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The longest Super Bowl game will also go down as the most-watched program in U.S. television history.
According to Nielsen and Adobe Analytics, Kansas City’s 25-22 overtime victory over San Francisco on Sunday night averaged 123.7 million viewers across television and streaming platforms. That shattered last year’s mark of 115.1 million for Kansas City’s last-play victory over Philadelphia and is a 7% increase.
Nielsen updated its numbers Tuesday after releasing an early figure of 123.4 million on Monday night.
The game was televised by CBS, Nickelodeon and Univision and streamed on Paramount+ as well as the NFL’s digital platforms.
Nielsen also said a record 202.4 million watched at least part of the game across all networks, a 10% jump over last year’s figure of 183.6 million.
The CBS broadcast averaged 120.3 million. The network’s previous mark for its most-watched Super Bowl was 112.34 million for the 2016 game between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.
Some of the increase can be attributed to a change in the way viewers are counted. Nielsen began including out-of-home viewers in its ratings in 2020, but only from 65% of the country. That measurement is expected to expand to include all 50 states later this year.
Sunday’s game was only the second of the 58 Super Bowls to go to overtime. The previous one was in 2017, when New England rallied from a 28-3 deficit and beat Atlanta 34-28.
“I was managing my expectations, but I had a bit of hope that it would happen,” CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said of overtime, which was set up when San Francisco kicker Jake Moody had an extra point blocked in the fourth quarter, which kept it a three-point game. “I can’t imagine a Super Bowl any better or more exciting than this.”
Kansas City sent it to overtime on Harrison Butker’s field goal. After the 49ers kicked a field goal on the opening possession of OT, the Chiefs won when Patrick Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman.
This Super Bowl had the added attraction of Taylor Swift in attendance. The pop superstar is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, a romance that has brought new fans to the NFL.
It was the second straight year the Super Bowl averaged more than 100 million viewers after a period where four of the five games before 2023 had fallen short of that number because of cord-cutting. That included 95.2 million for the 2021 Super Bowl between Tampa Bay and Kansas City, which was the game’s lowest TV-only average since 2007.
Univision averaged 2.3 million viewers, the highest Super Bowl viewership on record for a Spanish-language network. The Super Bowl has been televised in Spanish in the United States since 2014.
Nielsen also said Tuesday that Usher’s Super Bowl halftime performance averaged 129.3 million viewers — the most-watched Super Bowl halftime on record and a 7% increase from Rihanna’s last year (121 million).
Nickelodeon’s kids-centric broadcast, the first alternate feed of a Super Bowl, averaged 1.2 million.
The NFL playoffs averaged 38.5 million viewers the first three weekends, a 9% increase over last year.
That followed a regular season that averaged 17.9 million, tied for the second highest since averages were first tracked in 1995.
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FAQs
Super Bowl Was the Most-Watched Program Ever in the US, Averaging 123.4 Million Viewers.
Is The Super Bowl the most watched program in the world? ›
Although numbers are unreliable, it is generally accepted that the most widely watched events worldwide are international sporting events such as the Summer Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, and the Cricket World Cup with annual events such as the Super Bowl in the U.S., the Indian Premier League in India and the UEFA ...
What was the average viewership of the Super Bowl? ›
According to Nielsen's National panel measurement, Super Bowl LVIII averaged nearly 124 million viewers on CBS Television Network, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, Univision, and CBS Sports, Univision and NFL digital properties, including NFL+.
How many viewers made the Super Bowl the most watched television program in history in 2011? ›
According to Nielsen, approximately 123.4 million people watched the Chiefs defeat the 49ers in Las Vegas this Sunday—making the telecast second only to the moon landing in 1969.
What was the most watched TV program ever? ›
Nearly six decades later, the Apollo 11 moon landing still stands at the most-watched TV program of all time. Across all networks, upwards of 150 million people tuned in to watch humans touch down on the surface of the moon. No other TV program in U.S. history has even come close to touching that record.
Was Super Bowl 58 the most watched? ›
The Super Bowl 58 featuring the Kansas City Chiefs versus the San Francisco 49ers has shattered all previous TV ratings records, with a historic estimated 123.7 million viewers.
Was 2024 the most watched Super Bowl? ›
The 2024 Super Bowl becomes the most watched NFL championship in history About 123 million people tuned in across platforms, including CBS, Paramount+, Univision and Nickelodeon.
What's the most watched show in the world? ›
Top 100 most watched tv shows of all time
- Game of Thrones. 2011–201974 epsTV-MA. ...
- Stranger Things. 2016–202542 epsTV-14. ...
- The Walking Dead. 2010–2022177 epsTV-MA. ...
- 13 Reasons Why. 2017–202049 epsTV-MA. ...
- The 100. 2014–2020100 epsTV-14. ...
- Orange Is the New Black. 2013–201991 epsTV-MA. ...
- Riverdale. 2017–2023137 epsTV-14. ...
- Grey's Anatomy.
According to Roadtrips.com five billion people watch the World Cup Final, while the Super Bowl is actually the 8th most-watched event with 115 million views. Finishing above NFL's showpiece are the Tour de France, Cricket World Cup, Women's World Cup, Olympic Games, Winter Games and the Champions League Final.
What is the most watched halftime show? ›
Rihanna. Rihanna performs during Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show at State Farm Stadium on Feb. 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. With 121 million viewers, Rihanna's 2023 performance during Super Bowl LVII is the most-watched halftime show in history.
Despite the lack of a paycheck, the NFL does pay for the costs associated with bringing the show to life, which in 2020 cost $13 million, per Reuters. They also cover the artists' travel expenses. "We do not pay the artists," an NFL spokesperson told Forbes in 2016.
How many people watched Super Bowl 27? ›
Super Bowl XXVII
| Hall of Famers |
|---|
| Nielsen ratings | 45.1 (est. 90.99 million viewers) |
| Market share | 66 |
| Cost of 30-second commercial | $850,000 |
| Radio in the United States |
20 more rowsSuper Bowl most-watched U.S. program ever, averaging 123.4 million viewers.
What is the most watched Super Bowl in history? ›
CBS Sports' coverage of Super Bowl LVIII, which featured the Kansas City Chiefs' 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers, delivered the most-watched telecast in history with a 123.4 million average viewers across all platforms, including the CBS Television Network, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, Univision, and ...
What is the #1 TV show in America? ›
Top TV shows by total viewer numbers in the U.S. 2022-2023
"NFL Sunday Night Football" was the most watched TV show in the United States in the 2022/2023 season, with roughly 18.14 million viewers. "Yellowstone" ranked second with approximately 11.6 million viewers.
What was the most watched sporting event ever? ›
The Most Watched Sporting Events in The World
- World Cup of Soccer – 5 Billion Viewers.
- Tour de France – 3.5 Billion Viewers.
- Cricket World Cup – 2.6 Billion Viewers.
- Women's World Cup – 2 Billion Viewers.
- Summer Games – 2 Billion Viewers.
- Winter Games – 2 Billion Viewers.
- UEFA Champions League Final – 450 Million Viewers.
- 8.) Black Eyed Peas | 110.2 million views.
- 7.) Beyoncé | 110.8 million views.
- 6.) Madonna | 114 million views.
- 5.) Bruno Mars | 115.3 million views.
- 4.) Coldplay | 115.5 million views.
- 3.) Lady Gaga | 117.5 million views.
- 2.) Katy Perry | 121 million views.
- 1.) Rihanna | 121.017 million views.
1. Game of Thrones. Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.
