Super Bowl LIX Shatters Viewership Records Despite Lopsided Game
Feb 11, 2025, 03:50 PM ET
Well, folks, it seems like the Super Bowl just keeps getting bigger and bigger, even when the game itself might not be the nail-biter we all hope for. Sunday night’s Super Bowl LIX was a prime example of this phenomenon. Despite the Philadelphia Eagles’ decisive 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, the game managed to average a record-breaking 127.7 million U.S. viewers across various platforms. That’s right, folks, a new high-water mark for the big game!
The game was broadcast on Fox, Fox Deportes, and Telemundo, and for those who prefer streaming, it was available on Tubi and the NFL’s digital platforms. This impressive viewership figure represents a 3% increase from last year’s Super Bowl, marking the second consecutive year that the event has set a new audience record. To put it in perspective, last year’s thrilling 25-22 overtime victory by the Chiefs over the San Francisco 49ers averaged 123.7 million viewers on CBS, Nickelodeon, Univision, and streaming platforms.
According to Nielsen, the audience for this year’s game peaked at a staggering 137.7 million during the second quarter, specifically between 8:00 and 8:15 p.m. ET. And let’s not forget about the halftime show, which has become an event in its own right. Kendrick Lamar’s performance drew an average of 133.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show on record. That’s a 3% increase from Usher’s performance last year, which attracted 129.3 million viewers.
So, what’s behind this surge in viewership? Well, part of it can be attributed to a change in how viewers are counted. This year, Nielsen expanded its measurement to include out-of-home viewers in all states except Hawaii and Alaska. Previously, only the top 44 media markets, covering 65% of the country, were included. Additionally, the ratings now incorporate data from smart TVs, cable, and satellite set-top boxes.
Despite the game’s outcome being decided early on, with Philadelphia jumping to a commanding 24-0 lead in the first half, the Super Bowl still managed to captivate audiences. According to Tubi first-party data and Adobe Analytics, 14.5 million people watched the game on streaming platforms, with 13.6 million tuning in via Tubi, where the game was available for free. Meanwhile, the Spanish-language broadcast on Telemundo and Fox Deportes averaged 1.87 million viewers. It’s worth noting that the Super Bowl has been televised in Spanish in the United States since 2014.
Adding to the spectacle, this year’s Super Bowl had some high-profile attendees. Donald Trump made history as the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, while pop superstar Taylor Swift was also in the crowd. Swift’s romance with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce continues to keep her fans intrigued by the NFL.
It’s fascinating to see how the Super Bowl has maintained its massive viewership, especially considering the challenges posed by cord-cutting. For the third consecutive year, the Super Bowl averaged more than 100 million viewers on television. This is a significant rebound from a period when four of the five games before 2023 fell short of that number. For instance, the 2021 Super Bowl between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City drew 95.2 million viewers, marking the lowest TV-only average since 2007.
While the Super Bowl continues to thrive, the NFL playoffs saw a slight dip in viewership. The playoffs averaged 35.2 million viewers over the first three weekends, down 9% from last year’s record of 38.5 million. This followed a regular season that averaged 17.5 million viewers, the sixth-highest average since 1995, but still a 2% decline from 2023.
- Super Bowl LIX averaged a record 127.7 million U.S. viewers.
- The audience peaked at 137.7 million in the second quarter.
- Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show was the most-watched on record.
- Donald Trump and Taylor Swift were among the notable attendees.
As we look ahead, it will be interesting to see how the Super Bowl continues to evolve and capture the attention of audiences worldwide. One thing’s for sure: the combination of sports, entertainment, and celebrity intrigue makes it a must-watch event year after year.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
