The global population in 1969 was about 3.5 billion people, and I imagine global TV adoption was much lower at the time as well. Even if 60% of people alive at

The global population in 1969 was about 3.5 billion people, and I imagine global TV adoption was much lower at the time as well. Even if 60% of people alive at the time watched the moon landing, a sports event today would only need to be watched by ~30% of the global population to eclipse it. I agree that a televised Mars landing would be the most watched televised event in history.