Unlike many other sports championship TV viewerships which have declined over time, Super Bowl TV viewership has not only held up, but after a generation of fairly flat viewership, began growing again in the last seven years or so.
Last year's Super Bowl XLVI had the highest average viewership (111.3 million) of any US TV telecast in history.
What's your guess for this year's Super Bowl XLVII viewership?
If you'd like to guess the viewership for Elementary, which follows the Super Bowl, click here.
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Complete Super Bowl TV Ratings:
| Game | Date | Net | rating | Share | $/30 Sec. Ad | Homes (000) | Viewers (000) | NFC Champion | AFC Champion |
| XLVI | Feb 5 2012* | NBC | 47.0 | 71 | 111,346 | New York Giants | New England | ||
| XLV | Feb 7 2011* | FOX | 46.0 | 69 | 111,010 | Green Bay | Pittsburgh | ||
| XLIV | Feb 7 2010* | CBS | 45.0 | 68 | $2,800,000 | 51,728 | 106,476 | New Orleans | Indianapolis |
| XLIII | Feb 1 2009* | NBC | 42.0 | 64 | $3,000,000 | 48,139 | 98,732 | Arizona | Pittsburgh |
| XLII | Feb 3 2008* | FOX | 43.1 | 65 | $2,699,963 | 48,665 | 97,448 | New York Giants | New England |
| XLI | Feb 4 2007* | CBS | 42.6 | 64 | $2,385,365 | 47,505 | 93,184 | Chicago | Indianapolis |
| XL | Feb 5 2006* | ABC | 41.6 | 62 | $2,500,000 | 45,867 | 90,745 | Seattle | Pittsburgh |
| XXXIX | Feb 6 2005 | FOX | 41.1 | 62 | $2,400,000 | 45,081 | 86,072 | Philadelphia | New England |
| XXXVIII | Feb 1 2004 | CBS | 41.4 | 63 | $2,302,200 | 44,908 | 89,795 | Carolina | New England |
| XXXVII | Jan 26 2003 | ABC | 40.7 | 61 | $2,200,000 | 43,433 | 88,637 | Tampa Bay | Oakland |
| XXXVI | Feb 3 2002 | FOX | 40.4 | 61 | $2,200,000 | 42,664 | 86,801 | St. Louis | New England |
| XXXV | Jan 28 2001 | CBS | 40.4 | 61 | $2,200,000 | 41,270 | 84,335 | NY Giants | Baltimore |
| XXXIV | Jan 30 2000 | ABC | 43.3 | 63 | $2,100,000 | 43,618 | 88,465 | St. Louis | Tennessee |
| XXXIII | Jan 31 1999 | FOX | 40.2 | 61 | $1,600,000 | 39,992 | 83,720 | Atlanta | Denver |
| XXXII | Jan 25 1998 | NBC | 44.5 | 67 | $1,291,100 | 43,630 | 90,000 | Green Bay | Denver |
| XXXI | Jan 26 1997 | FOX | 43.3 | 65 | $1,200,000 | 42,000 | 87,870 | Green Bay | New England |
| XXX | Jan 28 1996 | NBC | 46 | 68 | $1,085,000 | 44,145 | 94,080 | Dallas | Pittsburgh |
| XXIX | Jan 29 1995 | ABC | 41.3 | 62 | $1,150,000 | 39,400 | 83,420 | San Francisco | San Diego |
| XXVIII | Jan 30 1994 | NBC | 45.5 | 66 | $900,000 | 42,860 | 90,000 | Dallas | Buffalo |
| XXVII | Jan 31 1993 | NBC | 45.1 | 66 | $850,000 | 41,990 | 90,990 | Dallas | Buffalo |
| XXVI | Jan 26 1992 | CBS | 40.3 | 61 | $850,000 | 37,120 | 79,590 | Washington | Buffalo |
| XXV | Jan 27 1991 | ABC | 41.9 | 63 | $800,000 | 39,010 | 79,510 | NY Giants | Buffalo |
| XXIV | Jan 28 1990 | CBS | 39 | 63 | $700,400 | 35,920 | 73,852 | San Francisco | Denver |
| XXIII | Jan 22 1989 | NBC | 43.5 | 68 | $675,000 | 39,320 | 81,590 | San Francisco | Cincinnati |
| XXII | Jan 31 1988 | ABC | 41.9 | 62 | $645,000 | 37,120 | 80,140 | Washington | Denver |
| XXI | Jan 25 1987 | CBS | 45.8 | 66 | $600,000 | 40,030 | 87,190 | NY Giants | Denver |
| XX | Jan 26 1986 | NBC | 48.3 | 70 | $550,000 | 41,490 | 92,570 | Chicago | New England |
| XIX | Jan 20 1985 | ABC | 46.4 | 63 | $525,000 | 39,390 | 85,530 | San Francisco | Miami |
| XVIII | Jan 22 1984 | CBS | 46.4 | 71 | $368,200 | 38,880 | 77,620 | Washington | LA Raiders |
| XVII | Jan 30 1983 | NBC | 48.6 | 69 | $400,000 | 40,480 | 81,770 | Washington | Miami |
| XVI | Jan 24 1982 | CBS | 49.1 | 73 | $324,300 | 40,020 | 85,240 | San Francisco | Cincinnati |
| XV | Jan 25 1981 | NBC | 44.4 | 63 | $275,000 | 34,540 | 68,290 | Philadelphia | Oakland |
| XIV | Jan 20 1980 | CBS | 46.3 | 67 | $222,000 | 35,330 | 76,240 | LA Rams | Pittsburgh |
| XIII | Jan 21 1979 | NBC | 47.1 | 74 | $185,000 | 35,090 | 74,740 | Dallas | Pittsburgh |
| XII | Jan 15 1978 | CBS | 47.2 | 67 | $162,300 | 34,410 | 78,940 | Dallas | Denver |
| XI | Jan 09 1977 | NBC | 44.4 | 73 | $125,000 | 31,610 | 62,050 | Minnesota | Oakland |
| X | Jan 18 1976 | CBS | 42.3 | 78 | $110,000 | 29,440 | 57,710 | Dallas | Pittsburgh |
| IX | Jan 12 1975 | NBC | 42.4 | 72 | $107,000 | 29,040 | 56,050 | Minnesota | Pittsburgh |
| VIII | Jan 13 1974 | CBS | 41.6 | 73 | $103,500 | 27,540 | 51,700 | Minnesota | Miami |
| VII | Jan 14 1973 | NBC | 42.7 | 72 | $88,100 | 27,670 | 53,320 | Washington | Miami |
