Record viewership for Super Bowl

Super Bowl becomes the most watched TV show ever in America after hit serial starring Alan Alda

Super Bowlu00a0becomes the most watched TV show everu00a0in America after hit serial starring Alan Alda

The New Orleans Saints' victory over Indianapolis in 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 American television history, the Nielsen Co said yesterday.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees celebrates on the podium after the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Miami on Sunday. The Saints won 31-17. PIC/AP

"It was one of those magical moments that you don't often see in sports," said Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports. Nielsen estimated that 106.5 million people watched Sunday's Super Bowl. The
M-A-S-H record was 105.97 million.

The viewership estimate obliterated the previous record viewership for a Super Bowl u2014 last year's game between Arizona and Pittsburgh. That game was seen by 98.7 million people, Nielsen said.

The M-A-S-H record has proven as durable and meaningful in television as Babe Ruth's record of 714 home runs was in baseball until topped by Hank Aaron. Ultimately, it may be hard to tell which program was really watched by more people. There's a margin for error in such numbers, and Nielsen's estimate was preliminary, and could change with a more thorough look at data due Tuesday.

The Nielsen estimate also drew some congratulations from Alan Alda, the star of M-A-S-H, and the slugger whose record was beaten.

"If the M-A-S-H audience was eclipsed, it was probably due in large part to the fact that the whole country is rooting for New Orleans to triumph in every way possible," Alda said.

"I am, too, and I couldn't be happier for them. I love that city."