Why Does The Super Bowl Fall Under The 10 Most Watched Television Shows in History?

Discover why it ranks among the top 10 most-watched TV shows in history, drawing millions worldwide with its intense competition and captivating halftime shows.

by Alaguvelan M | Updated Feb 09, 2024

Fresherslive

Why Does The Super Bowl Fall Under The 10 Most Watched Television Shows in History?

The Super Bowl is one of the most-watched annual sporting events globally, boasting high television ratings. It airs in over 130 countries and is broadcast in more than 30 languages, predominantly in North America.

The Super Bowl's popularity stems from its appeal to sports enthusiasts, its role as a cultural phenomenon, and the unique single-elimination playoff system of professional football. 

In 2023, the live telecast of Super Bowl LVII on Fox Sports had the largest average viewership of any single-network U.S. television broadcast, with 115.1 million viewers. This number represents approximately 43% of people watching the Super Bowl for the enjoyment of the game, while another 24% tune in because their families and friends do.

In the case of the Super Bowl, several factors contribute to its status as one of the most watched television shows in history:

  • Tradition and Enduring Ratings: The Super Bowl has a long-standing tradition of high viewership and stable ratings over time, unlike other televised events.
  • Consistent Ratings and Popularity: It consistently draws substantially higher ratings than other sports events, maintaining its popularity year after year.
  • Broad Audience: Broadcast in over 130 countries and more than 30 languages, the Super Bowl attracts a global audience, although its viewership is predominantly North American.
  • Halftime Show: The halftime show is a major attraction, drawing in a significant number of viewers with its star-studded performances.
  • Record-Breaking Viewership: The Super Bowl consistently breaks its viewership records, with millions tuning in to watch the game each year.
  • Widespread Accessibility: The game enjoys near-universal broadcasting access in the United States, ensuring a large potential audience can easily tune in.
  • Intense Competition: Featuring elite athletes competing for the championship, the Super Bowl offers high-stakes, close competition that keeps viewers engaged.
  • Commercials: Highly anticipated Super Bowl commercials are a significant draw, with brands investing heavily in captivating ads that air during the game.
  • Competitive Spirit: The game represents the pinnacle of American football, igniting the competitive spirit among fans and drawing in both die-hard enthusiasts and casual viewers.
  • Cultural Phenomenon: The Super Bowl transcends sports to become a cultural event, fostering tradition, camaraderie, and shared experiences among viewers worldwide.

Super Bowl United States Television Rating

Super Bowl

Date

Network

Viewership (millions)

Rating (%)

Share (%)

Advertising Revenue (millions)

Cost of 30-second ad (millions)

XLIV

February 7, 2010

CBS

106.48

45.0

68

$2,800,000

$3,484,273

XLV

February 6, 2011

Fox

111.04

46.0

69

$2,948,649

$3,558,307

XLVI

February 5, 2012

NBC

111.35

47.0

71

$3,442,752

$4,069,525

XLVII

February 3, 2013

CBS

108.69

46.4

69

$3,765,130

$4,385,649

XLVIII

February 2, 2014

Fox

112.19

46.7

69

$4,084,864

$4,683,701

XLIX

February 1, 2015

NBC

114.44

47.5

71

$4,283,129

$4,904,815

50

February 7, 2016

CBS

111.86

46.6

72

$4,800,000

$5,428,000

LI

February 5, 2017

Fox

111.32

45.3

70

$5,399,873

$5,912,858

LII

February 4, 2018

NBC

103.47

43.1

68

$5,235,379

$5,658,629

LIII

February 3, 2019

CBS

98.48

41.1

67

$5,199,916

$5,519,191

LIV

February 2, 2020

Fox

101.32

41.6

69

$5,400,000

$5,662,906

LV

February 7, 2021

CBS

95.2

38.2

68

$5,500,000

$5,500,000

LVI

February 13, 2022

NBC

99.18

36.9

72

$6,500,000

$7,020,000

LVII

February 12, 2023

Fox

112.17

40.0

-

$7,000,000

-

LVIII

February 11, 2024

CBS

-

-

-

-

-

Super Bowl Spanish Television Rating 

Super Bowl

Date

Channel

Avg. viewers (millions)

XLVIII

February 2, 2014

Fox Deportes

0.56

XLIX

February 1, 2015

NBC Universo

0.37

50

February 7, 2016

ESPN Deportes

0.47

LI

February 5, 2017

Fox Deportes

0.65

LII

February 4, 2018

Universo

0.54

LIII

February 3, 2019

ESPN Deportes

0.47

LIV

February 2, 2020

Fox Deportes

0.76

LV

February 7, 2021

ESPN Deportes

0.65

LVI

February 13, 2022

Telemundo

1.91

LVII

February 12, 2023

Fox Deportes

0.88

LVIII

February 11, 2024

Univision

-

Super Bowl Canada Television Rating

Super Bowl

Date

Viewership (millions)

International viewership (millions)

XLIV

February 7, 2010

6,017,000

Unknown

XLV

February 6, 2011

6,537,000

Unknown

XLVI

February 5, 2012

7,280,000

765,000

XLVII

February 3, 2013

6,447,000

Unknown

XLVIII

February 2, 2014

7,318,000

Unknown

XLIX

February 1, 2015

8,262,000

894,000

50

February 7, 2016

7,372,000

939,000

LI

February 5, 2017

5,602,000

997,000

LII

February 4, 2018

4,470,000

949,000

LIII

February 3, 2019

5,523,000

981,000

LIV

February 4, 2020

9,500,000

1,669,000

LV

February 7, 2021

9,414,000

1,121,000

LVI

February 13, 2022

8,100,000

-

LVII

February 12, 2023

8,600,000

-

Super Bowl Mexico Television Rating

In Mexico, Super Bowl LIV garnered an average of 3.7 million viewers and a 7.3 rating. Among the major broadcasters, TV Azteca attracted 2.94 million viewers, while Televisa had 2.66 million. Fox Sports recorded 0.87 million viewers, and ESPN had 0.83 million. The event achieved a total reach of 12 million viewers.

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Note: The above details are as per Wikipedia.

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Why Does The Super Bowl Fall Under The 10 Most Watched Television Shows in History - FAQs

1. What factors contribute to the Super Bowl's status as one of the most-watched TV shows?

The Super Bowl's massive viewership can be attributed to its intense sporting competition, captivating halftime shows, and widespread cultural significance.

2. How does the Super Bowl compare to other major sporting events in terms of viewership?

The Super Bowl consistently outperforms other sports events in terms of viewership, drawing substantially higher ratings and maintaining stable viewership over time.

3. Why do people tune in to watch the Super Bowl

Many viewers watch the Super Bowl to enjoy the game itself, while others are drawn by the tradition, camaraderie, and shared experiences associated with the event.

4. What makes the halftime show during the Super Bowl so appealing to viewers?

The halftime show features top musical acts and entertainment spectacles, attracting a significant number of viewers who tune in specifically for this part of the event.

5. How has the Super Bowl's accessibility contributed to its widespread viewership?

The Super Bowl enjoys near-universal broadcasting access, making it easily accessible to a large potential audience through major networks and online streaming platforms.