], and its spin off [[Kundali Bhagya]] along with [[Naagin (TV series)]] all shows produced by the same banner [[Balaji Telefilms]]- ironically 2.5-3.5 TRP was considered an average in the 2000s era of serials. The most |
India measures shows through TRP (Television Rating Point). Shows had higher ratings in 2000s versus now. The only show now that scores above just the 3.3 mark is [[Kumkum Bhagya]], and its spin off [[Kundali Bhagya]] along with [[Naagin (TV series)]] all shows produced by the same banner [[Balaji Telefilms]]- ironically 2.5-3.5 TRP was considered an average in the 2000s era of serials. The most-watched channel for years has been [[Star Plus]] , then [[Zee TV]] with major competition from [[Colors (TV channel)|Colors]]. ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' (1988{{ndash}}1990), the television adaptation of Indian epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', had a share of 97.8% among Indian viewers.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20080429193553/http://www.omnimb.ca/info/press/p_20050809.shtml</ref> |
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[[Aamir Khan]]'s talk show ''[[Satyamev Jayate (TV series)|Satyamev Jayate]]'' (2012{{ndash}}2014) drew an estimated audience of 600{{nbsp}}million viewers in India.<ref name="nytimes">{{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}}</ref> The [[2016 ICC World Twenty20]] [[cricket]] cup was watched by an estimated 730{{nbsp}}million viewers in India, with [[India–Pakistan cricket rivalry|India vs. Pakistan]] being the most widely watched live event during the tournament.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
[[Aamir Khan]]'s talk show ''[[Satyamev Jayate (TV series)|Satyamev Jayate]]'' (2012{{ndash}}2014) drew an estimated audience of 600{{nbsp}}million viewers in India.<ref name="nytimes">{{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}}</ref> The [[2016 ICC World Twenty20]] [[cricket]] cup was watched by an estimated 730{{nbsp}}million viewers in India, with [[India–Pakistan cricket rivalry|India vs. Pakistan]] being the most widely watched live event during the tournament.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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!Rank !! Show !! Episode !! Viewership(millions) !! Date !! Network |
!Rank !! Show !! Episode !! Viewership(millions) !! Date !! Network |
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| align="center"|1 || [[2011 Cricket World Cup]] || [[2011 Cricket World Cup|Sri Lanka vs India]] (final) || 340<ref>{{cite news |title=India-Pak game second |
| align="center"|1 || [[2011 Cricket World Cup]] || [[2011 Cricket World Cup|Sri Lanka vs India]] (final) || 340<ref>{{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}}</ref> || {{dts|format=dmy|2011|April|2}} || [[Star Sports Network]] |
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|- |
|- |
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| align="center"|2 || [[2015 Cricket World Cup]] || [[2015 Cricket World Cup knockout stage|Australia vs India]] (semi-final) || 309<ref name="2015WC">{{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}}</ref> || {{dts|format=dmy|2015|March|26}} || [[Star Sports]] |
| align="center"|2 || [[2015 Cricket World Cup]] || [[2015 Cricket World Cup knockout stage|Australia vs India]] (semi-final) || 309<ref name="2015WC">{{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}}</ref> || {{dts|format=dmy|2015|March|26}} || [[Star Sports]] |
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===Canada=== |
===Canada=== |
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{{further|List of most |
{{further|List of most-watched television broadcasts in Canada}} |
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The two most |
The two most-watched television broadcasts in Canadian history occurred during the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in Vancouver. For the gold medal game of the [[Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|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.<ref>{{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= 2010-03-01 |accessdate=2011-05-04}}</ref> A groundbreaking 26.5 million Canadians watched some part of the game, over 80 percent of the country's 34-million-person population.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2010/03/01/sp-ratings-gold.html |title=Gold medal game huge TV hit on both sides |publisher=CBC |date= 2010-03-01 |accessdate=2011-11-01}}</ref> According to multiple sources, 13.3 million Canadians watched [[2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony|the games' opening ceremony]], which was the previous record.<ref>{{cite news|last=Grohmann |first=Karolos |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61C2GL20100213 |title=Games opening ceremony is most watched TV event in Canada |publisher=Reuters |date= 13 February 2010|accessdate=2011-05-04}}</ref> |
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Many believed the final game of the [[1972 Summit Series]] had up to 18 million viewers, but this was not so; only 4.3 million people watched it. 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.<ref>{{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|accessdate=2011-05-04}}</ref> |
Many believed the final game of the [[1972 Summit Series]] had up to 18 million viewers, but this was not so; only 4.3 million people watched it. 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.<ref>{{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|accessdate=2011-05-04}}</ref> |
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[[China Central Television]]'s [[CCTV New Year's Gala|Spring Festival Gala]] has regularly attracted between 700 million<ref>{{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.}}</ref> to one billion viewers annually.<ref>{{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.}}</ref> |
[[China Central Television]]'s [[CCTV New Year's Gala|Spring Festival Gala]] has regularly attracted between 700 million<ref>{{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.}}</ref> to one billion viewers annually.<ref>{{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.}}</ref> |
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The CCTV's main evening news broadcast [[Xinwen Lianbo]] has a daily audience of around 135 million people,<ref name=mag>{{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 |
The CCTV's main evening news broadcast [[Xinwen Lianbo]] has a daily audience of around 135 million people,<ref name=mag>{{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.}}</ref> 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.<ref name=mag/> |
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===France=== |
===France=== |
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===Ireland=== |
===Ireland=== |
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A list of most |
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 (TV series)|Love/Hate]]'', ''[[Mrs. Brown's Boys]]'', ''[[The Sunday Game]]'', [[UEFA Euro 2012]] and the [[Eurovision Song Contest]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Top 50 most watched programmes on Irish TV this CENTURY|url=http://entertainment.ie/tv/news/The-Top-50-most-watched-programmes-on-Irish-TV-this-CENTURY/329837.htm}}</ref> |
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===Japan=== |
===Japan=== |
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===Mexico=== |
===Mexico=== |
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A list of most |
A list of most-watched shows in the [[Mexico]], [[Televisa]] and [[TV Azteca]] broadcasters ([[Liga MX]] Apertura and |
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Clausura), Boxing, [[1968 Summer Olympics]] in Mexico City, ([[FIFA World Cup]] hosts [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]] & [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]), some concerts like [[Maná]]'s Unidos por La Paz at [[Estadio Azteca]] in March, 2001, Funeral events like [[Roberto Gomez Bolaños|Chespirito]] at December, 2014 the creator of TV Series El Chavo del ocho and El Chapulin 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. |
Clausura), Boxing, [[1968 Summer Olympics]] in Mexico City, ([[FIFA World Cup]] hosts [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]] & [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]), some concerts like [[Maná]]'s Unidos por La Paz at [[Estadio Azteca]] in March, 2001, Funeral events like [[Roberto Gomez Bolaños|Chespirito]] at December, 2014 the creator of TV Series El Chavo del ocho and El Chapulin 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. |
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===New Zealand=== |
===New Zealand=== |
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In 2011, the television website Throng published a list of the 12 most |
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.<ref>{{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=2011-10-26 |accessdate=2016-09-05}}</ref> |
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The Rugby World Cup has frequently had large audiences – the [[Rugby World Cup 2011]] final, and a semi-final, both had an average audience of over 2 million. |
The Rugby World Cup has frequently had large audiences – the [[Rugby World Cup 2011]] final, and a semi-final, both had an average audience of over 2 million. |
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===Poland=== |
===Poland=== |
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List of the 10 most |
