Since the advent of the television age, certain events have brought people together like none other. Most reality television franchise broadcasts and international sporting events (which are aired in several countries) tend to comprise some of the most-watched television programs. The majority of the world’s most-watched television broadcasts, including all of the world’s major international sporting events, are often broadcast live via satellite across virtually all of the world’s time zones in seven continents.
Here are the top 20 most watched events in history.
| Rank | Event | Viewers |
| 1. | Queen Elizabeth II funeral | 4.1 billion |
| 2. | 1996 Atlanta Olympics opening ceremony | 3.6 billion |
| 3. | 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony | 3 billion |
| 4. | 2002 World Cup Final, Brazil vs. Germany | 2 billion |
| 5. | Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks II | 2 billion |
| 6. | Princess Diana funeral | 2 billion |
| 7. | 1998 World Cup Final, France vs. Brazil | 2 billion |
| 8. | September 11 terror attacks | 2 billion |
| 9. | Live 8 | 2 billion |
| 10. | Michael Jackson memorial service | 2 billion |
| 11. | Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes, “The Last Hurrah” | 2 billion |
| 12. | Live Aid | 1.9 billion |
| 13. | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wedding | 1.9 billion |
| 14. | 1984 L.A. Olympics opening ceremony | 1.5 billion |
| 15. | Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki | 1.4 billion |
| 16. | 2010 World Cup Final, Spain vs. Netherlands | 1 billion |
| 17. | Muhammad Ali vs. Frazier III, “Thrilla in Manila” | 1 billion |
| 18. | ‘The Wall: Live in Berlin’ | 1 billion |
| 19. | 2006 World Cup Final, France vs. Italy | 1 billion |
| 20. | Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer wedding | 1 billion |
| 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, India vs. Pakistan | 1 billion | |
| Muhammad Ali vs. Foreman, “The Rumble in the Jungle” | 1 billion | |
| Muhammad Ali memorial service | 1 billion | |
| 2018 World Cup Final, France vs. Croatia | 1 billion | |
| Chilean miners rescue | 1 billion | |
| “Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite” | 1 billion |
