Super Bowl 2024 shatters records with 123.4M viewers, Internet says 'thank you Taylor Swift'
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: The 2024 Super Bowl was already poised to be a viewership juggernaut with its down-to-the-wire showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
Yet the game ascended to unprecedented ratings glory thanks in part to pop phenom Taylor Swift. Her brief but buzzed-about appearance in support of boyfriend Travis Kelce propelled the broadcast to average a whopping 123.4 million viewers, solidifying it as the most-watched Super Bowl in history.
The matchup kept audiences riveted into overtime before the Chiefs ultimately emerged victorious. But Swift’s star power added rocket fuel to ratings that were already expected to score based on the game alone, as per Daily Mail.
Celebrating the champs on @SphereVegas 🏆 #SBLVIII pic.twitter.com/vKHrTIFJGR
— NFL (@NFL) February 12, 2024
2024 Super Bowl became the most-watched television event in US since Apollo 11 moon landing
The Super Bowl has long been the most-watched television event in the US, but this year’s viewership soared beyond any previous records. An average audience of 123.4 million viewers tuned in, surpassing last year’s Super Bowl as the most-watched broadcast in history outside of the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing.
Also Read: Taylor Swift's BF Travis Kelce teases plan for having babies on 'Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?'
While the exciting matchup between the Chiefs and 49ers explains much of the appeal, Swift's presence likely enticed many of her fans to watch.
Swift attended the game to support Kelce, the tight end for the Chiefs. Although she only appeared onscreen for 54 seconds, her star power was enough to get loyal Swifties to tune in.
Also Read: Jelly Rolls recalls he was 'at a loss for words' during his first awkward meeting with Taylor Swift
2024 Super Bowl lands among top 20 most-viewed broadcasts ever worldwide
The 2024 Super Bowl dominated every viewership medium. An incredible 120 million viewers watched the CBS television broadcast, the largest audience ever for a single network. Over 200 million people caught at least some of the action across the various television and streaming options airing the game.
Online streaming also saw significant growth. Paramount+, CBS's streaming platform, had its most-viewed Super Bowl ever. Univision drew over 2.2 million Spanish-language viewers in the US, setting a new high. Compared to the 2023 game, overall viewership was up 10%, showcasing the event’s ever-expanding appeal.
As astronomical as the 2024 Super Bowl figures are, American football has never approached the global viewership for history’s most-watched events. The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II last September drew an estimated 4 billion viewers internationally across numerous networks.
Several Olympic opening ceremonies have surpassed 3 billion worldwide viewers. Sporting events with over a billion global viewers include the 1978 Muhammad Ali vs Leon Spinks boxing rematch and the 2022 FIFA World Cup final. Nonetheless, this year’s Super Bowl still lands among the top 20 most-viewed broadcasts ever worldwide.
Internet erupts in praise for Taylor Swift's role
As news of Super Bowl 2024's historic viewership broke, the internet erupted in praise for Swift's role in the monumental achievement. Grateful sentiments flooded online platforms, with one X user expressing, "Thank you Taylor Swift!" Another user went a step further, suggesting, "Taylor's impact needs to be studied."
A third user marveled at Swift's influence, stating, "Taylor’s powers," while someone else exclaimed, "OH TAYLORSMANIA." The online celebration continued with a fifth user attributing the record-breaking viewership to Swift, affirming, "That was because Taylor Swift was there."
A sixth user succinctly captured the sentiment, declaring, "Taylor impact is real."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
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