Super Bowl LVI reached 112.3 million total viewers across multiple platforms, up nearly 13% from 2021. The big game, a big win for the Los Angeles Rams, got 99.2 million total viewers on NBC alone, according to Nielsen.
The Pepsi Halftime Show, starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and surprise guest 50 Cent, earned 103.4 million total viewers. That was up 7% from The Weeknd’s performance a year ago, which averaged 96.7 million total viewers.
Sunday’s Super Bowl drew the largest audience in five years. Last year’s lackluster Super Bowl LV averaged *just* 99.7 million total viewers.
It’s amazing what a competitive game can do. The Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 on Sunday, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes to play. That in and of itself pretty much guaranteed NBC Sports stronger viewership this year than last. LA wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who caught two Matthew Stafford touchdown passes — including the winning one — was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
The 2021 Super Bowl had sunk to the big game’s smallest audience since 2007. That one was mostly noncompetitive, and the Kansas City Chiefs played sloppily. Tom Brady, who was named the game’s MVP, threw for just 201 yards in the winning effort. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback had three touchdown passes (two to former New England Patriots teammate Rob Gronkowski) to zero interceptions. That was more than enough for the comfortable 31-9 victory.
Just like last year, the winning team hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy in their home stadium. Super Bowl LVI was the first one in the Rams’ new Inglewood, California digs, SoFi Stadium. The Bucs celebrated their Super Bowl LV victory at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Last year’s tally included CBS Television Network (which brought in 95.2 million of those viewers), CBS Sports and NFL digital properties, Buccaneers and Chiefs mobile properties, Verizon Media mobile properties and ESPN Deportes television and digital properties.
The most-watched Super Bowl — and telecast, for that matter — in history remains 2015’s Super Bowl XLIX on NBC, which averaged 114.4 million total viewers. Remember that nail biter? The New England Patriots topped the defending champion Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in dramatic fashion, when Russell Wilson threw an interception in the final minute from his opponent’s one-yard-line.
Maybe next year, Bengals.
