Super Bowl viewership debunked as true numbers of | TV Shows

By comparison, the 2022 Super Bowl was widely reported to have been viewed by 112 million viewers in the US – and at best, reaching up to 200 million viewers globally.

Two years ago, the NFL announced an estimated viewership of over 208 million for Super Bowl LVI – based on a survey conducted in partnership with Nielsen.

Research from Nielsen reveals that nearly 90% of all television users during the event were tuned into Super Bowl LVI, with approximately two-thirds of the US population watching.

Paul Ballew, the NFL’s chief data and analytics officer, commented: “While it’s no secret that the Super Bowl is the biggest event across the media landscape on a yearly basis, the exact number of people watching the game has been challenging to pinpoint given the fact that people tend to gather in groups to watch the game.

“We’re grateful for the work put into this custom survey by Nielsen, the results of which we feel provide the most accurate picture to date of the total viewership for this unique event.”

Super Bowl LVI was the most-watched TV program in five years since Super Bowl LII attracted 113.7 million viewers.

This reversed a concerning trend for the NFL, as viewing figures had been declining significantly in recent years.

CNBC reports that the Super Bowl ratings for viewers aged 18 to 49 have decreased every year for the past decade – from 52.2 million in 2011 to 34.3 million in 2021.

The drop in viewership could be partially attributed to the rise of streaming, but it’s not large enough to fill the massive gap that is emerging.

One conclusion is the Super Bowl is no longer as appealing to casual fans as it once was because the ratings for Sunday Night Football each week remain steady.

The Super Bowl viewership in the US, specifically among those aged 18 to 49, has seen a decline from 52.5 million in 2001 to a mere 34.3 million in 2021, potentially due to the rising popularity of platforms like Netflix and TikTok among younger demographics.

It’s yet to be determined how the forthcoming Super Bowl LIV, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, will perform. However, due to Taylor Swift‘s appearance for a second year running the viewership among women is set to increase once again.