List of the 10 most-watched television broadcasts since the beginning of telemetry research in Poland (since 1997) by [[Nielsen Media Research]]:<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|author=|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|publisher=|date=July–August 2016|access-date= }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|author=|title=Bitwa o widzów|url=http://www.tvlider.pl/pliki/2016_10.pdf|magazine=TV Lider|page=68|publisher=|date=October 2016|access-date= }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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|+Top 20 most |
|+Top 20 most-watched South Korean dramas since 1992 (AGB Nielsen tallies) |
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!#!!Drama!!Channel!!Viewership!!Date |
!#!!Drama!!Channel!!Viewership!!Date |
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Statistics from Mediamätning Skandinavien.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mms.se/rapporter-lista.php/?t=ty |title=Årsrapporter TV " Rapporter och publiceringar " MMS |publisher=Mms.se |date= |accessdate=2016-05-14}}</ref> |
Statistics from Mediamätning Skandinavien.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mms.se/rapporter-lista.php/?t=ty |title=Årsrapporter TV " Rapporter och publiceringar " MMS |publisher=Mms.se |date= |accessdate=2016-05-14}}</ref> |
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====Most |
====Most-watched programmes per year==== |
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====Most |
====Most-watched sport events per year==== |
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===United Kingdom=== |
===United Kingdom=== |
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{{main|List of most |
{{main|List of most-watched television broadcasts in the United Kingdom}} |
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====Most |
====Most-watched special events==== |
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The majority of special events attracting large audiences are often carried on more than one channel. The most |
The majority of special events attracting large audiences are often carried on more than one channel. The most-watched programme of all time on a single channel is the 1973 wedding ceremony of [[The Princess Anne]], shown only on BBC1. The figures in these tables represent the average viewership achieved by each broadcast during its run-time and do not include peak viewership. |
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* Post-1981 figures verified by the [[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]] (BARB) |
* Post-1981 figures verified by the [[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]] (BARB) |
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*The [[Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton]] (29 April 2011) received a total audience peak of 26 million viewers, but this is a combined figure aggregated from the ten different channels that broadcast the ceremony. The highest figures of these were 13.59 million on BBC1, with an extra 4.02 million watching on ITV.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barb.co.uk/resources/tv-facts/tv-since-1981/2011/events/ |title=TV Since 1981 |publisher=[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board|BARB]] |accessdate=7 July 2016}}</ref> |
*The [[Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton]] (29 April 2011) received a total audience peak of 26 million viewers, but this is a combined figure aggregated from the ten different channels that broadcast the ceremony. The highest figures of these were 13.59 million on BBC1, with an extra 4.02 million watching on ITV.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barb.co.uk/resources/tv-facts/tv-since-1981/2011/events/ |title=TV Since 1981 |publisher=[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board|BARB]] |accessdate=7 July 2016}}</ref> |
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====Most |
====Most-watched programmes==== |
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The following is a list of most |
The following is a list of most-watched programmes, excluding sporting events and news coverage. The mid-1980s introduction of in-week repeat showings accounts for six of the top ten programmes. On this measure, the 1996 Christmas edition of ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' is the most-watched non-repeated, non-documentary programme of all time in the UK. It is the third most-watched programme of all time on a single channel, after the [[2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony]] and the [[wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips]] in 1973 (see below). |
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* Post-1981 figures verified by the [[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]] (BARB) |
* Post-1981 figures verified by the [[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]] (BARB) |
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* Pre-1981 figures supplied by the [[British Film Institute]] |
* Pre-1981 figures supplied by the [[British Film Institute]] |
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===United States=== |
===United States=== |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | [[National Broadcasting Company|NBC]]'s live telecast of [[Super Bowl XLIX]] in 2015 currently holds the record for the largest average viewership of any U.S. television broadcast, with 114.4 million viewers.<ref name="Reuters_ratings">{{cite news |title=Super Bowl XLIX is Most Watched Show in U.S. Television History With 114.4 Million Viewers |first=Sara|last=Bibel|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/02/super-bowl-xlix-is-most-watched-show-in-u-s-television-history/358523/ |agency=TV By the numbers|date=3 February 2014 |accessdate=2 February 2015 }}</ref> During this broadcast, the [[Super Bowl XLIX halftime show|halftime show]] featuring [[Katy Perry]] was watched by 118.5 million viewers.<ref name="Reuters_ratings"/> The previous live telecast [[Super Bowl XLV]] in February 2011 helped [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] become the first ever 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.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://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' | accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref> Moreover, [[Super Bowl| Super Bowl telecasts]] account for 23 of the most-watched television broadcasts based on overall viewership in U.S. television history.<ref>{{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|accessdate=4 July 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804234443/http://fangsbites.com/2012/02/super-bowl-xlvi-breaks-total-viewership-record/|archivedate=4 August 2012|date=6 February 2012}}</ref> Fox's live telecast of [[Super Bowl LI]] in 2017 currently holds the largest total viewership in U.S. television history, peaking at 172 million viewers in Super Bowl's first ever [[overtime (sports)|overtime]] play. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | [[National Broadcasting Company|NBC]]'s live telecast of [[Super Bowl XLIX]] in 2015 currently holds the record for the largest average viewership of any U.S. television broadcast, with 114.4 million viewers.<ref name="Reuters_ratings">{{cite news |title=Super Bowl XLIX is Most Watched Show in U.S. Television History With 114.4 Million Viewers |first=Sara|last=Bibel|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/02/super-bowl-xlix-is-most-watched-show-in-u-s-television-history/358523/ |agency=TV By the numbers|date=3 February 2014 |accessdate=2 February 2015 }}</ref> During this broadcast, the [[Super Bowl XLIX halftime show|halftime show]] featuring [[Katy Perry]] was watched by 118.5 million viewers.<ref name="Reuters_ratings"/> The previous live telecast [[Super Bowl XLV]] in February 2011 helped [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] become the first ever 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.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://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' | accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref> Moreover, [[Super Bowl| Super Bowl telecasts]] account for 23 of the most |
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Additionally, the [[National Football League]] (or NFL) regular season is watched since 2012 by at least 200 million individuals in the United States, accounting for the largest consistent annual nationwide viewership for any television event in U.S. television history (representing almost 70% of the American households, more than 80% of the total U.S. television viewers, and more than 60% of the 2018 U.S. population of 325 million individuals). |
Additionally, the [[National Football League]] (or NFL) regular season is watched since 2012 by at least 200 million individuals in the United States, accounting for the largest consistent annual nationwide viewership for any television event in U.S. television history (representing almost 70% of the American households, more than 80% of the total U.S. television viewers, and more than 60% of the 2018 U.S. population of 325 million individuals). |
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====Most |
====Most-watched broadcasts==== |
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Revision as of 03:43, 30 August 2018
The following content contains the tentative list of the most-watched television broadcasts around the world in selected countries, with the corresponding peak viewership (or ratings share) records, the corresponding year of such broadcast, and the mentioned media research organizations tallying nationwide viewership records. However, the most-watched television broadcast in any of the following nations can also be broadcast simultaneously in other countries and rank among their most-watched television broadcasts as well.