| VI | Jan 16 1972 | CBS | 44.2 | 74 | $86,100 | 27,450 | 56,640 | Dallas | Miami |
| V | Jan 17 1971 | NBC | 39.9 | 75 | $72,500 | 23,980 | 46,040 | Dallas | Baltimore |
| IV | Jan 11 1970 | CBS | 39.4 | 69 | $78,200 | 23,050 | 44,270 | Minnesota | Kansas City |
| III | Jan 12 1969 | NBC | 36 | 70 | $55,000 | 20,520 | 41,660 | Baltimore | NY Jets |
| II | Jan 14 1968 | CBS | 36.8 | 68 | $54,500 | 20,610 | 39,120 | Green Bay | Oakland |
| I | Jan 15 1967 | CBS | 22.6 | 43 | $42,500 | 12,410 | 26,750 | Green Bay | Kansas City |
| I | Jan 15 1967 | NBC | 18.5 | 36 | $37,500 | 10,160 | 24,430 | Green Bay | Kansas City |
2006-12 Data is Live+Same Day, all other years are Live viewing.
Ad expenditure data from Nielsen Monitor-Plus.
Note: Super Bowl 1 aired on both CBS & NBC.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2013 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
46.8/110.9
109.5 million. It’ll be a little down, because it’s not highly buzzed like the past 2 years.
102 million.
@rob60990, I agree with your prediction. I’ve been on other posts and there are many out there who feel like this Superbowl was fixed. Many are not feeling the Harbough brothers matchup. And even more are disgusted with the Ray Lewis Show that the media is promoting.
I would of said less viewers than that but there should be at least 2 million viewers tuning in simply just to see Beyonce perform the half time show. Even though there are many who are tiring of her as well.
To Joseph:
The playoff networks are the same next season also.
The changes dont start until the new tv deal kicks in for the 2014-15 season.
@romo
ESPN will probably get a wildcard game starting jan 2015.
The networks are already locked into a contract with the NFL through 2022 and there’s nothing in there about ESPN getting a playoff game.
If you have no clue what you’re talking about, don’t comment.
The networks are already locked into a contract with the NFL through 2022 and there’s nothing in there about ESPN getting a playoff game.
If you have no clue what you’re talking about, don’t comment.
Ok, maybe there is. Well, don’t I look like an ass!
Sorry!
A lil bit more than last year
@Melissa
You are pathetic as always. And NCIS LA has best compitable lead-in and best day of the week with zero or less competition but is with lower ratings than POI and CM.
Watch your stupid soapy Grey and don’t comment where big boys are talking.
@BigBrotherFan
I agree. CBS miss great chance here.
@Petar Ivanov
WOW!!!
Stupid soapy Grey has got far more critical acclaim, awards and fans around the world.
Even CSI Miami has more fans around the world in comparison to Person of Interest, NCIS: Los Angeles or even Criminal Minds.
And take it easy with your frustrations.
A tangible record would mean breaking into the bracketing of the 50 Nielsen mark. I am an NFL fan. Every play introduces. itself from the 50 yard line. Swearing a rating less tan the aforementioned rates the average.
I remember last years Superbowl topic on here, had a decent discussion with a few people about the accuracy of Nielsens sample size. I’m wondering if it’s worth giving a reaction this year, as I’m not sure if I’ll have the time to stick around and discuss longer lol
Still, thinking over 100 million.
I think it will top 2012 by a couple of million. Also i have a question will ABC ever host a SuperBowl again?
Yes. A legend about to retire (the only remaining member of the Super Bowl XXXV winning team), against an upstart QB about to make a big splash in the NFL, will draw INSANELY big numbers.
100-105 million. It will do well but it won’t break the record.
Ravens will win 31-27 with Torry Smith as the MVP.
If the game is close, it might reach 108 MM. But without hallmark teams like Pats, Giants, Steelers, Dallas, GB, not likely. Also, halftime usually drops (and it’s a long segment because of the set-up/tear-down), no way Beyonce draws anywhere near what Madonna did last year.
@JR35, The storm is supposed to be over the northeast. Looks like Boston, Connecticut and Rhode Island gets the worst of it.
I’m predicting a new record of 113 million viewers. Between the storyline between the two coaches, Ray Lewis, and Colin Kaepernick, I’d say barring a power outage in Boston, they’ll break the record. Halftime should be good this year by the way. Especially now that Beyonce will have to sing it.
Super Bowl XLV was on February 6, not the 7th, of 2011. They tend to fall on Sundays.