Final 1997-98 network television ratings for nationally-telecast
sports events, according to Nielsen Media Research. Covers period from
Oct. 1, 1997 through Aug. 23, 1998. Events are listed with ratings points
and audience share; each ratings point represents 980,000 households and
shares indicate percentage of TV sets in use.
Multiple entries: SPORTS—NFL Football (40); Winter Olympics (14);
Major League Baseball (8); NBA Basketball (9); NCAA Basketball and College
Football bowl games (2). NETWORKS—NBC (29); CBS (17); ABC (16); FOX (13).
| Rank | Event | Game | Date | Network | Rating | Share |
| 1 | Super Bowl XXXII | Broncos vs Packers | 1/25/98 | NBC | 44,5 | 67 |
| 2 | NFC Championship Game | Packers at 49ers | 11/01/98 | FOX | 26,2 | 47 |
| 3 | AFC Championship Game | Broncos at Steelers | 11/01/98 | NBC | 25,0 | 54 |
| 4 | MLB World Series-Game 7 | Indians at Marlins | 10/26/97 | NBC | 24,5 | 39 |
| 5 | Winter Olympics | Women's figure skating finals, women's GS | 2/20/98 | CBS | 23,2 | 38 |
| 6 | AFC Playoff Game | Broncos at Chiefs | 04/01/98 | NBC | 22,9 | 42 |
| 7 | NBA Finals-Game 6 | Bulls at Jazz | 6/14/98 | NBC | 22,3 | 38 |
| 8 | Winter Olympics | Women's figure skating short | 2/18/98 | CBS | 20,7 | 32 |
| 9 | NFL Playoff Game | Buccaneers at Packers | 04/01/98 | FOX | 20,2 | 46 |
| 9 | Winter Olympics | Pairs figure skating, men's | 08/02/98 | CBS | 20,2 | 30 |
| 11 | NBA Finals-Game 5 | Jazz at Bulls | 12/06/98 | NBC | 19,8 | 37 |
| 12 | Winter Olympics | Men's figure skating short program, men's Super G | 12/02/98 | CBS | 19,3 | 30 |
| 13 | NBA Finals-Game 4 | Jazz at Bulls | 10/06/98 | NBC | 19,1 | 33 |
| 13 | NBA Eastern Conference Finals-Game 7 | Pacers at Bulls | 5/31/98 | NBC | 19,1 | 33 |
| 15 | Winter Olympics | Pairs figure skating, ski jumping, speedskating | 10/02/98 | CBS | 18,2 | 30 |
| 16 | NFC Wildcard Playoff Game | Lions at Buccaneers | 12/28/97 | FOX | 18,1 | 37 |
| 17 | NFL Monday Night Football | Broncos at 49ers | 12/15/97 | ABC | 18,0 | 31 |
| 17 | Winter Olympics | Ice dancing, bobsled, speedskating | 2/15/98 | CBS | 18,0 | 28 |
| 17 | NBA Finals-Game 1 | Bulls at Jazz | 03/06/98 | NBC | 18,0 | 32 |
| 20 | NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game | Kentucky vs Utah | 3/30/98 | CBS | 17,8 | 28 |
| 20 | AFC Wildcard Game | Dolphins at Patriots | 12/28/97 | NBC | 17,8 | 43 |
| 22 | Rose Bowl | Wash. St. vs Michigan | 01/01/98 | ABC | 17,6 | 32 |
| 23 | NFL Regular Season Late Game | Various teams | 12/21/97 | NBC | 17,4 | 36 |
| 24 | MLB World Series-Game 5 | Marlins at Indians | 10/23/97 | NBC | 17,2 | 30 |
| 25 | Winter Olympics | Opening Ceremonies | 06/02/98 | CBS | 17,1 | 29 |
| 25 | AFC Playoff Game | Jaguars at Broncos | 12/27/97 | ABC | 17,1 | 37 |
| 27 | NFL Monday Night Football | Packers at Patriots | 10/27/97 | ABC | 16,8 | 32 |
| 27 | NFL Monday Night Football | Packers at Vikings | 01/12/97 | ABC | 16,8 | 28 |
| 29 | NBA Finals-Game 2 | Bulls at Jazz | 05/06/98 | NBC | 16,6 | 31 |
| 30 | NFL Regular Season Late Game | Various teams | 02/11/97 | FOX | 16,5 | 31 |
| 31 | NFL Regular Season Late Game | Various teams | 07/12/97 | FOX | 16,3 | 32 |
| 32 | NBA Finals-Game 3 | Jazz at Bulls | 07/06/98 | NBC | 16,2 | 28 |
| 33 | NFL Regular Season Late Game | Various teams | 11/16/97 | FOX | 15,8 | 30 |
| 34 | NFL Monday Night Football | Steelers at Chiefs | 03/11/97 | ABC | 15,7 | 26 |
| 35 | AFC Playoff Game | Patriots at Steelers | 03/01/98 | NBC | 15,6 | 40 |