Global
 | This section may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (August 2018) |
History
On 20 July 1969, an estimated 530 million people watched the live global broadcast of the Apollo 11 moonlanding (this constituted around 14% of total population of the world at the time),[1][2] despite the fact that the first moonwalk took place in the middle of the night in Europe (at 01:56 in Iceland; 02:56 in Ireland, Portugal and the United Kingdom; 03:56 in Andorra. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia and 04:56 in Finland, Greece and Turkey) and it was not broadcast in the Eastern Bloc[3] (except in Romania (04:56)[4] and Poland) (03:56).[5]
The boxer Muhammad Ali drew record global television audiences during the 1970s to early 1980s. Estimates of Ali's worldwide television audiences for his "Rumble in the Jungle" fight against George Foreman in 1974,[6] "Thrilla in Manila" fight against Joe Frazier in 1975,[7] rematch against Leon Spinks in 1978,[8][9] and "Last Hurrah" fight against Larry Holmes in 1980, range between 1 billion and 2 billion people.[10] The 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, where Muhammad Ali lit the torch, was watched by an estimated 3.5 billion viewers.[11] The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 was watched by an estimated 2 billion people globally, making it the all-time most-watched royal event on live television in the world.
The original Live Aid was a dual-venue benefit concert held on 13 July 1985. It became an ongoing music-based fundraising initiative. The original event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom (attended by 72,000 people) and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (attended by about 100,000 people).[12] Many similar events happened the same day in other countries, such as the Soviet Union, Canada, Japan, Yugoslavia, Austria, Australia and West Germany. It was one of the largest-scale television event of all time, watched across 150 nations, with an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion who watched the live broadcast.[13]
In 1990, Roger Waters played a concert in Berlin known as The Wall – Live in Berlin to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall. The concert was subject to a live audience of 450,000 and was broadcast to 35 countries, with an estimated broadcasting audience of 500 million to 1 billion people.[14][15]
Prominent personalities in the 1990s and 2000s such as David Hasselhoff and Mexico's Thalia (currently based in the U.S.) starred in primetime series such as the Las Tres Marias trilogy shows (Maria Mercedes, Marimar and Maria la del Barrio), Rosalinda and Baywatch, which were broadcast in about 180 countries and still remained among the world's most-watched non-U.S.-produced television series.
U.S. television programming remains one of the most popular forms of entertainment worldwide. This trend was initiated by U.S.-made broadcast network soap operas and sitcoms such as Dallas, M*A*S*H, The Cosby Show, Seinfeld, Friends and The Big Bang Theory by the mid-2000s, and then in the late 2000s and 2010s by U.S. medical dramas and police procedurals such as House, and the CSI and NCIS franchises. All of these are currently syndicated in more than 100 countries, and rank among the most-watched television series in the world, extending their dominance to a three-decade span.
In recent decades, the global popularity of U.S. television is rivaled by European television programming and television dramas from Latin America and Asia. The annual Eurovision Song Contest, considered to be one of the world's longest running and most-watched reality television franchises, annually attracts a peak of 600 million viewers. Eurovision has consistently ranked among the all-time most-watched live non-sports entertainment telecasts worldwide in the last 2 decades.[16][17] Idols, airing since 2001, has the largest collective global franchise viewership in the world to date, shown in versions in over 150 countries worldwide and has been watched by over 3.2 billion viewers.[18]
The 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony holds the record for the largest viewing figure for any sports event, reaching an average daily audience of 593 million worldwide.[19] Over 4 billion people saw some part of the 16-day coverage, including the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing-hosted Olympic games.[20] The FIFA World Cup[21][19] has attracted an average of 3.2 billion viewers in 2010 and 2014, making it the most-watched overall live event by average on television worldwide in the 21st century.
In 2010, over 1.1 billion people were reported to have watched the 2010–2011 Sydney New Year's Eve coverage,[22] constituting approximately 16% of the world population at that time and still remains the most-watched New Year's Eve live telecast in the world. As one of the first major New Year's celebrations globally each year, Sydney New Year's Eve annual coverage are live in all time zones in both Asia, Australia and Oceania on 31 December 2010 and 1 January 2011.
