Super Bowl LVIII made history as the most-watched television event ever, drawing an estimated audience of 123.4 million viewers who witnessed the Kansas City Chiefs stage a thrilling comeback in overtime to defeat the San Francisco 49ers.
According to CBS Sports, this figure includes viewership across all platforms and marks a notable 7% increase from last year’s record-breaking average of 115.1 million viewers.
The game also set a new milestone as the most-streamed Super Bowl in history, with a record audience tuning in via Paramount+. Additionally, CBS Sports reported its best postseason viewership since 1998.
Viewers had plenty of reasons to tune in, including a matchup between two top NFL teams, a halftime performance by Usher, and a lineup of entertaining commercials. Notable celebrity endorsements added to the excitement, with appearances from stars like Christopher Walken, Ben Affleck, and Beyoncé.
The NFL has seen strong viewership throughout this year’s playoffs, with the AFC Championship game between the Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens emerging as the most-watched in history.
Despite the shift towards streaming platforms, live sports continue to demonstrate resilience, highlighting the enduring value of sports rights. This was underscored by recent announcements from major networks like Disney’s ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery to launch joint streaming platforms, signaling a continued focus on sports content in the evolving media landscape.
Intake of this news
- Record-breaking Viewership: Super Bowl LVIII became the most-watched television event in history, attracting an estimated audience of 123.4 million viewers.
- Increase in Viewership: The viewership figure marked a 7% increase from the previous year’s record of 115.1 million viewers.
- Streaming Milestone: The game set a new record as the most-streamed Super Bowl in history, with a significant audience tuning in via Paramount+.
- Celebrity Endorsements: The Super Bowl featured a lineup of entertaining commercials, with notable celebrity endorsements including appearances by Christopher Walken, Ben Affleck, Beyoncé, and others.
- Strong Playoff Viewership: The NFL playoffs, including the AFC Championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens, saw strong viewership throughout the season.
- Resilience of Live Sports: Despite the shift towards streaming platforms, live sports continue to demonstrate resilience, highlighting the enduring value of sports rights.
- Focus on Sports Content: Major networks, including Disney’s ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, are doubling down on sports content, as evidenced by recent announcements to launch joint streaming platforms.
