Sports TV ratings by league

Publicly reported audience figures for 11,841 US sports telecasts, by league: 17 leagues on record.

11,841

telecasts on the record

updated 2026-10-08

Leagues

name name the league, network, or team; a team page covers the franchise under every name it has carried. Methodology →	telecasts	years	most-watched
College Football	3,884	2013–2026	most-watchedCFP National Championship2015-01-1233,400,000
NBA	1,829	1990–2026	most-watchedNBA Finals Game 61998-06-1435,890,000
NFL	1,416	1967–2026	most-watchedSuper Bowl LIX2025-02-09127,700,000
MLB	1,292	1968–2026	most-watchedWorld Series Game 61980-10-2154,860,000
NHL	1,202	2002–2026	most-watchedStanley Cup Final Game 72019-06-128,723,000
College Basketball	959	1975–2026	most-watched1979 NCAA championship game1979-03-2635,110,000
NASCAR	300	1979–2026	most-watchedDaytona 5002006-02-1919,400,000
Golf	207	1995–2026	most-watchedMasters Tournament Round 41997-04-1320,300,000
WNBA	206	2009–2026	most-watchedWNBA All-Star Game2024-07-203,440,000
FIFA	124	2014–2026	most-watched2026 World Cup Final2026-07-1938,937,000
Olympics	101	2012–2026	most-watchedLondon 2012 Olympics — Opening Ceremony2012-07-2740,700,000
Formula 1	92	2017–2025	most-watched2024 Miami Grand Prix2024-05-053,070,000
Tennis	90	2010–2026	most-watched2013 US Open Tennis, Women's Singles Final - The Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka2013-09-086,200,000
Horse Racing	44	2009–2026	most-watchedKentucky Derby2026-05-0218,030,000
IndyCar	37	2011–2026	most-watchedIndianapolis 5002011-05-296,711,000
FIFA Women's	34	2011–2023	most-watched2015 FIFA Women's World Cup United States–Japan2015-07-0525,400,000
UFC	24	2017–2026	most-watchedUFC Freedom 250 main card2026-06-147,000,000

On the record

College Football: 3,884 telecasts with published figures, 2013–2026. Most-watched on record: CFP National Championship (ESPN, 2015-01-12), 33,400,000 viewers, Nielsen.
NBA: 1,829 telecasts with published figures, 1990–2026. Most-watched on record: NBA Finals Game 6 (NBC, 1998-06-14), 35,890,000 viewers, Nielsen.
NFL: 1,416 telecasts with published figures, 1967–2026. Most-watched on record: Super Bowl LIX (FOX · Tubi · +2 more, 2025-02-09), 127,700,000 viewers, Nielsen.
MLB: 1,292 telecasts with published figures, 1968–2026. Most-watched on record: World Series Game 6 (NBC, 1980-10-21), 54,860,000 viewers, Nielsen.
NHL: 1,202 telecasts with published figures, 2002–2026. Most-watched on record: Stanley Cup Final Game 7 (NBC, 2019-06-12), 8,723,000 viewers, Nielsen.
College Basketball: 959 telecasts with published figures, 1975–2026. Most-watched on record: 1979 NCAA championship game (NBC, 1979-03-26), 35,110,000 viewers, Nielsen.
NASCAR: 300 telecasts with published figures, 1979–2026. Most-watched on record: Daytona 500 (NBC, 2006-02-19), 19,400,000 viewers, Nielsen.
Golf: 207 telecasts with published figures, 1995–2026. Most-watched on record: Masters Tournament Round 4 (1997-04-13), 20,300,000 viewers, Nielsen.
WNBA: 206 telecasts with published figures, 2009–2026. Most-watched on record: WNBA All-Star Game (ABC, 2024-07-20), 3,440,000 viewers, Nielsen.
FIFA: 124 telecasts with published figures, 2014–2026. Most-watched on record: 2026 World Cup Final (FOX · Telemundo · Peacock, 2026-07-19), 38,937,000 viewers, Nielsen.
Olympics: 101 telecasts with published figures, 2012–2026. Most-watched on record: London 2012 Olympics — Opening Ceremony (NBC, 2012-07-27), 40,700,000 viewers, Nielsen.
Formula 1: 92 telecasts with published figures, 2017–2025. Most-watched on record: 2024 Miami Grand Prix (ABC, 2024-05-05), 3,070,000 viewers, Nielsen.
Tennis: 90 telecasts with published figures, 2010–2026. Most-watched on record: 2013 US Open Tennis, Women's Singles Final - The Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka (CBS, 2013-09-08), 6,200,000 viewers, Nielsen.
Horse Racing: 44 telecasts with published figures, 2009–2026. Most-watched on record: Kentucky Derby (2026-05-02), 18,030,000 viewers, Nielsen.
IndyCar: 37 telecasts with published figures, 2011–2026. Most-watched on record: Indianapolis 500 (ABC, 2011-05-29), 6,711,000 viewers, Nielsen.
FIFA Women's: 34 telecasts with published figures, 2011–2023. Most-watched on record: 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup United States–Japan (FOX, 2015-07-05), 25,400,000 viewers, Nielsen.
UFC: 24 telecasts with published figures, 2017–2026. Most-watched on record: UFC Freedom 250 main card (Paramount+, 2026-06-14), 7,000,000 viewers, Nielsen.