Few cable television programs have ranked among the world's most-watched television broadcasts beginning the mid-2010s. In particular, notable scripted series like Game of Thrones, Sherlock and Doctor Who, originating from both the U.S. and UK, have been currently aired to more than 100 countries. The annual Miss Universe and Miss World pageants, headquartered in the U.S. and UK, respectively, and aired live to more than 190 countries yearly, are said to have each regularly attracted more than 500 million viewers and consistently ranks among the most-watched live annual entertainment telecasts in the world.[23]
Regional annual sporting events like the Super Bowl in the U.S., and the UEFA Champions League finals in Europe, televised live worldwide, have emerged among the world's most-watched television broadcasts.[24][25]
The 2015 Cricket World Cup is estimated to have been watched by an estimated 2.2 billion people.[26] The most widely watched match during the tournament was India vs. Pakistan, which is estimated to have drawn over 1 billion viewers.[27][28]
Most reality television franchise broadcasts and international sporting events (which are aired in several countries) tend to comprise some of the most-watched television programs, as tallied by their media research bases. Beginning the mid-2010s, the majority of the world's most-watched television broadcasts, including all of the world's major international sporting events, are often broadcast live via satellite across virtually all of the world's time zones in seven continents.[29][30]
List
— Television broadcasts which held the viewership record
Records
| Date(s) | Television broadcast(s) | Estimated audience (millions) | Source(s) | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 May 1960 | Wedding of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon | 300 | [77] | Royal wedding |
| 22 November 1963 | Assassination of John F. Kennedy | 600 | [78] | Assassination |
| 12 October 1968 to 27 October 1968 | Mexico 1968 Summer Olympics | 600 | [79] | Olympic sports |
| 20 July 1969 | Apollo 11 | 600 | [80] | Moon landing |
| 26 August 1972 to 10 September 1972 | Munich 1972 Summer Olympics | 900 | [81] | Olympic sports |
| 5 September 1972 to 6 September 1972 | Munich massacre | 900 | [81] | Terrorist attack |
| 30 October 1974 | Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman: The Rumble in the Jungle | 1,000 | [6][82] | Professional boxing |
| 1 October 1975 | Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III: Thrilla in Manila | 1,000 | [83][7] | |
| 26 June 1976 | Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki | 1,400 | [84][85] | Mixed martial arts |
| 19 July 1976 to 3 August 1976 | Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics | 1,500 | [56] | Olympic sports |
| 27 September 1978 | Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks II | 2,000 | [8][9] | Professional boxing |
| 19 July 1980 to 3 August 1980 | Moscow 1980 Summer Olympics | 2,000 | [86] | Olympic sports |
| 2 October 1980 | Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes: The Last Hurrah | 2,000 | [10] | Professional boxing |
| 28 July 1984 to 12 August 1984 | Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics | 2,000 | [87] | Olympic sports |
| 28 July 1988 to 12 August 1988 | Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics | 2,000 | [47] | |
| 25 July 1992 to 9 August 1992 | Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics | 2,000 | [88] | |
| 19 July 1996 | Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony | 3,500 | [11] | Opening ceremony |
| 19 July 1996 to 4 August 1996 | Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics | 3,500 | [89] | Olympic sports |
| 15 September 2000 to 1 October 2000 | Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics | 3,500 | [34] | |
| 13 August 2004 to 29 August 2004 | Athens 2004 Summer Olympics | 3,500 | [35] | |
| 8 August 2008 to 24 August 2008 | Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics | 4,000 | [20] |
National
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[90]
| Rank | Show | Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales | 1997 | ABC, Seven Network, Nine Network, Ten Network |
| 2 | Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer | 1981 | ABC, Seven Network, Nine Network, Ten Network |
| 3 | 2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony | 2000 | Seven Network |
| 4 | 2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony | 2000 | Seven Network |
| 5 | Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton | 2011 | ABC, Seven Network, Nine Network, Ten Network |
| 6 | 1984 Summer Olympics opening ceremony | 1984 | Ten Network |
| 7 | The World of The Seekers | 1968 | Ten Network |
| 8 | Boxing: Lionel Rose v Alan Rudkin | 1964 | Seven Network |
| 9 | The Sound of Music | 1977 | Nine Network |
| 10 | Roots (miniseries) | 1977 | Ten Network |
Note: the funeral of Princess Diana, 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 programmes based on the OzTAM 5 City Metro Average rating system.[91][92] 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 | 2011 British Royal Wedding | 6.0 Million | – | 2011 | ABC, Network 7, Network 9, Network Ten, 7Two[93] |
| 2 | Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | 4.09 Million | - | 2018 | Seven Network, Nine Network, ABC, SBS, BBC UKTV, Sky News Live |
| 3 | 2005 Australian Open – Men's Singles Final | 4.043 Million | 29.3 | 2005 | Seven Network |
| 4 | MasterChef Australia (season 2) – finale challenge | 4.029 Million | 27.1 | 2010 | Network Ten |
| 5 | 2003 Rugby World Cup Final | 4.016 Million | 29.7 | 2003 | Seven Network |
| 6 | MasterChef Australia (season 1) – finale challenge | 3.726 Million | 25.6 | 2009 | Network Ten |
| 7 | 2006 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony | 3.561 Million | 25.5 | 2006 | Nine Network |
| 8 | 2005 AFL Grand Final (Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles) | 3.386 Million | 24.5 | 2005 | Network Ten |
| 9 | The Block (season 4): Winner Announced | 3.370 Million | 21.9 | 2011 | Nine Network |
| 10 | Australian Idol: Final Verdict | 3.344 Million | 24.5 | 2003 | Network Ten |
Brazil
![[icon]](./wiki.php?slug=File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2018) |
| Rank | Show | Episode | Rating | Share | Date | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roque Santeiro | Episode 209 | 100% | 22 February 1986 | Rede Globo | |
| 2 | Tieta | Episode 105 | — | 31 March 1990 | Rede Globo |
India
India measures shows through TRP (Television Rating Point). Shows had higher ratings in 2000s versus now. The only show now that scores above just the 3.3 mark is Kumkum Bhagya, and its spin off Kundali Bhagya along with Naagin (TV series) all shows produced by the same banner Balaji Telefilms- ironically 2.5-3.5 TRP was considered an average in the 2000s era of serials. The most-watched channel for years has been Star Plus , 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.[95]
Aamir Khan's talk show Satyamev Jayate (2012–2014) drew an estimated audience of 600 million viewers in India.[96] 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.[97]
| Rank | Show | TRP | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016 Indian Premier League Final | 44.68 | Sony Pictures Networks |
| 2 | Kasautii Zindagii Kay | 35.31 | Star Plus |
| 3 | Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi | 22.1 | Star Plus |
| 4 | Hum Paanch | 13.5 | Zee TV |
| 5 | Koshish Ek Aashaa | 11.15 | Zee TV |
| 6 | Amanat | 11.15 | Zee TV |
| 7 | Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand | 10.0 | Star Plus |
| 8 | Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin | 9.2 | Sony TV India |
