The Most Watched Live TV Events in History

Some television moments transcend entertainment—they become global markers of shared experience. From royal ceremonies to cultural extravaganzas and sporting spectacles, these most watched live TV events have drawn audiences in the billions. In this article, we rank the top 14 most‑watched televised events in history by estimated viewership, offering insight into how broadcast can unite humanity. 

1. State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II (~4.1 billion viewers)

In September 2022, an estimated 4.1 billion viewers watched the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, making it possibly the most watched television broadcast ever. It united global audiences in a moment of mourning and reflection that transcended borders. The scale of coverage and emotional resonance made it a defining broadcast moment for our era.

• Arguably the highest global live viewership in history
  
  
• Reaffirms the immense power of royal broadcasts on a global scale
  

2. Michael Jackson Memorial Service (~2.5 billion viewers)

In July 2009, the globetrotting memorial service for Michael Jackson drew an estimated 2.5 billion viewers, ranking it among the largest most watched television broadcasts tied to entertainment. It was more than a tribute—it was a cultural phenomenon that spanned generations. The scale underscored how celebrity moments can outstrip traditional live entertainment in global reach.

• One of the highest-viewed music-related broadcasts ever
  
  
• Proved how global icons can inspire massive live audiences
  

3. Funeral of Princess Diana (~2.0–2.5 billion viewers)

Princess Diana’s funeral in September 1997 drew an estimated 2.5 billion viewers, making it one of the most potent most watched events in history. The world joined together in mourning a beloved figure, creating an emotional, shared experience. The event reinforced how televised rituals can carry collective emotional weight across continents.

• Among the most historically significant global broadcasts
  
  
• An emblem of shared human grief and tribute through television

4. Live Aid Concert (1985, ~1.9 billion viewers)

The Live Aid concert in 1985, simulcast from London and Philadelphia, reached around 1.9 billion viewers globally, making it a landmark among most watched live TV events. It combined philanthropy with performance in a model for global live programming. The event fundamentally changed the potential of televised concerts to drive social awareness and unity.

• A pioneering event for music-based global broadcasts
  
  
• Elevated live performance into a tool for worldwide social impact
  

5. CMG Spring Festival Gala (annual, 1+ billion viewers)

China’s CCTV New Year’s Gala, also known as the Spring Festival Gala, draws over 1 billion viewers annually, making it the most-watched television broadcast year after year in entertainment. It combines variety shows, celebrity performances, and cultural traditions. Its consistent popularity underlines how regular events can become mass communal rituals across a nation.

• A perennial record-setter for live TV entertainment viewership
  
  
• Validates how recurring broadcasts can command massive audiences regularly
  

6. State Funeral of John F. Kennedy (~300 million viewers)

Following President Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, his state funeral drew around 300 million viewers, one of the earliest most‑watched televised events in history. It showcased television’s emerging role in live global news broadcasting. The solemn event marked a turning point in how media could bring distant moments to living rooms worldwide.

• Among the first globally televised leadership funerals
  
  
• Demonstrated broadcast media’s power to connect viewers through shared grief
  

7. Cricket World Cup Final (2011, ~558 million viewers)

The 2011 Cricket World Cup Final between India and Sri Lanka attracted approximately 558 million viewers across cricket-loving countries, placing it among the most significant most watched live TV events in sports culture. It demonstrated the massive regional popularity cricket commands via live national broadcast. The event highlights how sports dominance varies globally in live television consumption.

• Major viewership centered in South Asia and cricket-following nations
  
  
• Illustrates the varied geography of global audience engagement
  

8. Apollo 11 Moon Landing (1969, 650 million viewers)

The July 1969 moon landing delivered live footage to approximately 650 million viewers, with tens of millions more globally watching taped or delayed transmissions. It remains one of the most iconic most watched televised events in history. It showcased TV’s ability to unite viewers around a shared milestone in human achievement.

• A monumental broadcast that combined science and global engagement
  
  
• Cemented television’s role in documenting historic human exploration
  

9. O.J. Simpson Verdict (1995, ~150 million U.S. viewers)

The televised O.J. Simpson verdict in 1995 attracted roughly 150 million U.S. viewers, ranking it among the most watched legal dramas in American television history. The event shifted how legal proceedings were covered live. It triggered the rise of 24-hour news cycles and reality-style broadcasting fueled by high viewer engagement.

