Super Bowl LVIII most watched telecast of all time with 123.4M viewers
Super Chiefs: Kansas City's thrilling overtime victory in Super Bowl LVIII was also a ratings bonanza. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Sunday’s telecast of Super Bowl LVIII broke records for viewership on Sunday, drawing an average of 123.4 million across all platforms as the Kansas City Chiefs won an overtime thriller against the San Francisco 49ers.
According to a news release from NFL Communications, the Chiefs’ 25-22 victory against the San Francisco 49ers was the most-watched telecast in history. The game was available on CBS, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, Univision, and CBS Sports and digital properties, including NFL+.
The previous record was Super Bowl LVII in 2023, which had an average viewership of 115.1 million, according to NFL Communications.
Viewership figures are based on Nielsen Fast National data and Adobe Analytics, NFL Communications said in its release. Final Nielsen data will be available on Tuesday.
The numbers represent the average number of viewers who were tuned into the game at any given moment, Variety reported. According to Nielsen, the number of people who tuned in at any point was 202.4 million, a 10% increase from Super Bowl LVII’s total audience of 184 million, according to the entertainment news website.
The viewership for the conference championships was a hint of what was to come on Sunday, CNN reported. The AFC Championship Game between the Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens averaged 55 million viewers on CBS, while the NFC Championship Game between the 49ers and the Detroit Lions drew 56 million viewers, according to the cable news network.
The huge Super Bowl audience was related to several factors, including the game going to overtime for only the second time in the game’s history, Variety reported. Taylor Swift’s appearance at the game was also a contributing factor, given the pop singer’s romance with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and her long flight from Japan to get to Sunday’s game in time.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the halftime show headlined by Usher was also a lure for viewers. The rapper was joined on stage by Ludacris, Alicia Keys, will.i.am, Lil Jon and H.E.R.
According to NFL Communications, Sunday’s game was the most-streamed Super Bowl in history, led by a record-breaking audience on Paramount+.
Super Bowl LVIII solidified the NFL’s grip on America’s viewing audience. In 2023, 93 of the 100 most-watched programs on television belonged to the NFL, CNN reported.
Super Bowl LVIII: The crowd at Allegiant Stadium was ready at kickoff as the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs prepared to face off in Super Bowl LVIII. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) fumbles during the first quarter. The Chiefs recovered. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Kyle Juszczyk (44) of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by Nick Bolton (32) of the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks for a receiver during the first quarter. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce reacts during the first quarter. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Brock Purdy (13) of the San Francisco 49ers gets off a pass during the first quarter. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Trent McDuffie (22) of the Kansas City Chiefs breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco's Deebo Samuel during the second quarter. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Mecole Hardman Jr. (12) of the Kansas City Chiefs catches a 53-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes during the second quarter. Ji'Ayir Brown of the San Francisco 49ers was defending on the play. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Travis Kelce (87) of the Kansas City Chiefs gives coach Andy Reid an earful during the second quarter. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: The Chiefs' George Karlaftis (56) and Justin Reid (20) wrap up 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy for a loss during the second quarter. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Arik Armstead (91) of the San Francisco 49ers trips up Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the second quarter. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Arik Armstead (91) of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a defensive stop in the second quarter. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes reacts after being tackled during the second quarter. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw went down with a freak Achilles tendon injury during the second quarter. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Jauan Jennings (15) of the San Francisco 49ers winds up and throws a touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey in the second quarter. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey scores on a 21-yard pass to give the 49ers a 10-lead. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Harrison Butker (7) of the Kansas City Chiefs kicks a 28-yard field goal just before halftime. The Chiefs got on the board but still trailed 10-3 at the intermission. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Ji'Ayir Brown (27) of the San Francisco 49ers intercepts a pass thrown by Patrick Mahomes during the third quarter. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Kansas City Chiefs scrambles for yardage during the third quarter. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: The Chiefs' Jaylen Watson celebrates after recovering a fumble after a third-quarter punt. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Marquez Valdes-Scantling of the Kansas City Chiefs catches a 16-yard pass for a touchdown in the third quarter. That gave Kansas City a 13-10 lead. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: A fan is chased by security personnel after running onto the field during the third quarter. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Jauan Jennings (15) of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: George Kittle (85) of the San Francisco 49ers dives for a first down on a fourth-down play during the fourth quarter. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: San Francisco's George Kittle reacts after his catch kept a 49ers drive alive in the fourth quarter. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Kansas City Chiefs is chased by San Francisco's Nick Bosa during the fourth quarter. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Travis Kelce (87) of the Kansas City Chiefs hauls in a pass as Tashaun Gipson Sr. defends during the fourth quarter. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Mecole Hardman Jr. exults after catching the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII. (Harry How/Getty Images )
Super Bowl LVIII: Mecole Hardman Jr. (12) and Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrate after winning the second overtime game in Super Bowl history. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Blake Bell (81) of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after Mecole Hardman Jr. caught the game-winning touchdown. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Jon Feliciano (55) of the San Francisco 49ers leaves the field after losing in overtime to the Chiefs. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Patrick Mahomes (15) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Running back Isiah Pacheco of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime at Super Bowl LVIII. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Super Bowl LVIII: Mecole Hardman Jr. (12), who caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy. (Harry How/Getty Images)