| 9 | Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai | 8.4 | Star Plus |
| 10 | Diya Aur Baati Hum | 7.7 | Star Plus |
Most viewed broadcasts
| Rank | Show | Episode | Viewership(millions) | Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011 Cricket World Cup | Sri Lanka vs India (final) | 340[98] | 2 April 2011 | Star Sports Network |
| 2 | 2015 Cricket World Cup | Australia vs India (semi-final) | 309[99] | 26 March 2015 | Star Sports |
| 3 | 2015 Cricket World Cup | India vs Pakistan (group stage match) | 288[99] | 15 February 2015 | Star Sports |
| 4 | 2015 Cricket World Cup | West Indies vs India (group stage match) | 262[99] | 6 March 2015 | Star Sports |
| 5 | 2015 Cricket World Cup | India vs South Africa (group stage match) | 257[99] | 22 February 2015 | Star Sports |
| 6 | 2015 Cricket World Cup | India vs Bangladesh (quarter-final) | 251[99] | 19 March 2015 | Star Sports |
| 7 | 2015 Cricket World Cup | Zimbabwe vs India (group stage match) | 205[99] | 14 March 2015 | Star Sports |
| 8 | 2017 ICC Champions Trophy | India vs Pakistan (group stage match) | 201[100] | 4 June 2017 | Star Sports |
| 9 | 2008 Indian Premier League | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders (group stage match) | 195[101] | 18 April 2008 | Sony Pictures Networks |
| 10 | 2015 Cricket World Cup | Ireland vs India (group stage match) | 168[99] | 10 March 2015 | Star Sports |
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.[102] A groundbreaking 26.5 million Canadians watched some part of the game, over 80 percent of the country's 34-million-person population.[103] According to multiple sources, 13.3 million Canadians watched the games' opening ceremony, which was the previous record.[104]
Many believed the final game of the 1972 Summit Series had up to 18 million viewers, but this was not so; only 4.3 million people watched it. 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.[105]
China
China Central Television's Spring Festival Gala has regularly attracted between 700 million[106] to one billion viewers annually.[107]
The CCTV's main evening news broadcast Xinwen Lianbo has a daily audience of around 135 million people,[108] 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.[108]
France
| Rank | Show | Episode | Number of viewers | Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998 FIFA World Cup | Brazil vs France (final) | 23,647,000 | 12 July 1998 | TF1, Canal+ |
| 2 | UEFA Euro 2016 | Portugal vs France (final) | 22,292,000 | 10 July 2016 | M6, BeIN Sports |
| 3 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | Portugal vs France (semi-final) | 22,200,000 | 5 July 2006 | TF1 |
| 4 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | Italy vs France (final) | 22,143,000 | 9 July 2006 | TF1 |
| 5 | 2018 FIFA World Cup | France vs Croatia (final) | 20,940,000 | 15 July 2018 | TF1, BeIN Sports |
| 6 | 1998 FIFA World Cup | France vs Croatia (semi-final) | 20,597,000 | 8 July 1998 | TF1, Canal+ |
| 7 | UEFA Euro 2016 | Germany vs France (semi-final) | 20,339,000 | 7 July 2016 | TF1, BeIN Sports |
| 8 | UEFA Euro 2000 | France vs Italy (final) | 20,279,000 | 2 July 2000 | TF1 |
| 9 | 2018 FIFA World Cup | France vs Belgium (semi-final) | 20,178,000 | 10 July 2018 | TF1, BeIN Sports |
| 10 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | Spain vs France (Round of 16) | 19,564,000 | 27 June 2006 | TF1 |
| 11 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | Togo vs France (group stage) | 18,331,000 | 30 June 2006 | TF1 |
| 12 | 2007 Rugby World Cup | England vs France (semi-final) | 18,307,000 | 13 October 2007 | TF1 |
| 13 | UEFA Euro 2016 | France vs Iceland (quarter-final) | 18,274,000 | 3 July 2016 | M6, BeIN Sports |
| 14 | 2014 FIFA World Cup | France vs Germany (quarter-final) | 18,085,000 | 4 July 2014 | TF1, BeIN Sports |
| 15 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | France vs South Korea (group stage) | 18,051,000 | 18 June 2006 | TF1 |
| 16 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | Brazil vs France (quarter-final) | 17,939,000 | 1 July 2006 | TF1 |
| 17 | 2014 FIFA World Cup | Switzerland vs France (group stage) | 17,836,000 | 20 June 2014 | TF1, BeIN Sports |
| 18 | UEFA Euro 2000 | France vs Portugal (semi-final) | 17,691,000 | 28 June 2000 | France 2 |
| 19 | 1990–91 European Cup | Red Star Belgrade vs Marseille (final) | 17,500,000 | 29 May 1991 | TF1 |
| 20 | Television show | Le Grand Bluff | 17,400,000 | 26 December 1992 | TF1 |
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 |
| 11 | 2014 FIFA World Cup | Germany vs Algeria (Round of 16) | 28,210,000 | 85.1% | 30 June 2014 | ZDF |
| 12 | UEFA Euro 2016 | Germany vs Slovakia (Round of 16) | 28,110,000 | 81.2% | 26 June 2014 | ZDF |
| 13 | UEFA Euro 2008 | Austria vs Germany (group game) | 28,040,000 1, 5 | 76.9% | 16 June 2008 | ZDF |
| 14 | UEFA Euro 2012 | Germany vs Italy (semi-final) | 27,980,000 6 | 76.8% | 28 June 2012 | Das Erste |
| 15 | The Black Forest Clinic | "Die Schuldfrage" ("The question of guilt") | 27,970,000 | 17 November 1985 | ZDF | |
| 16 | 2010 FIFA World Cup | Germany vs Australia (group game) | 27,910,000 1, 4 | 74.4% | 13 June 2010 | Das Erste |
| 17 | UEFA Euro 2008 | Portugal vs Germany (quarter-final) | 27,700,000 1, 5 | 78.7% | 19 June 2008 | Das Erste |
| 18 | UEFA Euro 2012 | Denmark vs Germany (group game) | 27,650,000 | 74.2% | 13 June 2012 | ZDF |
| 19 | UEFA Euro 2016 | Germany vs Poland (group game) | 27,320,000 | 73.3% | 16 June 2016 | ZDF |
| 20 | 2014 FIFA World Cup | USA vs Germany (group game) | 27,250,000 | 84.2% | 26 June 2014 | ZDF |
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.[109]
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.[110]
Japan
The following list is for Japanese anime only.
| No. | Show | Household Rating | Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chibi Maruko-chan | 39.9%[111][112] | 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 |
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, Funeral events like Chespirito at December, 2014 the creator of TV Series El Chavo del ocho and El Chapulin 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.
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.[113]
The Rugby World Cup has frequently had large audiences – the Rugby World Cup 2011 final, and a semi-final, both had an average audience of over 2 million.
 | This television-related list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
| No. | Show | Viewship | Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 2011 Rugby World Cup Final (NZ v France) | 2,036,900 | 23 October 2011 | TV 1, TV 3, Prime, Sky Sports, Maori TV |
| 02 | 2011 Rugby World Cup Semi-final (NZ v Australia) | 2,024,000 | 16 October 2011 | TV 1, TV 3, Prime, Sky Sports, Maori TV |
| 03 | 2011 Rugby World Cup Opening Game (NZ v Tonga) | 1,930,000 | 9 September 2011 | TV 1, Prime, Sky Sports, Maori TV |
| 04 | Boxing: Lennox Lewis vs. David Tua World Title Defence | 1,841,230 | 12 November 2000 | TV 3 |
| 05 | One News special – Death of Diana, Princess of Wales | 1,703,310 | 31 August 1997 | TV 1 |
| 06 | 2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony | 1,654,310 | 15 September 2000 | TV 1 |
| 07 | One News special – Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales | 1,649,710 | 6 September 1997 | TV 1 |
| 08 | 2011 Rugby World Cup Qtr Final (NZ v Argentina) | 1,624,400 | 9 October 2011 | TV 1, TV 3, Prime, Sky Sports, Maori TV |
| 09 | 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 |
| 11 | 2011 Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony | 1,499,160 | 9 September 2011 | TV 1 |
| 12 | 2007 Rugby World Cup (NZ v France) | 1,410,410 | 7 October 2007 | TV 3 |
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.
