SUPER BOWL XLIV
MOST-WATCHED TV SHOW
OF ALL TIME
153.4 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS
AVERAGE VIEWERSHIP TOPS M*A*S*H FINALE
The 2009 NFL season concluded with another record as Super Bowl XLIV reached a total audience of 153.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched show in U.S. television history according to Nielsen Media Research. The Colts-Saints championship game topped the previous mark of 151.6 million total viewers set last year (Cardinals-Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII). Super Bowls account for the 19 most-watched programs in history in terms of total audience.
Most-Watched TV Programs, Total Viewers
|
Game |
Total Viewers |
|
Super Bowl XLIV (Colts-Saints), 2/7/10 |
153.4 million |
|
Super Bowl XLIII (Cardinals-Steelers), 2/1/09 |
151.6 million |
|
148.3 million |
|
|
Super Bowl XXXVIII (Patriots-Panthers), 2/1/04 |
144.4 million |
|
Super Bowl XL (Steelers-Seahawks), 2/5/06 |
141.4 million |
Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research
In addition, a record average of 106.5 million viewers watched Super Bowl XLIV – topping the previous mark of 106 million for the series finale of M*A*S*H in 1983 and an eight percent increase over last year’s Super Bowl (98.7 million viewers).
Super Bowl XLIV earned a 45.0 household rating marking the highest-rated Super Bowl in 14 years (46.0 rating for Cowboys-Steelers in Super Bowl XXX, January 1996) and a seven percent increase over last year’s 42.0.