This from the National Football League and the Columbia Broadcasting System. Both are saying that Super Bowl XLVII set a record in total viewership.
For the game which has been divided into two time periods, 6:32-8:41 p.m. ET and 9:11 p.m.-10:47 p.m. ET minus the Superdome power outage, the telecast saw a total viewership of 164.1 million viewers, beating the previous record of 162.9 for Super Bowl XLV on Fox in 2010. Total viewership means people aged two and up watching all or just a portion of the game.
This makes Super Bowl XLVII the most-viewed show in U.S. television history.
We have the NFL’s press release.
RECORD 164.1 MILLION FANS TUNE IN TO SUPER BOWL XLVII ON CBS
SUPER BOWLS RANK AS TV’S 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
Here’s CBS’ version of the announcement which states the viewership for Super Bowl XLVII is up 2% over last year.
CBS SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF SUPER BOWL XLVII IS WATCHED IN ALL-OR-PART BY RECORD 164.1 MILLION VIEWERS
The CBS Television Network’s coverage of Super Bowl XLVII featuring the BALTIMORE RAVENS’ 34-31 win over the SAN FRANCISCO 49ers’ on Sunday, Feb 3 (6:32-8:41 and 9:11-10:47 PM, ET) was watched in all-or-part* by a record 164.1 million viewers, up 3% from last year’s 159.2 million for Super Bowl XLVI (N.Y. Giants-New England).
Last night’s 164.1 million (Persons 2+) is the highest number of viewers to ever watch all-or-part of the Super Bowl. The previous high was 2011’s 162.9 million for the Green Packers-Pittsburgh Steelers game.
*(watched at least six minutes of the telecast)
That’s all.
