Editing Super Bowl (section)

==Television coverage and ratings==
{{main|Super Bowl television ratings}}
{{see also|List of most watched television broadcasts in the United States}}
[[File:SuperBowlXXXVBroadcastCompound.jpg|thumb|The [[Super Bowl XXXV]] broadcasting compound, full of [[satellite truck]]s]]
The Super Bowl is one of the most-watched annual sporting events in the world, with viewership overwhelmingly domestic.<ref name="ChampionsLeague" /> The only other annual event that gathers more viewers is the [[UEFA Champions League]] final.<ref name="ChampionsLeague">{{Cite web |last1=May |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Roche |first2=Calum |last3=Reidy |first3=Paul |date=June 13, 2023 |title=Super Bowl vs Champions League final: which is the most watched sporting event? |url=https://en.as.com/soccer/super-bowl-vs-champions-league-final-which-is-the-most-watched-sporting-event-n/ |access-date=June 13, 2024 |website=[[AS.com]]}}</ref> For many years, the Super Bowl has possessed a large US and global television viewership, and it is often the most-watched United States originating television program of the year.<ref name="Peralta">{{cite web|title=Super Bowl XLIX Was Most Watched Show In TV History|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/02/02/383352809/super-bowl-xlix-was-most-watched-show-in-tv-history|last=Peralta|first=Eyder|date=February 2, 2015|access-date=March 7, 2022|website=[[NPR]]}}</ref> The game tends to have a high [[Nielsen ratings|Nielsen television rating]], which is usually around a 40 rating and 60 shares. This means that, on average, more than 100 million people from the United States alone are tuned into the Super Bowl at any given moment.

In press releases preceding the game, the NFL has claimed that the Super Bowl has a potential worldwide audience of around one billion people in over 200 countries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2007 |title=Super Bowl XLI broadcast in 232 countries |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-xli-broadcast-in-232-countries-09000d5d80022760 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref> However, this figure refers to the number of people ''able'' to watch the game, not the number of people who will actually be watching. Regardless, the statements have been frequently misinterpreted in the media as referring to the latter figure, leading to a misperception about the game's actual global audience.<ref name="Rushin">{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/steve_rushin/02/03/rushin0206/ |title=A Billion People ''Can'' Be Wrong |date=February 6, 2006 |access-date=January 15, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210132742/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/steve_rushin/02/03/rushin0206/ |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |last=Rushin |first=Steve |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 10, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-02/2006-02-03-voa5.cfm?CFID=86843309&CFTOKEN=86609833 |title=Super Bowl XL to Attract Close to 1 Billion Viewers Worldwide |publisher=[[Voice of America]] |date=February 3, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924184703/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-02/2006-02-03-voa5.cfm |archive-date=September 24, 2009}}</ref> The New York-based media research firm Initiative measured the global audience for the [[Super Bowl XXXIX]] at 93 million people, with 98 percent of that figure being viewers in North America, which meant roughly two million people outside North America watched the Super Bowl that year.<ref name="Rushin"/>

[[Super Bowl LVIII]] holds the record for average number of US viewers, with 123.7 million, making the game the most-viewed television broadcast of any kind in American history. The halftime show set a record with 129.2 million viewers tuning in.<ref name=":SBLVII">{{cite web|last=Campione|first=Katie|title=Super Bowl LVII Now Most-Watched In History After Nielsen Adjusts Viewing Measurement|url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/super-bowl-lvii-most-watched-ever-nielsen-adjusts-audience-1235353710/|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=May 2, 2023|access-date=May 8, 2023|archive-date=May 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505045322/https://deadline.com/2023/05/super-bowl-lvii-most-watched-ever-nielsen-adjusts-audience-1235353710/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The highest-rated game according to Nielsen was [[Super Bowl XVI]] in 1982, which was watched in 49.1% of households (73 shares), or 40,020,000 households at the time. Super Bowl XVI still ranks fourth on Nielsen's [[List of most watched television broadcasts in the United States#The highest-rated broadcasts of all time|list of top-rated programs of all time]], with three other Super Bowls ([[Super Bowl XVII|XVII]], [[Super Bowl XX|XX]], and [[Super Bowl XLIX|XLIX]]) in the top ten.

