The Top 5 Most Watched Television Programs of All Time (U.S.)

  Show or Episode Air date Average Audience Number of Households Network Share
1 M*A*S*H Final Episode: "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" Feb. 28, 1983 60.2% 50.15 million CBS 77%
2 Dallas episode: "Who Shot J.R.?" Nov. 21, 1980 53.3% 41.47 million CBS 76%
3 Roots Part VIII (mini-series finale) Jan. 30, 1977 51.1% 36.38 million ABC 71%
4 Super Bowl XVI (San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals) Jan. 24, 1982 49.1% 40.02 million CBS 73%
5 Super Bowl XVII (Washington Redskins vs. Miami Dolphins) Jan 30, 1983 48.6% 40.48 million NBC 69%
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Sources:  Various including: Nielsen Media Research, Variety magazine

List Notes: Share is the percentage of television sets in use tuned to a specific program.
Most Watched Television Programs of All Time (U.S.)

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