Top Network Telecasts ranked by Household Ratings
Last updated Aug. 6, 2000

Rank Program Net Avg. Aud. (000) Share Date B'cast Duration (min.)
1 M*A*S*H Final Episode CBS 60.2 50,150 77 Feb. 28, 1983 150
2 Dallas CBS 53.3 41,470 76 Nov. 21, 1980 60
3 Roots Pt. VIII ABC 51.1 36,380 71 Jan. 30, 1977 115
4 Super Bowl XVI Game CBS 49.1 40,020 73 Jan. 24, 1982 213
5 Super Bowl XVII Game NBC 48.6 40,480 69 Jan 30, 1983 204
6 XVII Winter Olympics - Wed-2 CBS 48.5 45,690 64 Feb. 23, 1994 180
7 Super Bowl XX Game NBC 48.3 41,490 70 Jan. 26, 1986 231
8 Gone With The Wind-Pt.1 (Big Event-Pt 1) NBC 47.7 33,960 65 Nov. 7, 1976 179
9 Gone With The Wind-Pt.2 (NBC Mon. Movie) NBC 47.4 33,750 64 Nov. 8, 1976 119
10 Super Bowl XII Game CBS 47.2 34,410 67 Jan. 15, 1978 218
11 Super Bowl XIII Game NBC 47.1 35,090 74 Jan. 21, 1979 230
12 Bob Hope Christmas Show NBC 46.6 27,260 64 Jan. 15, 1970 90
13 Super Bowl XVIII Game CBS 46.4 38,880 71 Jan. 22, 1984 218
13 Super Bowl XIX Game ABC 46.4 39,390 63 Jan. 20, 1985 218
15 Super Bowl XIV Game CBS 46.3 35,330 67 Jan. 20, 1980 178
16 Super Bowl XXX Game NBC 46.0 44,150 68 Jan 28, 1996 201
16 ABC Sunday Night Movie (The Day After) ABC 46.0 38,550 62 Nov. 20, 1983 144
18 Roots Pt. VI ABC 45.9 32,680 66 Jan. 28, 1977 120
18 The Fugitive ABC 45.9 25,700 72 Aug. 29, 1967 60
20 Super Bowl XXI Game CBS 45.8 40,030 66 Jan. 25, 1987 206
21 Roots Pt. V ABC 45.7 32,540 71 Jan. 27, 1977 60
22 Super Bowl XXVIII Game NBC 45.5 42,860 66 Jan. 30, 1994 199
22 Cheers NBC 45.5 42,360 64 May 20, 1993 98
24 Ed Sullivan CBS 45.3 23,240 60 Feb. 9, 1964 60
25 Super Bowl XXVII NBC 45.1 41,990 66 Jan. 31, 1993 203
26 Bob Hope Christmas Show NBC 45.0 27,050 61 Jan. 14, 1971 90
27 Roots Pt. III ABC 44.8 31,900 68 Jan. 25, 1977 60
28 Super Bowl XXXII Game NBC 44.5 43,630 67 Jan. 25, 1998 208
29 Super Bowl XI Game NBC 44.4 31,610 73 Jan. 9, 1977 204
29 Super Bowl XV Game NBC 44.4 34,540 63 Jan. 25, 1981 220
31 Super Bowl VI Game CBS 44.2 27,450 74 Jan. 16, 1972 170
32 XVII Winter Olympics - Fri-2 CBS 44.1 41,540 64 Feb. 25, 1994 210
32 Roots Pt. II ABC 44.1 31,400 62 Jan. 24, 1977 120
34 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 44.0 22,570 65 Jan. 8, 1964 30
35 Roots Pt. IV ABC 43.8 31,190 66 Jan. 26, 1977 60
35 Ed Sullivan CBS 43.8 22,445 60 Feb. 16, 1964 60
37 Super Bowl XXIII Game NBC 43.5 39,320 68 Jan. 22, 1989 213
38 Academy Awards ABC 43.4 25,390 78 Apr. 7, 1970 145
39 Super Bowl XXXIV Game ABC 43.3 43,620 63 Jan. 30, 2000 212
39 Super Bowl XXXI Game FOX 43.3 42,000 65 Jan. 26, 1997 206
41 Thorn Birds Pt. III ABC 43.2 35,990 62 Mar. 29, 1983 120
42 Thorn Birds Pt. IV ABC 43.1 35,900 62 Mar. 30, 1983 180
43 CBS NFC Championship Game CBS 42.9 34,960 62 Jan. 10, 1982 195
44 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 42.8 21,960 62 Jan. 15, 1964 30
45 Super Bowl VII Game NBC 42.7 27,670 72 Jan. 14, 1973 185
46 Thorn Birds Pt. II ABC 42.5 35,400 59 Mar. 28, 1983 120
47 Super Bowl IX Game NBC 42.4 29,040 72 Jan. 12, 1975 190
47 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 42.4 21,750 60 Feb. 26, 1964 30
49 Super Bowl X Game CBS 42.3 29,440 78 Jan. 18, 1976 200
