The number of viewers rose 2.1% to 126 million, according to initial figures from Fox Corp, which broadcast the game.
The tally includes its namesake network, the company’s free Tubi streaming service, Telemundo and other outlets. Tubi alone delivered 13.6 million viewers.
Last year, 123.4 million tuned in for the National Football League championship to see the Chiefs pull off a thrilling overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers.
In contrast, the Eagles’ 40-22 win in New Orleans didn’t make for as much excitement. The team took an early commanding lead and the Chiefs didn’t score until late in the third quarter when they were already down 34-0.
The Eagles’ strong defence, which sacked Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes six times and made two interceptions, helped pave the way for the franchise’s second Super Bowl win.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was named the game’s most valuable player after throwing two touchdowns and scoring another himself. Rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean got an interception and ran it back for a touchdown on his 22nd birthday.
A 50-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes during the fourth quarter came too late. The Chiefs were seeking their third Super Bowl win in a row, a feat yet to be achieved by a National Football League franchise.
This year’s game marked the first time a sitting president attended a Super Bowl. The halftime show by rapper Kendrick Lamar, turned into a continuation of his high-profile feud with fellow singer Drake.
Celebrities like Taylor Swift, who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce; Serena Williams, Paul McCartney and Lady Gaga were also in attendance at the Caesars Superdome.
Trump posted multiple videos on social media highlighting some stadium attendees booing Swift, who endorsed former vice president Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
Viewers at home saw Super Bowl commercials that leveraged humour, celebrity appearances and nostalgia to promote products that ranged from AI glasses to mayonnaise.
Some 30-second ads this year went for a record price of more than US$8 million. Fast-food chain Carl’s Jr and website domain service GoDaddy Inc, both of which are known for controversial Super Bowl ads, purchased spots after years-long hiatuses.
Some fans experienced difficulties with Fox’s Tubi service, airing complaints on social media about freezing and glitches. However, Tubi had the shortest Super Bowl lag time of any streaming service with a 26-second delay, according to video technology platform Phenix Real Time Solutions Inc.