Super Bowl LI Is Most-Viewed Program in U.S. TV History

Super Bowl LI Tom Brady
Al Bello/Getty Images
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after his team's victory in Super Bowl LI

The New England Patriots 34-28 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI made history as the first Super Bowl to go to overtime and included the biggest comeback in the game’s history. Super Bowl LI made TV history, too.

Super Bowl LI reached a total audience of 172 million, more than any other program in U.S. television history.

Fox says Sunday’s telecast of Super Bowl LI delivered the network a record 172 million total viewers for all or part of the event. According to Fox, “An average audience of 113.7 million watched the game on the FOX broadcast network, FOX Deportes and FOX Sports GO & NFL Digital, including 111.3 million on Fox alone.” Fox broadcast network’s 111.3 million average viewers make Super Bowl LI the fifth most-watched program in television history.

Other notable Super Bowl LI viewership numbers :

  • Lady Gaga’s halftime performance drew 117.5 million viewers ranks as the second most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history behind Katy Perry’s performance at Super Bowl XLIX (120.7 million) in 2015.
  • Super Bowl LI is the most live-streamed Super Bowl ever, with an average minute audience of 1.72 million.
  • Nielsen Social Content Ratings reveal that Super Bowl LI is the single-most-talked about TV program ever with 48 million Facebook and Twitter users generating 191 million social interactions.