Famous [[Super Bowl commercials]] include the [[1984 (advertisement)|1984 introduction]] of Apple's Macintosh computer, the Budweiser "[[Bud Bowl]]" campaign, and the [[Dot-com commercials during Super Bowl XXXIV|dot-com ads]] aired during [[Super Bowl XXXIV]]. As the television ratings of the Super Bowl have steadily increased over the years, commercial prices have also increased, with advertisers paying as much as $7 million for a thirty-second spot during [[Super Bowl LVI]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=NBC Sells Out Super Bowl LVI, Hitting $7M for 30-Second Ads|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/nbc-sells-out-super-bowl-7m-1235086449/|website=HollywoodReporter.com|last=Weprin|first= Alex|date=February 3, 2022|access-date=February 5, 2022|archive-date=February 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205024403/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/nbc-sells-out-super-bowl-7m-1235086449/|url-status=live}}</ref> A segment of the audience tunes into the Super Bowl solely to view commercials.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kotala |first=Carl |date=June 15, 2011 |title=Commercials as big as game |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/floridatoday/access/1813188961.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+28%252C+2004&author=Carl+Kotala&pub=Florida+Today&desc=Commercials+as+big+as+game&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615062623/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/floridatoday/access/1813188961.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+28%2C+2004&author=Carl+Kotala&pub=Florida+Today&desc=Commercials+as+big+as+game&pqatl=google |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |website=Florida Today}}</ref> In 2010, Nielsen reported that 51 percent of Super Bowl viewers tune in for the commercials.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2010 |title=Survey Most Super Bowl Viewers Tune in for the Commercials |url=http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/newswire/2010/survey-most-super-bowl-viewers-tune-in-for-the-commercials.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105016/http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/newswire/2010/survey-most-super-bowl-viewers-tune-in-for-the-commercials.html |archive-date=May 31, 2014 |website=Nielson}}</ref>

Since 1991, the Super Bowl has begun between 6:19 and 6:40 PM [[Eastern Time|EST]] so that most of the game is played during the [[primetime]] hours on the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]].<ref name="GawkerSBChart">{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=John |date=January 31, 2014 |title=Superbowl: What Time Is the Super Bowl in One Amazing Chart |url=https://www.gawker.com/what-time-is-the-super-bowl-in-one-amazing-chart-1513231876 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201150821/http://gawker.com/what-time-is-the-super-bowl-in-one-amazing-chart-1513231876 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |access-date=February 1, 2014 |publisher=Gawker}}</ref>

===US television rights===
{{see also|List of Super Bowl broadcasters|NFL on television}}
Throughout most of its history, the Super Bowl has been rotated annually between the same American [[television network]]s that broadcast the NFL's regular season and postseason games.

[[Super Bowl I]], played in 1967, is the only Super Bowl to have been broadcast in the United States by two different broadcasters simultaneously. At the time, [[NFL on NBC|NBC]] held the rights to nationally televise AFL games while [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] had the rights to broadcast NFL games. Both networks were allowed to cover the game, and each network used its own announcers, but NBC was only allowed to use the CBS feed instead of producing its own.<ref name="ChicagoTribune1986">{{cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-01-26-8601070168-story.html | title=Super Bowl I: CBS vs. NBC | date=January 26, 1986 | first=Skip | last=Myslenski | work=Chicago Tribune | access-date=December 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Christopher |date=February 10, 2023 |title=10 Things You May Not Know About the First Super Bowl |url=https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-first-super-bowl |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=HISTORY |language=en}}</ref>

Beginning with [[Super Bowl II]], NBC televised the game in even years and CBS in odd years. This annual rotation between the two networks continued through the 1970 [[AFL–NFL merger]] when NBC was given the rights to televise AFC games and CBS winning the rights to broadcast NFC games. Although [[NFL on ABC|ABC]] began broadcasting ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' in 1970, it was not added to the Super Bowl rotation until [[Super Bowl XIX]], played in 1985. ABC, CBS and NBC then continued to rotate the Super Bowl until 1994, when [[NFL on Fox|Fox]] replaced CBS as the NFC broadcaster. CBS then took NBC's place in the rotation after CBS replaced NBC as the AFC broadcaster in 1998. As a result of new contracts signed in 2006, with NBC taking over ''[[NBC Sunday Night Football|Sunday Night Football]]'' from [[ESPN]], and ''Monday Night Football'' moving from ABC to ESPN, NBC took ABC's place in the Super Bowl rotation. The rotation between CBS, Fox, and NBC will continue until the new contracts that took effect for the first time with [[Super Bowl LVIII]], allowing ABC to return and starting a four-network rotation.<ref name="SB contract" />

