After earlier overnight numbers showing last nights’ NFL championship telecast was the third most-watched Super Bowl, it turns out it’s the most-watched Super Bowl, which also makes it the most-watched TV program ever.
According to Nielsen Fast National Data 111.3 million viewers watched Super Bowl XLVI, topping last year’s game by 300,000 viewers. Final data will be released tomorrow.
Most-watched programs in TV history:
1. 111.3 Million – Super Bowl XLVI, NBC (2012)
2. 111.0 Million – Super Bowl XLV, Fox (2011)
3. 106.5 Million – Super Bowl XLIV, CBS (2010)
4. 106.0 Million – M.A.S.H. Finale, CBS (1983)
5. 98.7 Million – Super Bowl XLIII, NBC (2009)
The game earned a 47.0 rating and a 71 share, up 2% from last year’s 46.0/69 for Super Bowl XLV. And while it was the most-watched program ever, Super Bowl XX in 1986, featuring the Patriots vs. the Bears, earned a higher rating: 48.3 and a 70 share of the audience.
More stats after the jump…
HIGEST-RATED SUPER BOWLS:
1. 49.1/73 – Super Bowl XVI, CBS (1982)
2. 48.6/69 – Super Bowl XVII, NBC (1983)
3. 48.3/70 – Super Bowl XX, NBC (1986)
4. 47.2/67 – Super Bowl XII, CBS (1978)
5. 47.1/74 – Super Bowl XIII, NBC (1979)
6. 47.0/71 – Super Bowl XLVI, NBC (2012)
T7. 46.4/71 – Super Bowl XVIII, CBS (1984)
T7. 46.4/63 – Super Bowl XIX, ABC (1985)
9. 46.3/67 – Super Bowl XIV, CBS (1980)
10. 46.0/69 – Super Bowl XLV, Fox (2011)
VIEWERSHIP GROWS THROUGHOUT THE GAME: The viewership and rating grew throughout the game and peaked at a 117.7 million viewers and a 50.7/72, respectively, from 9:30-9:58 p.m. ET in the fourth quarter when Eli Manning led the Giants on a game-winning drive.
HALF HOUR VIEWERSHIP (Times ET):
6:31-7, 99.2 million
7-7:30, 107.9 million
7:30-8, 110.9 million
8-8:30, 114.0 million
8:30-9, 114.3 million
9-9:30, 115.4 million
9:30-9:58, 117.7 million
HALF HOUR RATINGS (Times ET):
6:31-7, 42.5/69
7-7:30, 45.5/71
7:30-8, 46.4/71
8-8:30, 47.4/70
8:30-9, 47.7/70
9-9:30, 48.9/70
9:30-9:58, 50.7/72
HALFTIME SHOW FEATURING MADONNA IS MOST-WATCHED EVER: The halftime performance by Madonna (8-8:30), was seen by 114.0 million viewers, nearly four million more than last year’s performance featuring the Black Eyed Peas (110.3 million), and is the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show featuring entertainment ever (dating back to 1991).
• The halftime viewership 18.3 million more than NBC’s last Super Bowl with Bruce Springsteen (95.7 million).
• The halftime show earned a 47.4 household rating, six percent higher than last year (44.7/68) and is the highest-rated halftime show featuring entertainment ever.
“THE VOICE” DELIVERS HUGE NUMBERS: The season two premiere of “The Voice” that followed the Super Bowl averaged a 16.3 rating in adults 18-49 and 37.6 million viewers overall, making it the highest-rated entertainment program in 18-49 in six years, since ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” post-Super Bowl telecast on February 5, 2006 (16.5). “The Voice” is up versus last year’s post-Super Bowl telecast of “Glee” by 47 percent in 18-49 (16.3 vs. 11.1) and up one percent versus the 2010 post-Super Bowl telecast of “Undercover Boss” (16.3 vs. 16.2).
BOSTON SETS LOCAL MARKET RECORD: The rating in Boston was the best ever for an NFL game in that market (56.7/81) topping the previous high of 56.1/78 for Super Bowl XXXVI (56.1/78 on Fox).
• The New York market registered a 49.7/74, the second-highest overnight for an NFL game in that market, trailing only the 53.4/72 for Super Bowl XXI, the Giants first-ever Super Bowl. By comparison, New York registered a 44.9/67 for Super Bowl XLII, the last time they were in the big game.
• The host market of Indianapolis registered a 56.4/79 overnight rating, the second-best overnight for a host market only trailing Jacksonville (58.9/77) for Super Bowl XXXIX).
TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR SUPER BOWL XLVI:
1. Boston, 56.7/81
2. Indianapolis, 56.4/79
3. Norfolk, 54.2/73
4. Columbus, 54.1/72
5. New Orleans, 54.0/72
T6. Nashville, 53.5/74
T6. Jacksonville, 53.5/70
8. Buffalo, 52.9/72
9. Kansas City, 52.1/73
10. Milwaukee, 52.0/73
*New York ranked 18th with a 49.7/74