Most-watched sports telecasts of 1986
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 2026-10-30
Most-watched sports telecasts of 1986
1
Super Bowl XX - Bears vs Patriots
92,570,000
2
World Series Game 7 - Mets vs Red Sox
52,100,000
3
World Series Game 6 - Mets vs Red Sox
44,510,000
4
World Series Game 5 - Mets vs Red Sox
38,710,000
5
World Series Game 4 - Mets vs Red Sox
34,490,000
6
World Series Game 3 - Mets vs Red Sox
33,200,000
7
World Series Game 1 - Mets vs Red Sox
33,100,000
8
World Series Game 2 - Mets vs Red Sox
32,340,000
9
1986 NCAA championship game - Duke vs Louisville
28,710,000
10
Daytona 500
10,300,000
10 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-10-30 21:57 UTC