The four-year rotation beginning with Super Bowl LVIII also allows each broadcaster to offer simulcasts or alternative broadcasts on its sister networks and platforms.<ref name="SB contract" /> CBS's sister network [[NFL on Nickelodeon|Nickelodeon]] aired an alternate children-oriented telecast of Super Bowl LVIII.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2023 |title=SpongeBob, slime to highlight Nickelodeon Super Bowl telecast |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38113170/spongebob-slime-highlight-nickelodeon-super-bowl-telecast |access-date=August 1, 2023 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> And ABC's rights include ESPN simulcasts and alternative broadcasts on other ESPN networks.<ref name="SB contract" />

The NFL has broken the traditional broadcasting rotation if it can be used to bolster other major sporting events a network airs afterwards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levy |first=Joe |date=March 14, 2019 |title=CBS agrees to Super Bowl swap to give NBC Winter Olympics boost |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/cbs-super-bowl-nbc-winter-olympics |access-date=March 14, 2019 |website=SportsPro}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Crupi |first=Anthony |date=March 13, 2019 |title=CBS, NBC in 'Freaky Friday' Super Bowl swap |url=https://adage.com/article/media/cbs-nbc-swap-super-bowls/316974/ |access-date=March 13, 2019 |website=adage.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/cbs-nbc-swap-super-bowl-1203162667/|title=CBS, NBC to Swap Super Bowl Broadcasts|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=March 13, 2019|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref> For example, CBS was given [[Super Bowl XXVI]] (1992) after it won the rights to air the [[1992 Winter Olympics]], with NBC subsequently airing [[Super Bowl XXVII]] (1993) and [[Super Bowl XXVIII]] (1994) in consecutive years. Likewise, NBC aired [[Super Bowl LVI]] (2022) instead of CBS during the [[2022 Winter Olympics]], which were also aired by NBC.<ref name=":1"/> CBS received [[Super Bowl LV]] (2021) in return.<ref name=":1"/> Under the four-network rotation that will take effect beginning in 2024, the league will award NBC the Super Bowl during Winter Olympic years.<ref name="SB contract" />

The first six Super Bowls were [[blackout (broadcasting)|blacked out]] in the television markets of the host cities, due to league restrictions then in place. [[Super Bowl VII]] (1973) was telecast in [[Los Angeles]] on an experimental basis after all tickets were sold ten days before the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wereschagin |first=Mike |date=February 5, 2011 |title=Super Bowl evolves into television extravaganza |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_721485.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205210835/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_721485.html |archive-date=February 5, 2011 |website=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |access-date=December 23, 2017 }}</ref>

Game analyst [[John Madden]] is the only person to broadcast a Super Bowl for each of the four networks that have televised the game (five with CBS, three with Fox, two with ABC, and one with NBC).

