Super Bowl LVIII shattered international viewership records, drawing 62.5 million viewers worldwide for the 2023 NFL season-ending clash.
This figure, excluding the record-breaking 123.4 million domestic viewers in the US, marks a 10 percent increase compared to last year’s Super Bowl.
Super Bowl LVIII, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 11, saw Kansas City Chiefs triumph over the San Francisco 49ers in an overtime thriller. Despite the later West Coast time zone, known to discourage overseas viewership, numerous countries reported significant double-digit year-on-year growth in viewership for the game.
Mexico and Canada emerged as key regions for international growth, benefiting from their proximity to the US and lessening the impact of time zone differences. Mexico saw a record-breaking 24.1 million viewers, a five percent increase from the previous year. The 49ers, in particular, enjoy a strong following in Mexico due to historical ties and past games played there.
Canada also experienced its highest-ever Super Bowl viewership, with 18.8 million tuning in, ranking the game among the top-five most-watched English-language broadcasts in the country’s history.
In Europe, the UK and Germany saw increases in viewership by 18 percent and 13 percent, respectively. This growth is attributed to the NFL’s efforts in promoting the sport in these regions, including annual international series games.
Even in countries where the NFL has yet to establish a presence, viewership saw significant spikes. Australia reported a 26 percent increase in average viewership, reaching a record average draw of 1.2 million viewers.
“The global interest in our game continues to grow rapidly, from fandom to participation, and the increase in international viewership underlines this,” expressed Peter O’Reilly, NFL’s executive vice president of club business, major events and international.
“The global growth of the game is a major strategic focus for the league and the 32 teams, and we look forward to continued momentum in the coming years.”
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