Super Bowl XLVII airs tomorrow and will be watched by at least 100 million viewers in the United States. The last three Super Bowls have set consecutive records as the most-watched television broadcast in history. Super Bowl XLIV, broadcast in 2010, broke the 27-year-record set by “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” in 1983 by roughly 500,000 viewers, Last year’s Super Bowl (XLVI) was watched by an incredible 111 million viewers.
Most-Watched Television Broadcasts in U.S. History
| Program | Year | Average Viewers |
|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl XLVI | 2012 | 111,346,000 |
| Super Bowl XLV | 2011 | 111,010,000 |
| Super Bowl XLIV | 2010 | 106,476,000 |
| “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” | 1983 | 105,970,000 |
Thanks to these three games, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” is now the fourth most-watched single television program in history. After tomorrow, will it fall to fifth? According to an article in Ad Age, Super Bowl XLVII will see a drop in viewers; a Media Life Magazine survey agrees, meaning for the first time since 2006 the Super Bowl will actually decrease.
What are your predictions for Super Bowl XLVII? I’m thinking around 107 million viewers.
Of course GFA will be dethroned once again, they’ve been on this streak for years now, I’m surprised that GFA, at this point, is even still in the top five.
All of this has to do with population growth. It doesn’t reflect the singular popularity of the Super Bowl, but rather the increase in population since 1983, which is significant.
I don’t believe GFA’s RATING has ever been beaten – it is a 60.3 rating / 77 share. The 60.3 rating means 60.3% of all TV households in America (watching or not watching) were watching GFA. The 77 share means 77% of the sets ON from 8:30p-11p on 2/28/83 were watching GFA. The Super Bowl tomorrow will probably get a 40 rating, give or take, but could beat GFA on population. The rating is a much more impressive measurement if you fully understand the numbers.
I agree with Dan….Plus, I don’t think the numbers for MASH (sitcom) should be compared with the Super Bowl (sporting event). To me, they are two different types of TV programs…..
Mash GFA is still the number one television SHOW with regard to viewers, – even if not the number one thing that has ever been on television. And Dan, thanks for the numbers information, good to know. WE all know that no other cast will ever be as beloved, as popular, or as remembered, as the MASH cast and their characters –