• One of the largest live legal broadcasts ever aired on U.S. television
  
  
• Pioneered public fascination with judiciary broadcast coverage
  

10. Wedding of Prince William & Kate Middleton (~122-176 million viewers)

The April 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton garnered approximately 122-176 million viewers, ranking it among the most‑watched televised events in history. A mix of tradition and modern media captivated global attention for days. It set the standard for how royal weddings in the digital age become interactive, multi-channel events.

• Broadcast across nearly 180 countries simultaneously
  

A turning point for how royal ceremonies are consumed in multimedia formats

11. O.J. Simpson Bronco Chase (1994, 150 million U.S. viewers)

The slow-motion SUV chase of O.J. Simpson’s flight in 1994 drew around 150 million U.S. viewers, making it a defining moment in live news coverage and one of the most watched events in history domestically. It showed how unexpected news can become live drama. The broadcast permanently altered expectations for immediacy in real-time reporting.

• Massive real-time news viewership before social media existed
  
  
• Turned a real event into a prolonged shared television spectacle

12. Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show (2025, ~133.5 million U.S. viewers)

The Super Bowl LIX halftime show in 2025 pulled in approximately 133.5 million viewers during that single segment—making it the most-watched program segment in live U.S. history. It surpassed previous halftime viewership legends. The spectacle fused music and sport into an entertainment landmark.

• Set a new record for peak live-viewing in a broadcast segment
  
  
• Demonstrates how halftime performances now rival games in audience impact=
  

13. Richard Nixon’s Resignation Speech (1974, ~90–110 Million U.S. Viewers)

On August 8, 1974, Americans gathered around their televisions to witness a moment that would forever change political history—President Richard Nixon’s resignation speech. Following two years of growing pressure from the Watergate scandal, the nation was gripped by suspense, scandal, and the unraveling of a presidency. Expectations for the televised speech were massive, with media outlets anticipating a record-shattering audience. While it didn’t quite surpass all-time viewership records, it still pulled in an estimated 90 to 110 million U.S. viewers, placing it among the most-watched live TV events of its time. The address, short and somber, marked the first and only time a sitting U.S. president resigned from office—and audiences tuned in to see history unfold in real time.

• One of the most significant political broadcasts in U.S. television history
  
  
• Cemented live television’s role as the medium for major political announcements in the modern era

14.  Super Bowl LVII (2023, ~115 Million U.S. Viewers)

Super Bowl LVII, played on February 12, 2023, between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, drew an astounding 115 million viewers, making it one of the most dominant most-watched TV broadcasts in U.S. history. As the highest-rated Super Bowl ever, it fused sports, halftime performance, and mass marketing into a global pull that continues to define live entertainment.

• Set a new benchmark for live sports viewership in America
  
  
• Reinforced the Super Bowl’s status as the preeminent most-watched live TV event

All Eyes Watching

These 14 events span funerals, weddings, concerts, trials, space missions, and sports finals—all elevating broadcasting to moments of shared human connection. Whether gathering in mourning, celebration, or competitive drama, these most-watched live TV events in history remind us that television can unite people globally in real time.

FAQ

 The Most Watched Live TV Events in History

1. What is the most watched live TV event of all time?

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 holds the record for the most-watched live TV event, with an estimated 4.1 billion viewers worldwide. It stands as the largest globally televised event in history.

2. What is the most watched televised funeral in history?

The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II ranks highest, followed closely by the funeral of Princess Diana, which reached an estimated 2.5 billion viewers, making both among the most watched events in history.

3. What sporting event had the highest live TV viewership?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina and France reached approximately 1.5 billion viewers, placing it as the most-watched sporting broadcast of all time.

4. What was the most watched music broadcast ever?

The Michael Jackson Memorial Service in 2009 drew an estimated 2.5 billion viewers, making it the most watched music-related live television event in history.

5. How many people watched the moon landing live?

The Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 was watched by approximately 650 million viewers worldwide, making it one of the most iconic and most-watched live TV events of the 20th century.