The record-setting 2010 NFL season concluded with another television milestone as Super Bowl XLV on FOX reached a total audience of 162.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched show in U.S. television history according to The Nielsen Company.
The Packers-Steelers championship game topped by 9.5 million the previous record of 153.4 million total viewers set last year (Colts-Saints in Super Bowl XLIV) and marks the fourth consecutive record-setting total audience for the Super Bowl. Super Bowls account for the 20 most-watched programs in history in terms of total audience.
Most-Watched TV Programs, Total Viewers
Game / Total Viewers
Super Bowl XLV (Packers-Steelers), 2/6/11: 162.9 million
Super Bowl XLIV (Colts-Saints), 2/7/10: 153.4 million
Super Bowl XLIII (Cardinals-Steelers), 2/1/09: 151.6 million
Super Bowl XLII (Giants-Patriots), 2/3/08: 148.3 million
Super Bowl XXXVIII (Patriots-Panthers), 2/1/04: 144.4 million Source: NFL, The Nielsen Company
In addition, a record average of 111 million viewers watched Super Bowl XLV – topping the previous mark of 106.5 million for Super Bowl XLIV.