Super Bowl gets 106.5 million viewers, most in American TV history

[givemebackmycountry]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/02/08/super-bowl-gets-1065-million-viewers-most-in-american-tv-history/

The Nielson Co. said today that Super Bowl XLIV was the most-watched program in American television history.

According to Nielson, 106.5 million people watched the Saints beat the Colts.
That surpasses the previous record of 105.97 million viewers by the finale of M*A*S*H.

Last year's Super Bowl, which drew 98.7 million viewers, was the most-watched Super Bowl in history, but this year that number was surpassed by nearly 8 million.

It's a fitting end to a season in which all of the networks that show NFL games got huge ratings.
And a good reminder that the players and owners need to get together and make sure they don't do anything to spoil the game's record-breaking popularity.

edited to add: Where was our mindset as a country back then, when the final episode of "MASH" stood for decades as the highest watched show in television history? "MASH" was essentially a left leaning show, that was anti-war and chock full of liberal ideals. There's nothing like it on TV now.

[Malikshah]

1. Yes, I have a question.

Since when did Superbowl watchers turn into defensive li'l kids?

I'm sure it was a hell of a game, but decided to go to gym instead.

[Winterblues]

2. How could they possibly know. I doubt there are a hundred thousand Nielson viewers.

I think the number is made up out of whole cloth.

[Statistical]

8. How can polls work they don't contact every single person in the United States.

People stop being unique once you get beyond a representative sample. Given large enough sample nothing you do is special or unique.

Assuming the representative sample was properly constructed and accurately represents the demographics being represented there is no reason why the number can't be accurate within a given confidence interval and margin of error.

So maybe more accurately "We can say with a x% confidence that y million people viewed Superbowl +/- z people" such as:
"We can say with a 95% confidence that 106 million people viewed Superbowl +/- 1.2 million people"

[aquart]

9. My sister passed up the chance to be a Nielsen family.

Just ignored the offer. Still boggles my mind.

[Renew Deal]

3. There are more people now. More with TV's. And 25% of the country was stuck in the snow.

But those are still amazing numbers.

[MadBadger]

4. But there are also like a Gazillion channels for people to watch.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Well, I'm one of the 200 million that didn't watch it. I'm glad the Saints won.

[elocs]

7. I didn't watch it either and I am also glad the Saints one.

Yes, I enjoy watching football, but I have boycotted the Super Bowl for years.

[Cali_Democrat]

6. The last 3 Super Bowls have been really fun to watch. n/t