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Saints Super Bowl is most watched TV show in history

Credit: AP

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton celebrates after winning the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. The Saints won 31-17. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

by David Bauder / Associated Press

Posted on February 8, 2010 at 10:59 AM

Updated Tuesday, Feb 9 at 7:43 AM

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NEW YORK -- The Super Bowl was watched by more than 106 million people, surpassing the 1983 finale of "M-A-S-H" to become the most-watched program in television history.

The Nielsen Co. estimated Monday that 106.5 million people watched the New Orleans Saints upset the Indianapolis Colts. That beats the "M-A-S-H" finale, which had 105.97 million viewers in an era when there were fewer television sets.

Compelling story lines involving the city of New Orleans and its recovery from Hurricane Katrina and the quest for a second Super Bowl ring for Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning propelled the viewership.

The game also obliterated the previous record viewership for a Super Bowl -- last year's game between Arizona and Pittsburgh in which 98.7 million people watched.
  
   (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)
 

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rick826 said on February 8, 2010 at 11:20 AM

And 23 years ago we had 5 channels to watch in some of these markets in MOST homes because they were still getting cable, right - which makes this a much bigger deal? And even if they had cable, they had like 60-70 channel choices.

gtopaw said on February 8, 2010 at 11:37 AM

ALL I CAN SAY IS WHO-DAT ! ALSO IT WAS ABOUT TIME MY BOY RICKY JACKSON !!!!!! GREATEST D. PLAYER SAINTS EVER HAD

cargogirl said on February 8, 2010 at 2:21 PM

just think how many more would have watched if the electricity had not been out in 4 states in the ne because of the snow. the saints are the best and proved it. no one can say we won by luck or good calls for the saints, we won by 14 points, few penaltys and fair calls by the ref. we did it and deserved it, so all the ones who say we won by luck or calls, get over yourself, show the saints the respect they deserve and WHO DAT

grandstand18 said on February 8, 2010 at 4:16 PM

SAINTS=NFL CHAMPIONS VERY WELL DESERVED.HARD WORK PAY'S OFF AT THE END.GOD BLESS THE SAINTS AND NEW ORLEANS.

misterso said on February 8, 2010 at 4:29 PM

yeah ... good thing the NFL prohibited the Prytania from showing it on the big screen. I still can't believe the greed of the NFL.