| Rank | Network | Program | Year | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ABS-CBN | Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales | 2005 | 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% |
| 11 | ABS-CBN | Maalaala Mo Kaya | 1992 | 57.3% |
| 12 | ABS-CBN | Balitang K | 1998 | 56.6% |
| 13 | ABS-CBN | Wansapanataym | 1997 | 56.4% |
| 14 | ABS-CBN | TV Patrol | 1996 | 56.0% |
| 15 | GMA | i-Witness | 1999 | 55.3% |
| 16 | ABS-CBN | Magandang Gabi, Bayan | 2000 | 55.0% |
| 17 | GMA | MariMar | 2007 | 54.9% |
| 18 | ABS-CBN | Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar Larios | 2006 | 54.4% |
| 19 | GMA | Darna | 2005 | 54.3% |
| 20 | ABS-CBN | Mula Sa Puso | 1997 | 53.7% |
Poland
List of the 10 most-watched television broadcasts since the beginning of telemetry research in Poland (since 1997) by Nielsen Media Research:[116][117][118][119][120][121][122]
| Rank | Program | Date | Channel | Number of vievers | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Funeral of Pope John Paul II | 8 April 2005 | TVP1, TVP2, TVP3, Polsat, TVN, TVN24 and others | Over 21,400,000 | Almost 90% |
| 2 | UEFA Euro 2016: 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 | 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) | 21 June 2016 | TVP1, Polsat, Polsat Sport | 12,639,308 | 81.67% |
Portugal
[123][124][125][126][127][128][129][130][131][132][133]
| Rank | Show | Episode | Rating | Share | Date | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UEFA Euro 2004 | Portugal vs The Netherlands (semi-final) | 40.1 | 85.4% | 30 June 2004 | RTP1 |
| 2 | UEFA Euro 2012 | Portugal vs Spain (semi-final) | 39.5 | 76.0% | 27 June 2012 | SIC |
| 3 | UEFA Euro 2004 | Portugal vs England (quarter-final) | 39.0 | 85.1% | 24 June 2004 | RTP1 |
| 4 | UEFA Euro 2016 | Portugal vs Wales (semi-final) | 38.4 | 75.4% | 6 July 2016 | RTP1 |
| 5 | UEFA Euro 2016 | Portugal vs France (final) | 38.2 | 78.1% | 10 July 2016 | RTP1 |
| 6 | UEFA Euro 2012 | Portugal vs The Netherlands (group stage match) | 38.1 | 73.4% | 17 June 2012 | TVI |
| 7 | 2014 FIFA World Cup | United States vs Portugal (group stage match) | 37.8 | 75.4% | 22 June 2014 | RTP1 |
| 8 | UEFA Euro 2004 | Portugal vs Greece (final) | 37.7 | 89.7% | 4 July 2004 | RTP1 |
| 9 | UEFA Euro 2016 | Poland vs Portugal (quarter-final) | 37.4 | 69.9% | 30 June 2016 | RTP1 |
| 10 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | Portugal vs France (semi-final) | 37.2 | 82.3% | 5 July 2006 | SIC |
| 11 | A Próxima Vítima | The Last Episode | 37.1 | 80.2% | 19 January 1996 | SIC |
| 12 | UEFA Euro 2012 | Czech Republic vs Portugal (quarter-final) | 36.1 | 71.7% | 21 June 2012 | RTP1 |
| 13 | UEFA Euro 2004 | Russia vs Portugal (group stage match) | 35.5 | 81.4% | 16 June 2004 | SIC |
| 14 | UEFA Euro 2016 | Portugal vs Iceland (group stage match) | 35.1 | 68.6% | 14 June 2016 | RTP1 |
| 15 | UEFA Euro 2004 | Spain vs Portugal (group stage match) | 34.9 | 83.2% | 20 June 2004 | TVI |
| 16 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | Portugal vs The Netherlands (round of 16) | 34.9 | 80.7% | 25 June 2006 | SIC |
| 17 | UEFA Euro 2008 | Portugal vs Germany (quarter-finals) | 34.5 | 75.6% | 19 June 2008 | TVI |
| 18 | 2015 Portuguese legislative election | Debate: António Costa vs. Pedro Passos Coelho | 34.1 | 66% | 10 September 2015 | RTP1, SIC, TVI |
| 19 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification | Sweden vs Portugal (second leg playoff match) | 34.1 | 62.2% | 19 November 2013 | RTP1 |
| 20 | UEFA Europa League | SL Benfica vs Chelsea FC (final) | 33.8 | 62.3% | 16 May 2013 | SIC |
| 21 | UEFA Euro 2000 | France vs. Portugal (Semi-finals) | 33.2 | 76.7% | 28 June 2000 | RTP1 |
| 22 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | Angola vs Portugal (group stage match) | 32.8 | 80.9% | 11 June 2006 | SIC |
| 23 | 2018 FIFA World Cup | Iran vs Portugal (group stage match) | 32.4 | 71.6% | 25 June 2018 | RTP1 |
| 24 | UEFA Euro 2012 | Germany vs Portugal (group stage match) | 32.4 | 68.3% | 9 June 2012 | RTP1 |
| 25 | O Rei do Gado | Brazilian telenovela | 32.2 | January 1997 | SIC | |
| 26 | UEFA Champions League | Monaco vs Porto (final) | 31.7 | 70.5% | 26 May 2004 | RTP1 |
| 27 | UEFA Euro 2016 | Croatia vs Portugal (Round of 16) | 31.3 | 70% | 26 June 2016 | RTP1 |
| 28 | UEFA Europa League | Sevilla FC vs SL Benfica (final) | 31.1 | 61.4% | 14 May 2014 | SIC |
| 29 | UEFA Champions League | Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid (final) | 30.8 | 64.3% | 24 May 2014 | TVI |
| 30 | Terra Nostra | Brazilian telenovela | 30.8 | 64% | 11 January 2000 | SIC |
| 31 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | Portugal vs Iran | 30.4 | 83.1% | 17 June 2006 | SIC |
| 32 | UEFA Europa League | Juventus FC vs SL Benfica (semi-final) | 30.4 | 58.9% | 1 May 2014 | SIC |
| 33 | Big Brother Portugal | Live eviction show | 30.2 | 72.5% | 26 December 2000 | TVI |
| 34 | 2018 FIFA World Cup | Uruguay vs Portugal (round of 16) | 30.1 | 70.1% | 30 June 2018 | RTP1 |
| 35 | 2018 FIFA World Cup | Portugal vs Spain (group stage match) | 30.1 | 69.1% | 15 June 2018 | RTP1 |
| 36 | UEFA Cup | Sporting CP vs CSKA Moscow (Final) | 30.1 | 68.4% | 18 May 2005 | RTP1 |
