Super Bowl LI Ratings Down From 2016 Despite High-Flying Lady Gaga
Despite a last minute overtime win from the New England Patriots and a stellar halftime show from Lady Gaga, 2017's Super Bowl LI failed to break any ratings records.
Viewership was reportedly down from last year’s Super Bowl game between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers, according to the New York Times.
But despite a slight decrease in ratings, the game did draw enough viewers to earn it the title of fourth most-watched program in television history, as Fox reported an estimated 111.3 million viewers, down from last year’s count of 111.9 million viewers.
In any case, the Super Bowl itself continues to score high, ratings-wise. The Times further reports this year’s game marks the eighth consecutive year more than 100 million viewers tuned in to see the annual event.
While Fox claims online streams (via the network’s Fox Sports Go app as well as the Spanish-language channel, Fox Deportes) would put the official viewership count at over 113.7 million, 2017 marks the second year in a row that the Super Bowl failed to set a new ratings record.
And just in case you were wondering — ratings were understandably at their highest during the tense 10 to 10:30PM slot, around the time the Patriots secured their surprising 2017 win.
See Photos From Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl Halftime Performance