• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Tune in on Dec. 11 at 1:05 p.m. ET for our last Future of Sports virtual summit of the year – Future of Sports: Marketing! Register Now

Never Bigger: Super Bowl LVIII Draws Record Audience of 123.4 Million

  • The Chiefs-49ers title game stands alone as the most-watched event in American television history.
  • A powerful combination of factors helped to boost viewership, capping a banner season for the league.
Super Bowl
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

History has been made as Super Bowl LVIII now stands alone as the most-watched event in American television history.

The Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime win over the 49ers on CBS drew an average audience in the U.S. of 123.4 million, beating last year’s record Super Bowl draw of 115.1 million by 7%, according to Nielsen fast national figures released late Monday by the network.

The viewership average—spanning the main CBS broadcast network, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, Univision, and related digital properties—tops all other scheduled programming spanning more than seven decades of television audience measurement. There are various estimates that the 1969 landing on the moon by U.S. astronauts drew an American audience of 125 million to 150 million across multiple networks, and perhaps 500 million to 600 million worldwide. But those figures were not verified, leaving Sunday’s game as the new industry standard bearer, certainly for any programmed event aired on a single network.

The Super Bowl LVIII viewership total is also the culmination of a banner season that included robust audience growth in the regular season and then the wild card, divisional, and conference championship playoff rounds.

CBS said 202.4 million people in the U.S. cumulatively watched all or part of the Super Bowl, representing the game’s largest total audience ever, up 10% from the comparable figure from a year ago. The network itself by far led the way with the average viewership among the various Paramount-owned properties, generating a figure of 120 million. 

For the game, though, there was a further confluence of powerful factors helping to drive viewership beyond the surging popularity of the NFL overall, including an attractive Chiefs-49ers matchup, the allure of the first title game in Las Vegas, just the second overtime game in Super Bowl history (which very nearly became the first to reach double overtime), and of course, the Taylor Swift effect. Specific demographic information on the game viewership hasn’t yet been released, but it’s expected there was some boost into the telecast from fans drawn in because of the pop star’s romantic relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. 

Full Nielsen figures from the game are expected to be released Tuesday.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 13, 2024; Bolingbrook, Illinois, USA; (Editors Notes: Caption Correction) Bryson DeChambeau of the Crushers GC and Brooks Koepka of the Smash GC shake hands after the first round of the LIV Golf Chicago tournament at Bolingbrook Golf Club.

DeChambeau, Koepka Hope Showdown Helps Unite LIV–PGA Tour

The golfers will compete against Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.

More to A’s Offseason Spending Plans Than Meets the Eye

Revenue-sharing guidelines are helping fuel the increased spending.
Joe Tsai

NFL Owners Set to Vote on Dolphins, Bills Stakes for Tsai, Carter,..

The deals are likely to be approved at the owners meetings in Dallas.
Oct 22, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; TCU Horned Frogs center Sedona Prince (13) talks to media during Big 12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center.

Athletes in Landmark House Case Ask for College Players’ Association

Plaintiffs in the House v. NCAA case want more than just revenue-sharing.

Featured Today

Nov 2, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detailed view of a Wilson NBA basketball held by a referee during the second half between the Utah Jazz against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena

‘Obvious Weak Point’: Refs Remain an NBA Gambling Concern

A season after Jontay Porter, the biggest risk may not be players.
Nov 2, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines cheerleader runs with a flag before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Michigan Stadium.
opinion
December 7, 2024

College Football’s Billionaire Backer Era Begins

Is this the new normal in CFB recruiting?
LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic (9) celebrates with midfielder Riqui Puig (10) after scoring a goal against Seattle Sounders FC in the second half in the 2024 MLS Cup Western Conference Final match at Dignity Health Sports Park
December 6, 2024

With or Without Messi, Major League Soccer Is Barreling Into the Future

After the Cup final, the league looks to accelerate its growth.
Dec 18, 2022; Lusail, Qatar; FIFA president Gianni Infantino claps during the awards ceremony after the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium.
December 2, 2024

FIFA Wants More Matches. Resistance Is Growing Inside the Global Soccer World

Resentment and frustration over expanded schedules is nearing a breaking point.
Nov 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, UNITED STATES; Mike Tyson (black gloves) fights Jake Paul (silver gloves) at AT&T Stadium.

Netflix Spectacle Made Tyson, Paul Top Trending U.S. Athletes of 2024: Google

The Yankees and Dodgers were among the top trending sports team searches in 2024.
December 9, 2024

Amazon Breaks NFL Streaming Record (Again) With ‘TNF’ Ratings

The “Thursday Night Football” game drew 17.29 million viewers.
December 10, 2024

NBA Cup TV Ratings Down 10% Through Group Play

The NBA has faced stiff competition from other sports.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
December 6, 2024

NHL Winter Classic Shifts to New Year’s Eve Seeking Viewership Boost

The NHL moved its Winter Classic to December for the first time.
Randy Moss
December 6, 2024

Randy Moss Taking ‘Extended’ ESPN Leave With Health Issue

Moss had discussed it on Dec. 1 before stepping away.
December 5, 2024

Netflix Tackles Buffering Woes Just in Time for NFL, WWE Debuts

The streaming giant says it has “learned” from the Paul-Tyson fight.
Sep 28, 2024; Ile Bizard, Quebec, CAN; Max Homa of team U.S.A. putts on the first green during the foursomes (alternate) round of The Presidents Cup golf tournament.
December 5, 2024

The PGA Tour Wants More Players to Become Social Media Stars

YouTube golf is quickly gaining ground on the professional game.