| 37 | Taça de Portugal | SL Benfica vs Sporting CP (Sixth round) | 29.9 | 62.6% | 26 January 2005 | RTP1 |
| 38 | Torre de Babel | Brazilian telenovela | 29.8 | 77.1% | 2 April 1999 | SIC |
| 39 | UEFA Euro 2008 | Switzerland vs Portugal | 29.8 | 71.8% | 15 June 2008 | TVI |
| 40 | UEFA Cup | Celtic FC vs FC Porto | 29.7 | 67.5% | 21 May 2003 | SIC |
| 41 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | Germany vs Portugal (third place play-off) | 29.6 | 78.4% | 8 July 2006 | SIC |
| 42 | UEFA Champions League | Barcelona vs Benfica (quarter-finals) | 29.3 | 65.4% | 5 April 2006 | RTP1 |
| 43 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | England vs Portugal (quarter-finals) | 29.2 | 88.1% | 1 July 2006 | SIC |
| 44 | 2010 FIFA World Cup | Spain vs Portugal (Round of 16) | 29.1 | 75.9% | 29 June 2010 | RTP1 |
| 45 | Juntos Por Todos | Benefit concert | 28.8 | 67.8% | 27 June 2017 | RTP1, SIC, TVI |
| 46 | Médico de Família | Portuguese TV series | 27.9 | 61.4% | 16 March 1999 | SIC |
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%.[134]
| # | Drama | Channel | Viewership | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | First Love | KBS2 | 65.8% | 20 April 1997 |
| 2. | What is 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. | Sunny Place of Youth | KBS2 | 62.7% | 12 November 1995 |
| 6. | You and I | MBC | 62.4% | 12 April 1998 |
| 7. | The Son and the 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 |
| 11. | Lovers in Paris | SBS | 57.6% | 15 August 2004 |
| 12. | See and See Again | MBC | 57.3% | 12 October 1998 |
| 13. | Truth | MBC | 56.5% | 24 February 2000 |
| 14. | Jealousy | MBC | 56.1% | 21 July 1992 |
| 15. | Even When the Wind Blows | KBS1 | 55.8% | 26 February 1996 |
| 16. | Bathhouse Men | KBS2 | 53.4% | 25 August 1996 |
| 17. | Gook Hee (tie) | MBC | 53.1% | 16 November 1999 |
| 17. | Trap of Youth (tie) | SBS | 53.1% | 15 April 1999 |
| 19. | Tomato | SBS | 52.7% | 3 June 1999 |
| 20. | M | MBC | 52.2% | 30 August 1994 |
Sweden
Statistics from Mediamätning Skandinavien.[135]
Most-watched programmes per year
| Year | Programme | Date | Number of viewers (millions) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2015 | Melodifestivalen 2015 | 14 March | 3.771 | SVT1 |
Most-watched sport events per year
United Kingdom
Most-watched special events
The majority of special events attracting large audiences are often carried on more than one channel. The most-watched programme of all time on a single channel is the 1973 wedding ceremony of The Princess Anne, shown only on BBC1. The figures in these tables represent the average viewership achieved by each broadcast during its run-time and do not include peak viewership.
- Post-1981 figures verified by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB)
- Pre-1981 figures supplied by the British Film Institute (BFI)
| Rank | Event | Viewers (millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1966 FIFA World Cup Final: England v West Germany | 32.30[136] | 30 July 1966 | BBC One/ITV |
| 2 | Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales | 32.10[137] | 6 September 1997 | BBC One/ITV |
| 3 | Royal Family (documentary) | 30.69[136] | 21 June 1969 and 28 June 1969 | BBC One/ITV |
| 4 | Apollo 13 splashdown | 28.60[138] | 17 April 1970 | BBC One/ITV |
| 5 | 1970 FA Cup Final replay | 28.49[138] | 29 April 1970 | BBC One/ITV |
| 6 | Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer | 28.40[139] | 29 July 1981 | BBC One/ITV |
| 7 | Wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips | 27.60[138] | 14 November 1973 | BBC One |
| 8 | 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony | 24.46[140] | 12 August 2012 | BBC One |
| 9 | 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony | 24.24[141] | 27 July 2012 | BBC One |
| 10 | Torvill and Dean – Olympic Ice Dance Championship | 23.95[142] | 21 February 1994 | BBC One |
Notes:
- At least two Muhammad Ali boxing matches were reported to have been watched by at least 26 million viewers in the United Kingdom: the Fight of the Century (Ali vs. Frazier) was reported to have been watched by 27.5 million British viewers in 1971,[143] and The Rumble in the Jungle (Ali vs. Foreman) was reported to have been watched by 26 million viewers on BBC One in 1974.[144]
- The Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (29 April 2011) received a total audience peak of 26 million viewers, but this is a combined figure aggregated from the ten different channels that broadcast the ceremony. The highest figures of these were 13.59 million on BBC1, with an extra 4.02 million watching on ITV.[145]
Most-watched programmes
The following is a list of most-watched programmes, excluding sporting events and news coverage. The mid-1980s introduction of in-week repeat showings accounts for six of the top ten programmes. On this measure, the 1996 Christmas edition of Only Fools and Horses is the most-watched non-repeated, non-documentary programme of all time in the UK. It is the third most-watched programme of all time on a single channel, after the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony and the wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips in 1973 (see below).
