Top 10 most viewed Super Bowl games of all time (TV)
Here are the most viewed Super Bowl showdowns that broke viewership records in the US and beyond.
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The iconic showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LVIII turned out to be the biggest show of the year. The broadcast of the breathtaking event has now become one of the most viewed Super Bowl games in league history.
With Las Vegas hosting the grand event and an added excitement surrounding Chiefs TE Travis Kelce and pop superstar Taylor Swift, Super Bowl LVIII recorded never-seen-before viewership numbers.
But exactly which Super Bowl has been the most watched NFL finale to date? Here are the ten Super Bowls hosted in the history of the league which broke records as the most viewed Super Bowl games across the US and beyond.
Super Bowl LII: 103.47 million viewers [honorable mention]
Outside of the top ten, Super Bowl LII held on February 4, 2018, is one of the most viewed Super Bowl games in NFL history. NBC aired the highly anticipated showdown to over 103.4 million average viewers as the Philadelphia Eagles faced the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Justin Timberlake made his third appearance in the halftime show with viewership soaring to about 106.6 million during his performance.
Although Tom Brady and Co. came into the Super Bowl with the intent of taking home the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the NFL GOAT had to leave without a ring this time. The Eagles eventually won 41-33 with 67,612 spectators in attendance.
10. Super Bowl XLIV: 106.48 million viewers
On February 7, 2010, the New Orleans Saints clashed with the Indianapolis Colts at Sun Life Stadium.
With 74,059 spectators in attendance, the Saints took home their only Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
CBS broadcasted the game, reaching an audience of about 106.48 million viewers. Super Bowl XLIV ended with a score of 31-17 in favor of the New Orleans-based franchise, which back then, broke records for viewership in the US.
9. Super Bowl XLVII: 108.69 million viewers
Super Bowl XLVII took place on February 3, 2013, featuring the Baltimore Ravens against the San Francisco 49ers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The halftime show was indeed a memorable one from Beyonce in front of 71,024 fans.
The Ravens clinched a narrow 34-31 victory over the 49ers in a closely contested game. CBS aired the showdown to an average of about 108.7 million viewers.
8. Super Bowl XLV: 111.04 million viewers
Super Bowl XLV saw the clash between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 6, 2011. The game drew a staggering average of 111.04 million viewers, which became the most watched Super Bowl game at the time.
The Packers emerged victorious with a score of 31-25 at Cowboys Stadium, where 103,219 fans witnessed the thrilling match.
In fact, Usher, Black Eyed Peas and Slash were the ones who performed at the halftime show in Super Bowl XLV and Usher will be taking the stage on Sunday as well. Fox broadcasted the memorable event.
7. Super Bowl LI: 111.32 million viewers
Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017, featured an epic showdown between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium.
Considered one of the greatest comebacks in Super Bowl history, the Patriots came back from a 28-3 deficit to eventually tie the game and force overtime.
Fox aired the exhilarating game to an average audience of over 111.32 million viewers. Tom Brady and Co. took home their fifth Lombardi Trophy with a final score of 34-28 in front of 70,807 spectators.
6. Super Bowl XLVI: 111.35 million viewers
The fifth most watched Super Bowl game on our list features another Brady appearance, but this time the NFL GOAT could not sneak a ring away. On February 5, 2012, football fans witnessed the New York Giants battling the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The game concluded with a thrilling 21-17 victory for the Giants, drawing in 68,658 spectators. And guess who performed at the halftime show? Madonna herself!
NBC broadcasted the intense showdown, gaining an average of 111.35 million viewers during the telecast.
5. Super Bowl 50: 111.86 million viewers
The iconic Super Bowl 50, held on February 7, 2016, saw the Denver Broncos facing off against the Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium.
And boy, that halftime show! Beyonce, Bruno Mars and Coldplay got the crowd grooving while the Broncos eventually took home a 24-10 win.
71,088 spectators attended the game and CBS aired the spectacle reaching an average audience of 111.86 million viewers.
With a final score of 24-10 in favor of the Broncos, the game attracted 71,088 attendees. CBS aired the spectacle, reaching an audience of over 111 million viewers.
4. Super Bowl XLVIII: 112.19 million viewers
Super Bowl XLVIII remains one of the most viewed Super Bowl games to date. About 82,500 people were in attendance at the Stadium itself.
The long-anticipated face-off between Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos on February 2, 2014, drew in a massive average of 112.19 million viewers.
The Seahawks dominated the game with a 43-8 victory over the Broncos at MetLife Stadium. It was also one of the largest margin-wins in the history of the Super Bowl. Fox broadcasted the action-packed showdown to fans worldwide.
3. Super Bowl XLIX: 114.44 million viewers
Super Bowl XLIX, held on February 1, 2015, saw the New England Patriots battling the Seattle Seahawks at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
NBC broadcasted the thrilling event, captivating an average of 114.44 million viewers. In fact, the number is said to have reached about 118 million during Katty Perry’s halftime performance that rocked the Stadium.
Tom Brady’s Patriots won with a final score of 28-24 while 70,288 fans cheered from the stands.
2. Super Bowl LVII: 115.1 million viewers
On February 12, 2023, football fans across the nation tuned in to watch Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs and take on the Philadelphia Eagles. This wasn’t exactly the most viewed Super Bowl until technical corrections in viewer count by Nielsen three months after the game.
Now Super Bowl LVII is officially the second most watched Super Bowl game in NFL history. Hosted at the State Farm Stadium, 67,827 spectators were in attendance from the stands. Fox aired the iconic game which ended with a nail-biting score of 38–35 in favor of the Chiefs.
1. Super Bowl LVIII: 123.4 million viewers
Of course, Super Bowl LVIII became the most viewed game in NFL history which recorded a staggering average of over 120 million viewers, broadcasted by CBS and Nickelodeon.
In fact, it reached as high as 123.4 million viewers during the game, breaking all records before it in the history of the sport.
The game itself will go down in history as the only second Super Bowl that went into overtime. The way Mahomes’ Chiefs orchestrated a breathtaking 25-22 comeback from a 10-3 deficit in front of 61,629 people, is bound to be written in NFL lore.
FAQs
Super Bowl LVIII is the most viewed Super Bowl game in NFL history.
The Kansas City Chiefs have won four Super Bowls in their franchise history.
The San Francisco 49ers have won five Super Bowls in their franchise history.
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Anjum Ash.
(521 Articles Published)