1998-99 Top Rated TV Sports Events

Final 1998-99 network television ratings for nationally-telecast sports events, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Covers period from Oct. 1, 1998 through Aug. 29, 1999.
Events are listed with ratings points and audience share; each ratings point represents 994,000 households and shares indicate percentage of TV sets in use.
Entries:
SPORTS—NFL Football (57); Major League Baseball (6); NBA Basketball (5); College Football bowl games (3); NCAA Basketball (2); Soccer and Golf (1).
NETWORKS—FOX (30); ABC (20); CBS (19); NBC (6) 

 

Rank Event Game Date Network Rating Share
1 Super Bowl XXXIII Broncos vs. Falcons Fox 01/31/99 40,2 61
2 AFC Championship Game Jets at Broncos CBS 01/17/99 26,6 48
3 NFC Championship Game Falcons at Vikings Fox 01/17/99 25,7 54
4 NFC Playoff Game Packers at 49ers Fox 01/03/99 23,6 40
5 NFC Playoff Game Cardinals at Vikings Fox 01/10/99 21,4 39
6 NFC Playoff Game Cardinals at Cowboys ABC 01/02/99 21,2 40
7 AFC Playoff Game Jaguars at Jets CBS 01/10/99 20,1 45
8 AFC Playoff Game Dolphins at Broncos CBS 01/09/99 18,4 37
9 AFC Playoff Game Patriots at Jaguars CBS 01/03/99 18,3 38
10 NFC Playoff Game 49ers at Falcons Fox 01/09/99 18,2 42
11 AFC Playoff Game Bills at Dolphins ABC 01/02/99 18,1 40
12 Fiesta Bowl Florida State vs. Tennessee ABC 01/04/99 17,2 26
12 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game Duke vs. UConn CBS 03/29/99 17,2 27
14 NFL Monday Night Football Vikings at Packers ABC 10/05/98 16,8 27
15 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams Fox 11/01/98 16,7 32
16 MLB World Series Game 4 Yankees at Padres Fox 10/21/98 16,6 27
17 NFL Thanksgiving Day Late Game Vikings at Cowboys Fox 11/26/98 16,5 43
17 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams CBS 12/06/98 16,5 33
19 NFL Monday Night Football Broncos at Dolphins ABC 12/21/98 16,3 27
20 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams CBS 11/22/98 16,2 32
21 NFL Monday Night Football Packers at Steelers ABC 11/09/98 15,6 25
21 NFL Thanksgiving Day Early Game Steelers at Lions CBS 11/26/98 15,6 42
23 MLB World Series Game 3 Yankees at Padres Fox 10/20/98 15,4 25
23 NFL Monday Night Football Packers at Buccaneers ABC 12/07/98 15,4 25
25 NFL Monday Night Football Dolphins at Patriots ABC 11/23/98 15,1 24
26 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams Fox 12/13/98 14,7 30
26 NFC Playoff Game Cardinals at Vikings Fox 01/10/99 14,7 24
28 NFL Monday Night Football Jets at Patriots ABC 10/19/98 14,6 23
29 NFL Monday Night Football Steelers at Chiefs ABC 10/26/98 14,5 23
29 NFL Regular Season Early Game Various Teams Fox 11/08/98 14,5 34
29 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams Fox 12/20/98 14,5 30
32 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams CBS 12/27/98 14,4 30
33 NFL Monday Night Football Giants at 49ers ABC 11/30/98 14,0 22
34 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams Fox 11/15/98 13,9 28
34 NFL Monday Night Football Broncos at Chiefs ABC 11/16/98 13,9 22
36 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams Fox 10/19/98 13,8 29
37 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams CBS 11/08/98 13,7 26
38 NFL Regular Season Early Game Various Teams CBS 12/13/98 13,4 32
39 Rose Bowl UCLA vs. Wisconsin ABC 01/01/99 13,3 25
40 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams CBS 10/25/98 13,2 26
40 NFL Monday Night Football Cowboys at Eagles ABC 11/02/98 13,2 20
42 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams Fox 11/29/98 13,0 25
43 MLB ALCS - Game 6 Indians at Yankees NBC 10/13/98 12,9 22
44 NFL Regular Season Early Game Various Teams Fox 11/22/98 12,7 30
45 MLB World Series Game 2 Padres at Yankees Fox 10/18/98 12,6 20
46 MLB World Series Game 1 Padres at Yankees Fox 10/17/98 12,4 23
47 NBA Finals Game 3 Spurs at Knicks NBC 06/21/99 12,1 21
48 NFL Regular Season Early Post Game Various Teams Fox 11/08/98 12,0 27
48 NBA Finals Game 4 Spurs at Knicks NBC 06/23/99 12,0 22
48 MLB 1999 All-Star Game Boston, MA Fox 07/13/99 12,0 22
51 NFL Monday Night Football Lions at 49ers ABC 12/14/98 11,9 19
52 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams Fox 10/04/98 11,8 24
53 NFL Monday Night Football Dolphins at Jaguars ABC 10/12/98 11,7 19
54 NFL Monday Night Football Steelers at Jaguars ABC 12/28/98 11,5 19
54 Sugar Bowl Ohio State vs. Texas A&M ABC 01/01/99 11,5 20
54 NBA Finals Game 1 Knicks at Spurs NBC 06/16/99 11,5 21
57 Women's World Cup Final USA vs. China ABC 07/10/99 11,4 31
58 NFL Regular Season Late Post Game Various Teams Fox 12/20/98 11,3 21
59 NFL Regular Season Early Game Various Teams Fox 12/27/98 11,1 27
60 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams CBS 10/11/98 11,0 24
60 NBA Finals Game 5 Spurs at Knicks NBC 06/25/99 11,0 22
62 NFL Regular Season Early Game Various Teams CBS 11/01/98 10,9 26
62 NFL Regular Season Early Game Various Teams CBS 11/15/98 10,9 27
62 NCAA Men's Basketball National Semifinal Duke vs. Michigan State CBS 03/27/99 10,9 20
65 NFL Regular Season Early Game Various Teams Fox 12/06/98 10,8 26
66 NFL Regular Season Early Game Various Teams Fox 10/25/98 10,5 26
66 NFL Regular Season Late Game Various Teams CBS 11/29/98 10,5 20
68 NFL Regular Season Late Post Game Various Teams Fox 12/13/98 10,4 19
68 NFL Regular Season Early Game Various Teams CBS 12/20/98 10,4 25
70 NFL Regular Season Early Game Various Teams Fox 12/26/98 10,3 29
71 NBA Eastern Conference Final Game 6 Pacers at Knicks NBC 06/11/99 10,2 21
72 Masters Golf - Final Round Augusta, GA CBS 04/11/99 10,1 22
72 NFL Hall of Fame Game Browns at Cowboys ABC 08/09/99 10,1 18
74 NFL Regular Season Early Post Game Various Teams Fox 11/02/98 10,0 22
74 NFL Regular Season Early Post Game Various Teams Fox 12/27/98 10,0 23

Last Updated : 10/19/2001
By Frank BIBLER
Email: frank@bibler.net