Super Bowl 2024 sets record as the most viewed NFL championship in history

A devout San Francisco 49ers follower was caught reacting to the intense televised depiction of Super Bowl 58, held aloft on a screen outside Chase Center in San Francisco. The date was Sunday, February 11, 2024. But that wasn't what shocked the world. More was yet to come.

The Super Bowl 58 surpassed all records to become the most watched Super Bowl in the annals of sports history. An estimated 123.4 million people across various platforms which included CBS, Paramount+, Univision, and even Nickelodeon, tuned in to watch the game. Remarkably, SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends also partook in the commentary, adding a touch of whimsy to the intense match.

That wasn’t all. In addition to the live viewers, more than 200 million people caught at least some part of the game. This staggering figure was confirmed by CBS, which cited data from Nielsen and Adobe Analytics. The outcome of the game? The Kansas City Chiefs edged out as back-to-back Super Bowl champs by defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime.

The viewership saw an increase of 7% from the previous year's championship game, which, until then, held the title for the most-watched Super Bowl. This year, it didn't just break records – it also became the most-watched television broadcast for a single network, according to CBS. Notably, about 2.2 million people watched the game on Univision, making it the highest viewed Spanish language broadcast of the Super Bowl.

A multitude of factors likely contributed to this historical high viewership, but one especially stuck out. Previously in the month, Nielsen had extended its reach of "out-of-home" viewership counts – including audiences at airports, hotels, bars and more – to all 50 states. Adding to the excitement, the game extended into overtime. And if that wasn't enough, pop icon Taylor Swift, reported to be dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, was present at the game, stirring up even more enthusiasm and intrigue.