Could This Be The Most Watched Super Bowl Ever?
It could be. The total amount of people watching the Big Game has broken TV records the last 4 years. Why would this year be any different?
But this year the record for the highest share--49.1 in 1982--could finally go down.
NBC is sure hoping!
"The first half of that elusive double – total viewership – has seen a record set four out of the last five years. Last year hit a new high of 112.2 million viewers. The latter half – ratings (also known as the total percentage of households with a television) – hasn't been snapped since 1982, when CBS reeled in 49.1 percent. By comparison, last year's Super Bowl set the viewership record but "only" captured 46.7 percent of households.
Bottom line: setting both viewership and ratings records is a significant rarity, like winning the Triple Crown in Major League Baseball or thoroughbred racing. The last man who presided over the feat – former CBS Sports president Neal Pilson – says it's a daunting accomplishment. But in a year like this, with a seemingly perfect maelstrom of Super Bowl stars and pre-game controversy, he allows that it's not impossible."
6:18pm on Channel 8. Find out for yourself.