The game was one of the most watched broadcasts in American television history, with more than 85 million viewers. The final national Nielsen rating was 49.1 (a 73 share), which is still a Super Bowl record, and ranks second to the final episode of M*A*S*H in 1983 among television broadcasts in general. (Super Bowl LVIII holds the record for total U.S. viewership, with an average audience of 124 million, but only earned a rating of 43.5, it did however break the record for audience share with 82). , Super Bowl XVI remains the highest rated championship game in the history of the National Football League.
The game was one of the most watched broadcasts in American television history, with more than 85 million viewers. The final national Nielsen rating was 49.1 (a 73 share), which is still a Super Bowl record, and ranks second to the final episode of M*A*S*H in 1983 among television broadcasts in general. (Super Bowl LVIII holds the record for total US. viewership, with an average audience of 124 million, but only earned a rating of 43.5, it did however break the record for audience share with 82). , Super Bowl XVI remains the highest rated championship game in the history of the National Football League.