Most-watched sports telecasts of 1981
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.
8
eligible telecasts
updated 2026-09-15
Most-watched sports telecasts of 1981
1
Super Bowl XV, Eagles vs Raiders
68,290,000
2
World Series Game 3, Dodgers vs Yankees
40,140,000
3
World Series Game 1, Dodgers vs Yankees
39,720,000
4
World Series Game 2, Dodgers vs Yankees
39,110,000
5
World Series Game 5, Dodgers vs Yankees
39,110,000
6
World Series Game 4, Dodgers vs Yankees
37,970,000
7
1981 NCAA championship game, North Carolina vs Indiana
29,060,000
8
Daytona 500
11,200,000
8 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-09-15 09:00 UTC