It is fair to say that every television producer on the planet dreams of overseeing a project that becomes a global sensation.
The United States has hosted numerous live TV events that have etched themselves into the history books over the past few decades.
With that in mind, we take a look at several iconic events which were watched by the biggest proportion of the global population.
Barack Obama’s Inauguration – 2009
Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009 was one of the most significant events in American history and attracted huge interest across the world.
According to research by Betway Insider, the ceremony was watched by one million viewers worldwide – a whopping 14 percent of the global population.
This placed the event tenth on the all-time most-watched list, just behind Prince Charles and Diana’s wedding (1981) and the Apollo 11 moon landing (1969).
His landmark inauguration as the first ever black president of the USA was marked in Kenya, the home country of Obama’s father, by the declaration of a public holiday.
Live Aid & Live 8 – 1985 & 2005
Live Aid and Live 8 were watched by a collective audience of nearly four million people when they were staged in 1985 and 2005 respectively.
Held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia, Live Aid was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise vital funds for famine-stricken Africans.
The concerts, which raised a huge $127 million, were watched in 150 different countries by nearly two people in every five on the planet.
Live 8 broadcasts attracted 31% of the global population when it was staged, with the event designed to persuade world leaders to pledge money to global poverty.
Apollo 11 Moon Landing – 1969
While travelling to space is now a common occurrence, it was viewed with far more fascination when NASA was pioneering back in the 1960s.
The Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 is the perfect case in point, with 18% of the global population tuning in to witness what many people thought was impossible.
Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon, thus confirming that the US had beaten off other countries to win the space race.
Another 10 people have walked on the moon since Apollo 11, but none had the same global impact as Armstrong and his crew.
Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii – 1973
The younger generation may be surprised to learn that global music superstars existed long before the likes of Justin Bieber arrived on the scene.
Elvis Presley undoubtedly fits into that category, with his 1973 concert at the Honolulu International Centre in Hawaii a landmark moment in the industry.
The event, which was broadcast in 40 countries worldwide, was watched by an estimated audience of one billion people – equivalent to 25% of the global population.
The show cost a mind-boggling $2.5 million to produce but cemented Pressley’s status as one of the finest performers to grace the planet.