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Network !! Number broadcast !! Years broadcast !! Future scheduled telecasts{{Cref|*}}
|-
|'''[[NFL on ABC|ABC]]'''|| 7 (''9''{{Cref|ˇ}})|| [[Super Bowl XIX|1985]], [[Super Bowl XXII|1988]], [[Super Bowl XXV|1991]], [[Super Bowl XXIX|1995]], [[Super Bowl XXXIV|2000]], [[Super Bowl XXXVII|2003]], [[Super Bowl XL|2006]] || ''[[Super Bowl LXI|2027]]'', 2031{{Cref|ˇ}}
|-
|'''[[NFL on Fox|Fox]]'''|| 11 (''13''{{Cref|ˇ}}) || [[Super Bowl XXXI|1997]], [[Super Bowl XXXIII|1999]], [[Super Bowl XXXVI|2002]], [[Super Bowl XXXIX|2005]], [[Super Bowl XLII|2008]], [[Super Bowl XLV|2011]], [[Super Bowl XLVIII|2014]], [[Super Bowl LI|2017]], [[Super Bowl LIV|2020]], [[Super Bowl LVII|2023]], [[Super Bowl LIX|2025]]|| 2029, 2033{{Cref|ˇ}}
|-
|'''[[NFL on NBC|NBC]]'''|| 20 (''23''{{Cref|ˇ}}) || [[Super Bowl I|1967]],{{Cref|**}} [[Super Bowl III|1969]], [[Super Bowl V|1971]], [[Super Bowl VII|1973]], [[Super Bowl IX|1975]], [[Super Bowl XI|1977]], [[Super Bowl XIII|1979]], [[Super Bowl XV|1981]], [[Super Bowl XVII|1983]], [[Super Bowl XX|1986]], [[Super Bowl XXIII|1989]], [[Super Bowl XXVII|1993]], [[Super Bowl XXVIII|1994]], [[Super Bowl XXX|1996]], [[Super Bowl XXXII|1998]], [[Super Bowl XLIII|2009]], [[Super Bowl XLVI|2012]], [[Super Bowl XLIX|2015]], [[Super Bowl LII|2018]], [[Super Bowl LVI|2022]] || ''[[Super Bowl LX|2026]]'', 2030, 2034{{Cref|ˇ}}
|-
|'''[[NFL on CBS|CBS]]'''|| 22 (''24''{{Cref|ˇ}}) || [[Super Bowl I|1967]],{{Cref|**}} [[Super Bowl II|1968]], [[Super Bowl IV|1970]], [[Super Bowl VI|1972]], [[Super Bowl VIII|1974]], [[Super Bowl X|1976]], [[Super Bowl XII|1978]], [[Super Bowl XIV|1980]], [[Super Bowl XVI|1982]], [[Super Bowl XVIII|1984]], [[Super Bowl XXI|1987]], [[Super Bowl XXIV|1990]], [[Super Bowl XXVI|1992]], [[Super Bowl XXXV|2001]], [[Super Bowl XXXVIII|2004]], [[Super Bowl XLI|2007]], [[Super Bowl XLIV|2010]], [[Super Bowl XLVII|2013]], [[Super Bowl 50|2016]], [[Super Bowl LIII|2019]], [[Super Bowl LV|2021]], [[Super Bowl LVIII|2024]]|| ''[[Super Bowl LXII|2028]]'', 2032{{Cref|ˇ}}
|}
<small>Note: Years listed are the year the game was actually played (''will be played''{{Cref|ˇ}}) rather than what NFL season it is considered to have been.</small><br>
{{Cnote|*|The current TV contract with the networks expires after the 2033 season (or in early 2034). Under the deal, the Super Bowl is currently rotated annually between CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC in that order. ABC returned to the rotation with that contract that took effect at the start of the 2023 season.<ref name="SB contract">{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Grant |date=March 18, 2021 |title=NFL announces new broadcast deals running through 2033 season |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-announces-new-broadcast-deals-running-through-2033-season |access-date=March 18, 2021 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> The contract does have an opt-out clause after the 2029 season (or in early 2030), with the exception for ABC's contract, whose opt-out clause is after the 2030 season (or in early 2031).<ref>{{Cite web|title=CNBC Sport: Why television executives are freaking out over 2029|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/26/cnbc-sport-television-executives-freak-out-over-2029.html|website=CNBC|date=September 26, 2024|access-date=February 12, 2025}}</ref>}}
{{Cnote|**|The first Super Bowl was [[simulcast|simultaneously broadcast]] by CBS and NBC, with each network using the same video feed (from CBS), but providing its own commentary.}}

===Lead-out programming===
{{See also|List of Super Bowl lead-out programs}}
The Super Bowl provides an extremely strong lead-in to programming following it on the same channel, the effects of which can last for several hours. For instance, in discussing the ratings of a local TV station, [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] television critic Alan Pergament noted that following [[Super Bowl XLVII]], which aired on CBS: "A [[infomercial|paid program]] that ran on CBS{{nbsp}}4 ([[WIVB-TV]]) at 2:30 in the morning had a 1.3 rating. That's higher than some [[The CW|CW]] prime time shows get on [[WNLO-TV]], Channel 4's sister station."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pergament |first=Alan |date=February 6, 2013 |title="American Idol" Slipping Here and Nationally |url=http://stilltalkintv.com/2013/02/american-idol-slipping-here-and-nationally/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213135538/http://stilltalkintv.com/2013/02/american-idol-slipping-here-and-nationally/  |archive-date=February 13, 2013 |website=Still Talkin TV}}</ref>

Because of this strong [[coattail effect]], the network that airs the Super Bowl typically takes advantage of the large audience to air an episode of a hit series or to premiere the pilot of a promising new one in the lead-out slot, which immediately follows the Super Bowl and post-game coverage.