Super Bowl passes 'M*A*S*H' to become most-watched program ever
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Super Bowl XLIV is, at least as things stand right now, the new most-watched program in television history.An average of 106.5 million people tuned into Sunday's (Feb. 7) broadcast on CBS, breaking the previous mark held by the 1983 series finale of "M*A*S*H," which had just under 106 million people tune in. The Nielsen Company also notes that the Super Bowl (51.7 million homes) also beat the "M*A*S*H" finale (50.2 million) in households.
The 106.5 million-viewer figure is based on time zone-adjusted ratings from Nielsen; final same-day numbers will be out Tuesday.
"M*A*S*H" did, however, command a bigger share of the audience than Sunday's Super Bowl. When its finale aired, about 83 million homes had television sets; the number is about 115 million today. And given the fracturing of the audience in the time since then, it's unlikely any other regular TV series will reach that mark.
This year's game also smashes the previous record for Super Bowl telecasts, set last year when 98.7 million people watched the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals. CBS also says that 153.4 million people -- nearly half the population of the United States -- tuned in for at least six minutes of the game.
The New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, to win the first Super Bowl in the team's 43-year existence.
Following the game, the debut of "Undercover Boss" scored an impressive 38.6 million viewers, making it the biggest post-Super Bowl show since "Survivor: The Australian Outback" premiered to 45 million-plus people in 2001. It scored a 16.2 rating among adults 18-49; both that and the total viewer numbers are bests for a new series this season.
CBS also notes that "Undercover Boss" posted biggest number ever for a series premiere following the Super Bowl and the biggest audience for any series premiere since "The Dolly Show" in 1987. (That only lasted one season, though.)
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TV ratings: Super Bowl could set a record
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110 Million? Please, it will be lucky to get 20 million.
you people have made these comment sections a community of sorts. that's pretty sad
I'm a huge lost fan, but 20-22 million the most the finale will do. Basically, the same number the show peaked at a few years ago. I'm guessing everyone who watched it at some point will watch the finale just to see how it ends, like "Monk".
If you think sports programing falls under the same umbrella as "reality" programing, you are legally retarded.
Tim, you're little wacko yerself, baby, if you think New York (???!) is in the Super Bowl almost every year -- or even once in ten. Do you ever watch football?
Hush Nadine, he was talking about baseball, you know how dumb reality tv watchers are.
Lost get 110 million viewers for the series finale? Sorry but what the heck are you smoking? It's not likely. It'll probably do about a few million more than what it's been averaging but as awesome as the show is I don't see it getting past 20 million for the finale
What's that?? Oh its just CBS and Les Moonves head swelling even more than it already was. *Rolls eyes*. As if their egos weren't big enough already.
All the other networks are just kidding themselves if they think there is a rel competition between them and CBS.
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