Most-watched sports telecasts of the 1980s
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.
87
eligible telecasts
updated 2026-09-15
Most-watched sports telecasts of the 1980s
1
Super Bowl XX, Bears vs Patriots
92,570,000
2
Super Bowl XXI, Broncos vs Giants
87,190,000
3
Super Bowl XIX, 49ers vs Dolphins
85,530,000
4
Super Bowl XVI, 49ers vs Bengals
85,240,000
5
Super Bowl XVII, Commanders vs Dolphins
81,770,000
6
Super Bowl XXIII, 49ers vs Bengals
81,590,000
7
Super Bowl XXII, Broncos vs Commanders
80,140,000
8
Super Bowl XVIII, Commanders vs Raiders
77,620,000
9
Super Bowl XIV, Rams vs Steelers
76,240,000
10
Super Bowl XV, Eagles vs Raiders
68,290,000
11
World Series Game 6, Phillies vs Royals
54,860,000
12
World Series Game 7, Mets vs Red Sox
52,100,000
13
World Series Game 7, Cardinals vs Twins
51,180,000
14
World Series Game 7, Brewers vs Cardinals
49,930,000
15
World Series Game 5, Brewers vs Cardinals
48,990,000
16
World Series Game 5, Phillies vs Royals
45,460,000
17
World Series Game 7, Cardinals vs Royals
45,000,000
18
World Series Game 6, Mets vs Red Sox
44,510,000
19
World Series Game 2, Phillies vs Royals
42,990,000
20
World Series Game 1, Phillies vs Royals
42,040,000
21
World Series Game 3, Dodgers vs Yankees
40,140,000
22
World Series Game 1, Dodgers vs Yankees
39,720,000
23
World Series Game 3, Phillies vs Royals
39,170,000
24
World Series Game 2, Dodgers vs Yankees
39,110,000
25
World Series Game 5, Dodgers vs Yankees
39,110,000
26
World Series Game 5, Athletics vs Dodgers
38,800,000
27
World Series Game 5, Mets vs Red Sox
38,710,000
28
World Series Game 4, Dodgers vs Yankees
37,970,000
29
World Series Game 2, Brewers vs Cardinals
37,700,000
30
World Series Game 1, Brewers vs Cardinals
37,460,000
31
World Series Game 1, Orioles vs Phillies
36,230,000
32
World Series Game 4, Cardinals vs Royals
35,040,000
33
World Series Game 3, Cardinals vs Twins
34,990,000
34
World Series Game 3, Athletics vs Dodgers
34,990,000
35
World Series Game 6, Cardinals vs Royals
34,860,000
36
World Series Game 2, Athletics vs Dodgers
34,700,000
37
World Series Game 2, Orioles vs Phillies
34,550,000
38
World Series Game 4, Mets vs Red Sox
34,490,000
39
World Series Game 4, Cardinals vs Twins
34,040,000
40
World Series Game 4, Athletics vs Dodgers
33,960,000
41
World Series Game 1, Padres vs Tigers
33,860,000
42
World Series Game 2, Cardinals vs Twins
33,660,000
43
World Series Game 3, Mets vs Red Sox
33,200,000
44
World Series Game 1, Mets vs Red Sox
33,100,000
45
World Series Game 3, Brewers vs Cardinals
32,890,000
46
World Series Game 3, Cardinals vs Royals
32,800,000
47
World Series Game 5, Cardinals vs Twins
32,550,000
48
World Series Game 6, Brewers vs Cardinals
32,350,000
49
World Series Game 2, Mets vs Red Sox
32,340,000
50
1983 NCAA championship game, Nc State vs Houston
32,140,000
51
1987 NCAA championship game, Syracuse vs Indiana
32,060,000
52
World Series Game 2, Padres vs Tigers
32,010,000
53
World Series Game 2, Cardinals vs Royals
31,770,000
54
World Series Game 1, Cardinals vs Royals
31,510,000
55
1985 NCAA championship game, Georgetown vs Villanova
31,230,000
56
1989 NCAA championship game, Seton Hall vs Michigan
31,120,000
57
World Series Game 5, Cardinals vs Royals
30,950,000
58
1982 NCAA championship game, North Carolina vs Georgetown
30,589,000
59
World Series Game 1, Cardinals vs Twins
30,570,000
60
World Series Game 1, Athletics vs Dodgers
30,350,000
61
World Series Game 3, Orioles vs Phillies
30,120,000
62
World Series Game 4, Phillies vs Royals
29,320,000
63
World Series Game 6, Cardinals vs Twins
29,090,000
64
1981 NCAA championship game, North Carolina vs Indiana
29,060,000
65
1986 NCAA championship game, Duke vs Louisville
28,710,000
66
World Series Game 5, Padres vs Tigers
28,580,000
67
World Series Game 5, Orioles vs Phillies
26,950,000
68
World Series Game 3, Padres vs Tigers
26,810,000
69
1988 NCAA championship game, Kansas vs Oklahoma
26,690,000
70
World Series Game 3, Athletics vs Giants
26,610,000
71
World Series Game 4, Brewers vs Cardinals
26,210,000
72
World Series Game 2, Athletics vs Giants
25,410,000
73
1984 NCAA championship game, Georgetown vs Houston
25,140,000
74
World Series Game 1, Athletics vs Giants
25,030,000
75
World Series Game 4, Athletics vs Giants
21,640,000
76
World Series Game 4, Orioles vs Phillies
20,260,000
77
World Series Game 4, Padres vs Tigers
18,020,000
78
Daytona 500
12,400,000
79
Daytona 500
12,300,000
80
Daytona 500
12,000,000
81
Daytona 500
11,800,000
82
Daytona 500
11,200,000
83
Daytona 500
11,000,000
84
Daytona 500
10,800,000
85
Daytona 500
10,300,000
86
Daytona 500
10,000,000
87
Daytona 500
9,800,000
87 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-09-15 09:00 UTC