| 35 | MLB World Series-Game 3 | Marlins at Indians | 10/21/97 | NBC | 15,6 | 27 |
| 37 | MLB World Series-Game 4 | Marlins at Indians | 10/22/97 | NBC | 15,5 | 26 |
| 37 | MLB World Series-Game 6 | Indians at Marlins | 10/25/97 | NBC | 15,5 | 28 |
| 39 | Winter Olympics | Men's figure skating long program, women's combined downhill, speedskating | 2/14/98 | CBS | 15,4 | 28 |
| 40 | NFL Monday Night Football | Panthers at Cowboys | 08/12/97 | ABC | 15,3 | 25 |
| 40 | Winter Olympics | Freestyle skiing, men's combined slalom, luge | 11/02/98 | CBS | 15,3 | 24 |
| 40 | NFL Monday Night Football | Patriots at Dolphins | 12/22/97 | ABC | 15,3 | 27 |
| 43 | NFC Playoff Game | Vikings at 49ers | 03/01/98 | FOX | 15,1 | 32 |
| 44 | MLB World Series-Game 2 | Indians at Marlins | 10/19/97 | NBC | 15,0 | 24 |
| 45 | NFL Regular Season Early Game | Various teams | 11/23/97 | FOX | 14,9 | 35 |
| 45 | NFL Regular Season Late Game | Various teams | 10/26/97 | NBC | 14,9 | 28 |
| 45 | Winter Olympics | Ice dancing, freestyle skiing, ski jumping | 2/16/98 | CBS | 14,9 | 23 |
| 48 | Winter Olympics | Women's Super G, speedskating, luge | 09/02/98 | CBS | 14,8 | 23 |
| 48 | Winter Olympics | Women's downhill, ice dancing | 2/13/98 | CBS | 14,8 | 26 |
| 50 | NFL Thanksgiving Day Late Game | Oilers at Cowboys | 11/27/97 | NBC | 14,7 | 40 |
| 51 | NFL Monday Night Football | Cowboys at Redskins | 10/13/97 | ABC | 14,4 | 24 |
| 52 | NFL Monday Night Football | 49ers at Eagles | 10/11/97 | ABC | 14,3 | 24 |
| 53 | NFC Playoff Game | Vikings at Giants | 12/27/97 | ABC | 14,2 | 37 |
| 53 | NFL Monday Night Football | 49ers at Panthers | 9/29/97 | ABC | 14,2 | 24 |
| 55 | NFL Monday Night Football | Patriots at Broncos | 06/10/97 | ABC | 13,9 | 23 |
| 55 | NFL Regular Season Late Game | Various teams | 11/23/97 | NBC | 13,9 | 28 |
| 55 | Winter Olympics | Women's figure skating preview, women's slalom, speedskating | 2/19/98 | CBS | 13,9 | 22 |
| 58 | NBA Eastern Conference Finals-Game 6 | Bulls at Pacers | 5/29/98 | NBC | 13,8 | 26 |
| 59 | Winter Olympics | Freestyle skiing, women's combined slalom | 2/17/98 | CBS | 13,5 | 21 |
| 60 | NFL Monday Night Football | Bills at Dolphins | 11/17/97 | ABC | 13,4 | 22 |
| 61 | FedEx Orange Bowl | Nebraska vs Tennessee | 02/01/98 | CBS | 13,3 | 23 |
| 61 | MLB 1998 All-Star Game | Denver, Colorado | 07/07/98 | NBC | 13,3 | 25 |
| 61 | NFL Regular Season Late Game | Various teams | 10/19/97 | NBC | 13,3 | 30 |
| 64 | NFL Regular Season Early Game | Various teams | 07/12/97 | NBC | 13,0 | 30 |
| 64 | MLB NLCS-Game 6 | Marlins at Braves | 10/14/97 | NBC | 13,0 | 22 |
| 64 | NFL Regular Season Early Game | Various teams | 09/11/97 | FOX | 13,0 | 31 |
| 64 | NFL Monday Night Football | Raiders at Broncos | 11/24/97 | ABC | 13,0 | 22 |
| 68 | NFL Regular Season Early Game | Various teams | 11/30/97 | FOX | 12,9 | 29 |
| 68 | NFL Regular Season Late Game | Various teams | 11/30/97 | NBC | 12,9 | 25 |
| 70 | NFL Monday Night Football | Bills at Colts | 10/20/97 | ABC | 12,8 | 22 |
| 70 | NFL Regular Season Late Game | Various teams | 12/14/97 | FOX | 12,8 | 27 |
| 72 | NCAA Men's Basketball National Semifinal | Utah vs North Carolina | 3/28/98 | CBS | 12,7 | 24 |
| 73 | NFL Thanksgiving Day Game | Bears at Lions | 11/27/97 | FOX | 12,6 | 35 |
| 74 | NBA Eastern Conference Finals-Game 5 | Pacers at Bulls | 5/27/98 | NBC | 12,5 | 23 |
| 74 | NFL Regular Season Early Game | Various teams | 05/10/97 | FOX | 12,5 | 32 |