Kansas City’s overtime victory against San Francisco in the Super Bowl has set a new record as the most-watched program in television history, with an average of 123.4 million viewers across TV and streaming platforms, a 7% increase from the previous year. Nielsen reported that a record-breaking 202.4 million people watched at least part of the game across all networks, marking a 10% increase from the previous year. CBS, Nickelodeon, and Univision televised the game, while it was streamed on Paramount+ and NFL digital platforms. The CBS broadcast alone averaged 120 million viewers, surpassing its previous Super Bowl record. This increase in viewership can be partly attributed to Nielsen’s inclusion of out-of-home viewers in its ratings, which expanded to all 50 states this year.
The game, which went into overtime, was only the second in Super Bowl history to do so, adding to the excitement. Kansas City tied the game with a field goal before clinching victory with a touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Mecole Hardman. The presence of pop superstar Taylor Swift, who is dating Chiefs player Travis Kelce, also added to the event’s allure. This marks the second consecutive year that the Super Bowl has surpassed 100 million viewers, signaling a reversal from a trend of declining viewership due to cord-cutting. Univision recorded its highest-ever Super Bowl viewership, exceeding 2.2 million viewers, highlighting the growing popularity of Spanish-language broadcasts.The NFL playoffs also saw a significant increase in viewership, averaging 38.5 million viewers in the first three weekends, a 9% rise from the previous year. This followed a regular season that averaged 17.9 million viewers, tying for the second-highest since tracking began in 1995. The thrilling nature of the game, coupled with celebrity presence and expanded viewing options, contributed to the record-breaking viewership of the Super Bowl.