49 Airport (Movie Specials) ABC 42.3 28,000 63 Nov. 11, 1973 170
49 Love Story (Sun. Night Movie) ABC 42.3 27,410 62 Oct. 1, 1972 120
49 Cinderella CBS 42.3 22,250 59 Feb. 22, 1965 90
49 Roots Pt. VII ABC 42.3 30,120 65 Jan. 29, 1977 60
54 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 42.2 21,650 59 Mar. 25, 1964 30
55 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 42.0 21,550 61 Feb. 5, 1964 30
56 Super Bowl XXV Game ABC 41.9 39,010 63 Jan. 27, 1991 208
56 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 41.9 21,490 62 Jan. 29, 1964 30
56 Super Bowl XXII Game ABC 41.9 37,120 62 Jan. 31, 1988 229
59 Miss America Pageant CBS 41.8 19,600 75 Sept. 9, 1961 150
59 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 41.8 21,440 59 Jan. 1, 1964 30
61 Super Bowl VIII Game CBS 41.6 27,540 73 Jan. 13, 1974 160
61 Bonanza NBC 41.6 21,340 62 Mar. 8, 1964 60
63 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 41.5 21,290 61 Jan. 22, 1964 30
64 Bonanza NBC 41.4 21,240 60 Feb. 16, 1964 60
65 Seinfeld NBC 41.3 40,510 58 May 14, 1998 75
65 Super Bowl XXIX Game ABC 41.3 39,400 62 Jan. 29, 1995 221
65 Bill Cosby Show NBC 41.3 36,100 56 Jan. 22, 1987 30
68 Academy Awards ABC 41.2 22,620 75 Apr. 10, 1967 150
69 Winds Of War - Part 7 ABC 41.0 34,150 56 Feb. 13, 1983 177
69 Bonanza NBC 41.0 21,030 58 Feb. 9, 1964 60
71 Gunsmoke CBS 40.9 19,180 65 Jan. 28, 1961 30
72 Bonanza NBC 40.8 21,460 63 Mar. 28, 1965 60
73 All In The Family CBS 40.7 25,270 62 Jan. 8, 1972 30
73 Bonanza NBC 40.7 21,410 61 Mar. 7, 1965 60
75 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 40.6 20,220 59 Feb. 20, 1963 30
76 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 40.5 20,170 62 May 1, 1963 30
76 Gunsmoke CBS 40.5 18,995 64 Feb. 25, 1961 30
76 Roots Pt. I ABC 40.5 28,840 61 Jan. 23, 1977 120
76 Bonanza NBC 40.5 20,780 58 Feb. 2, 1964 60
80 Bonanza NBC 40.4 21,250 61 Feb. 21, 1965 60
81 Miss America CBS 40.3 21,200 68 Sept. 12, 1964 120
81 Super Bowl XXVI CBS 40.3 37,120 61 Jan. 26, 1992 228
81 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 40.3 20,070 54 Jan. 23, 1963 30
84 Super Bowl XXXIII Game FOX 40.2 39,990 61 Jan. 31, 1999 204
84 Winds Of War - Part 2 ABC 40.2 33,490 54 Feb. 7, 1983 170
86 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 40.1 20,570 60 Apr. 8, 1964 30
86 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 40.1 19,970 58 Feb. 13, 1963 30
86 Gunsmoke CBS 40.1 18,810 61 Feb. 4, 1961 30
86 Gunsmoke CBS 40.1 18,810 65 Feb. 11, 1961 30
86 Bonanza NBC 40.1 21,090 57 Feb. 14, 1965 60
91 Miss America CBS 40.0 20,520 72 Sept. 7, 1963 120
91 Dallas (B) CBS 40.0 31,120 59 Nov. 9, 1980 60
91 World Series - Game 6 NBC 40.0 31,120 60 Oct. 21, 1980 205
91 All In The Family CBS 40.0 24,840 58 Jan. 15, 1972 30
95 Bonanza NBC 39.9 20,990 62 Apr. 4, 1965 60
95 Super Bowl Game V NBC 39.9 23,980 75 Jan. 17, 1971 180
95 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 39.9 20,470 58 Dec. 11, 1963 30
98 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 39.7 19,770 58 Mar. 20, 1963 30
98 Beverly Hillbillies CBS 39.7 20,370 60 Mar. 11, 1964 30
98 Gunsmoke CBS 39.7 18,620 66 Apr. 15, 1961 30