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Super Bowl’s Super Ratings: Game Is Most-Watched TV Show Ever

Feb 7, 2011  •  Post A Comment

The Super Bowl XLV broadcast was the most-watched U.S. TV program in history, lifting Fox to a milestone as the first network to top the 100 million-viewer average for a night of prime time, the network reported, based on Nielsen Media Research’s fast-national data.

The game, played and telecast live on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, averaged 111 million viewers, breaking the mark of 106.5 million set by last year’s game.

It was also reported that 162.9 million viewers watched at least a portion of the broadcast, beating last year’s record by more than 9 million. It was the fourth consecutive year that the Super Bowl set an all-time mark in that category.

Fox reportedly averaged 100.9 million viewers for its prime-time telecasts, based on Nielsen Media Research fast-national data. Previously, no network had ever topped 100 million.

The game remained close until the final seconds, with the Green Bay Packers holding off the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl, 31-25.

Fox Sports reported that the Super Bowl has increased its viewership for six consecutive years, from 86.1 million in 2005 to 111 million this year.

This year’s game earned a 46.0 household rating/69 share, tying the 1996 Super Bowl as the highest rated since 1986.

Following Sunday’s game, Fox aired a special episode of “Glee,” which set a high mark for the series with an 11.1 average rating in adults 18-49.

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