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Eagles’ Super Bowl Victory Draws Historic Viewership
The Philadelphia Eagles not only triumphed on the field with a decisive win in Super Bowl LIX, but they also played a key role in generating record-breaking television ratings for the event.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the Super Bowl attracted an astounding 127.7 million viewers on Sunday. This unprecedented audience size is particularly significant for advertisers who invest heavily to secure airtime during the championship game. The substantial return on investment has made the Super Bowl a coveted platform for brand exposure, given the rarity of other programming achieving such vast viewership in a single broadcast.
As advertising rates for the Super Bowl continue to escalate, brands are finding it a strategic necessity in an era where cable viewership is declining. This year, some companies reportedly spent upwards of $8 million for a commercial spot during the game, underscoring the high stakes involved.
This year’s game was broadcast on multiple platforms, including Fox Corp.’s main network and its Spanish-language counterpart, Fox Deportes, alongside NBCUniversal’s Telemundo. Viewers could also find the game on Fox’s free streaming service, Tubi, marking a new approach to reaching broader audiences digitally.
In comparison to the previous year, which had already set a record with over 123 million viewers via CBS and additional platforms, the 2024 game’s viewership has surpassed those figures. Furthermore, the streaming component saw notable success as well, with 14.5 million viewers tuning in through Tubi, Telemundo, and NFL digital channels. Tubi alone accounted for 13.6 million viewers, marking its debut as a Super Bowl streaming option.
Viewership peaked at an impressive 137.7 million during the second quarter of the game, timed between 8 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. ET, indicating a sustained interest even as the Eagles led comfortably. Notably, the pregame programming also drew significant attention, averaging 23.4 million viewers in the lead-up to kickoff.
The Eagles dominated their matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, concluding the game with a score of 40-22. While large score margins sometimes deter viewers, this game maintained attentiveness throughout its duration.
The halftime show, featuring performances by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, also saw a rise in popularity, attracting an average of 133.5 million viewers across various platforms. This represented a 3% increase from last year’s halftime audience, reflecting the continued appeal of major musical acts during the Super Bowl.
The Spanish-language broadcasts on Fox Deportes and Telemundo collectively reached an average audience of 1.87 million, marking a significant move as it was the first time the Super Bowl was concurrently aired on both cable and local broadcasting in Spanish. The NFL has made concerted efforts to enhance its appeal among Hispanic viewers, aiming to diversify its audience base.
Disclosure: Comcast owns CNBC parent company NBCUniversal.
Correction: The headline on this story has been updated to correct that it was Super Bowl 59.
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