- Post-1981 figures verified by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB)
- Pre-1981 figures supplied by the British Film Institute
| Rank | Show | Episode | Number of viewers (millions) |
Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EastEnders | Den serves Angie with divorce papers. | 30.15[146] | 25 December 1986* | BBC One |
| 2 | EastEnders | Michelle Fowler reveals she is pregnant. | 28.00[147] | 1 January 1986* | BBC One |
| 3 | Coronation Street | Hilda Ogden leaves | 26.65[147] | 25 December 1987* | ITV (Granada) |
| 4 | Only Fools and Horses | "Time on Our Hands" | 24.35[148] | 29 December 1996 | BBC One |
| 5 | EastEnders | N/A | 24.30[137] | 2 January 1992* | BBC One |
| 6 | Royal Variety Performance 1965 | Ft. Dame Shirley Bassey, Peter Cook & Dudley Moore CBE and more. | 24.20[136] | 14 November 1965 | ITV (ATV) |
| 7 | EastEnders | N/A | 24.15[149] | 7 January 1988* | BBC One |
| 8 | To the Manor Born | "A Touch of Class" - Series 1 Finale | 23.95[138] | 11 November 1979 | BBC One |
| 9 | Miss World 1967 | Peru wins. | 23.76[136] | 19 November 1967 | BBC One |
| 10 | EastEnders | N/A | 23.55[150] | 26 December 1985* | BBC One |
| 11 | Panorama | Diana, Princess of Wales | 22.78[151] | 20 November 1995 | BBC One |
| 12 | Royal Variety Performance 1975 | Bruce Forsyth, Dad's Army & Vera Lynn | 22.66[138] | 16 November 1975 | ITV (ATV) |
| 13 | This Is Your Life | Lord Mountbatten | 22.22[138] | 27 April 1977 | ITV (Thames) |
| 14 | Sunday Night at the London Palladium | N/A | 21.89[136] | 3 December 1967 | ITV (ATV) |
| 15 | The Benny Hill Show | N/A | 21.67[138] | 24 March 1971 | ITV (Thames) |
| 16 | Dallas | "Who Done It" – J.R. Ewing's shooter is revealed | 21.60[139] | 22 November 1980 | BBC One |
| Coronation Street | Ken and Deirdre divorce | 21.60[137] | 8 January 1992 | ITV (Granada) | |
| 18 | Eurovision Song Contest 1973 | Anne-Marie David wins for Luxembourg. | 21.56[138] | 7 April 1973 | BBC One |
| 19 | Steptoe and Son | "The Lodger" – Albert looks for a Lodger | 21.54[136] | 18 February 1964 | BBC TV |
| 20 | The Mike Yarwood Show | Mike Yarwood Christmas Show | 21.40[138] | 25 December 1977 | BBC One |
| Coronation Street | Bet Lynch becomes landlady of the Rovers Return Inn. | 21.40[150] | 2 January 1985 | ITV (Granada) |
*Denotes aggregated figure with repeat showing.
United States
NBC's live telecast of Super Bowl XLIX in 2015 currently holds the record for the largest average viewership of any U.S. television broadcast, with 114.4 million viewers.[152] During this broadcast, the halftime show featuring Katy Perry was watched by 118.5 million viewers.[152] The previous live telecast Super Bowl XLV in February 2011 helped Fox become the first ever 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.[153] Moreover, Super Bowl telecasts account for 23 of the most-watched television broadcasts based on overall viewership in U.S. television history.[154] Fox's live telecast of Super Bowl LI in 2017 currently holds the largest total viewership in U.S. television history, peaking at 172 million viewers in Super Bowl's first ever overtime play.
Additionally, the National Football League (or NFL) regular season is watched since 2012 by at least 200 million individuals in the United States, accounting for the largest consistent annual nationwide viewership for any television event in U.S. television history (representing almost 70% of the American households, more than 80% of the total U.S. television viewers, and more than 60% of the 2018 U.S. population of 325 million individuals).
Most-watched broadcasts
| No. | Show | Viewership (millions)[155][156] | Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Super Bowl XLIX | 114.4 | February 1, 2015 | NBC |
| 2 | Super Bowl XLVIII | 112.2 | February 2, 2014 | Fox |
| 3 | Super Bowl 50 | 111.9 | February 7, 2016 | CBS |
| 4 | Super Bowl LI | 111.3 | February 5, 2017 | Fox |
| 5 | Super Bowl XLVI | 111.3 | February 5, 2012 | NBC |
| 6 | Super Bowl XLV | 111.0 | February 6, 2011 | Fox |
| 7 | Super Bowl XLVII | 108.7 | February 3, 2013 | CBS |
| 8 | Super Bowl XLIV | 106.5 | February 7, 2010 | CBS |
| 9 | M*A*S*H (Finale) | 105.9[157] | February 28, 1983 | CBS |
| 10 | Super Bowl LII | 103.4 | February 4, 2018 | NBC |
| 11 | Roots (Part VIII) | 100.0[158] | January 30, 1977 | ABC |
| 12 | Super Bowl XLIII | 98.7 | February 1, 2009 | NBC |
| 13 | Super Bowl XLII | 97.4 | February 3, 2008 | Fox |
| 14 | Super Bowl XXX | 94.1 | January 28, 1996 | NBC |
| 15 | Super Bowl XLI | 93.2 | February 4, 2007 | CBS |
| 16 | Super Bowl XX | 92.6 | January 26, 1986 | NBC |
| 17 | Super Bowl XXVII | 91.0 | January 31, 1993 | NBC |
| 18 | Super Bowl XL | 90.7 | February 5, 2006 | ABC |
| 19 | Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks II | 90.0[159][160] | September 15, 1978 | ABC |
| 20 | Super Bowl XXVIII | 90.0 | January 30, 1994 | NBC |
| Super Bowl XXXII | 90.0 | January 25, 1998 | NBC |
References
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Dubbed "the thrilla of Manila, the saga of our lifetime," the last-named fight took place on the fourth anniversary of King's release from prison, September 30, 1975, and was viewed over television by nearly one billion people.
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The biggest of all was Holmes-Ali. The dollar figures and publicity, not to mention the impact on Las Vegas and Caesars Palace itself, stagger the imagination. The event drew a net live gate of $5,766,125 (the largest in the history of boxing), with 25,000 people (the most ever in Nevada) paying $50 to $500 a ticket. Tax revenue to the state was $280,645. Caesar's telephone operators handled 48,000 calls that day, double any other day in hotel history. The estimated world-wide TV audience was a record two billion people, and for the first time in history, a boxing event was televised in Red China.
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the wedding of Princess Margaret to Lord Snowdon in 1960 (watched by 25 million people in Britain and an estimated 300 million around the world)
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Yet this was only five years before the Soviets put Yuri Gagarin into orbit in Sputnik 1 and only 13 before Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin set foot on the Moon, watched by an estimated 600 million viewers on television.
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Two billion viewers around the world found new pleasures in a ritual that is more ancient than most religions: men and women from every nation gathering in peace to surpass themselves.
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It's also probably the biggest show on the planet, attracting 700 million viewers, six times the Super Bowl's audience.
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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.
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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.
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The annual Miss World Contest, which is often the single most popular program of the year — attracting half the British population — is a natural for BBC 1; so was the Ali-Frazier fight, which was watched by 27.5 million people.
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'Ali is so tired he cannot raise his hands. ' The next moment Ali raised his fists and Foreman was knocked out. The 26 million who saw the same fight with the same commentary on BBC-1...did not hear that line. "Yes, we cut it out, ' said a BBC man last night, 'to spare Harry Carpenter's blushes.'
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