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Super Bowl TV Ratings: Record 164 Million Fans Watch Super Bowl XLVII

Super Bowls ranks as TVs top 22 shows all-time.

The 2012 NFL season concluded with another television milestone as Super Bowl XLVII on CBS reached a total audience of 164.1 million viewers (6:32-8:41 and 9:11-10:47 PM, ET), making it the most-viewed show in U.S. television history according to The Nielsen Company.

The 49ers-Ravens championship game topped the previous record of 162.9 million total viewers for Super Bowl XLV (Packers-Steelers) and marks the fifth consecutive Super Bowl to reach a total audience of more than 150 million viewers.Super Bowls account for the 22 most-watched programs in history in terms of total audience.

Most-Watched TV Programs, Total Viewers

Game

Total Viewers

Super Bowl XLVII (49ers-Ravens), 2/3/13

164.1 million

Super Bowl XLV (Packers-Steelers), 2/6/11

162.9 million

Super Bowl XLVI (Giants-Patriots), 2/5/12

159.2 million

Super Bowl XLIV (Colts-Saints), 2/7/10

153.4 million

Super Bowl XLIII (Cardinals-Steelers), 2/1/09

151.6 million

Source: NFL, The Nielsen Company

In addition, an average of 108.4 million viewers watched Super Bowl XLVII - ranking third all-time.