Most-watched sports telecasts of 1979
Nielsen average audience, one figure per telecast; a final or revised figure replaces a preliminary one. Composites, peaks, reach and self-reported figures do not chart.
10
eligible telecasts
updated 2026-09-15
Most-watched sports telecasts of 1979
1
Super Bowl XIII, Cowboys vs Steelers
74,740,000
2
World Series Game 7, Orioles vs Pirates
49,890,000
3
World Series Game 6, Orioles vs Pirates
43,640,000
4
World Series Game 5, Orioles vs Pirates
39,090,000
5
World Series Game 1, Orioles vs Pirates
38,140,000
6
World Series Game 2, Orioles vs Pirates
36,320,000
7
1979 NCAA championship game, Michigan State vs Indiana State
35,110,000
8
World Series Game 3, Orioles vs Pirates
31,420,000
9
World Series Game 4, Orioles vs Pirates
27,210,000
10
Daytona 500
15,100,000
10 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-09-15 10:18 UTC