Most-watched sports telecasts of 1997
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.
21
eligible telecasts
updated 2026-09-15
Most-watched sports telecasts of 1997
1
Super Bowl XXXI, Packers vs Patriots
87,870,000
2
World Series Game 7, Guardians vs Marlins
37,990,000
3
NBA Finals Game 5, Bulls vs Jazz
30,260,000
4
NBA Finals Game 6, Bulls vs Jazz
28,700,000
5
1997 NCAA championship game, Arizona vs Kentucky
28,364,000
6
NBA Finals Game 4, Bulls vs Jazz
26,360,000
7
NBA Finals Game 1, Bulls vs Jazz
24,710,000
8
World Series Game 5, Guardians vs Marlins
24,200,000
9
World Series Game 6, Guardians vs Marlins
23,740,000
10
World Series Game 2, Guardians vs Marlins
22,460,000
11
NBA Finals Game 2, Bulls vs Jazz
22,270,000
12
World Series Game 3, Guardians vs Marlins
22,190,000
13
World Series Game 4, Guardians vs Marlins
22,070,000
14
NBA Finals Game 3, Bulls vs Jazz
20,950,000
15
Masters Tournament Round 4
20,300,000
16
1997 NCAA national semifinal, Minnesota vs Kentucky
19,324,000
17
NBA All-Star Game
16,900,000
18
World Series Game 1, Guardians vs Marlins
16,810,000
19
1997 NCAA national semifinal, North Carolina vs Arizona
14,090,000
20
Daytona 500
12,800,000
21
U.S. Open Championship Round 4
9,200,000
21 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-09-15 09:36 UTC