Did you watch the Super Bowl on Sunday? If so, you were one of the 111.3 million viewers that made Super Bowl XLVI the most-watched network broadcast in television history. Most viewers watched for the exciting football game, but others wanted to see the half-time show while some just wanted to see the expensive commercials.
NBC, the home of the Super Bowl broadcast had more to celebrate on Sunday. Right after the presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy, NBC’s singing competition, The Voice, premiered its second season. The show scored the highest ratings of any entertainment telecast in six years.
The headlines were all over. NBC wanted everyone to know that they were successful and that they had a hit show this year. If you searched The Voice on the Internet, you would find over 41,000 articles about the viewer ship numbers on Sunday night. The Voice” scored 37.6 million total viewers overall, according to TheWrap.com.
BUT…WAIT…Let’s think back to May 21, 2003, the Finale of Season2 of American Idol. The amazing show broke all records too. According to an article by Robert Abele in Variety:
The finale, which crowned Studdard the winner by a narrow margin, was seen by 38.1 million people, Idol’s highest single-episode rating to date. Single-handedly “Idol” lifted Fox to third place for the entire season, a first. Little more proof was needed that the network had a juggernaut on its hands.
It seems that Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard set a great record for viewer ship…38.1 million people!!! They will be known, not only for their wonderful voices, but also for starring in one of the most watched, non-sports shows in television history. I wonder how many Internet articles could be found about the AI Finale on May 22nd.
I watched the beginning to hear Kelly Clarkson sing the SSB and thought she did it beautifully along
with the group of children. Didn't watch the game but did watch the half-time show and wasn't impressed with Madonna at all!!!
Happy to know about Clay and Ruben's numbers – that is exciting for them.
Actually, as I recall, that number is the average rating for the entire 2-hr broadcast. But at the time, the final half hr was reported to have scored a truly phenomenal 50+ million viewers.
Wish I'd known about him then. I could have been added to that number. Oh well, there's always Celebrity Apprentice coming up in just 12 days!!!
Wow..It's great to read those numbers again from AI2 Finale…Amazing, considering there wasn't the social media back in 2003.. No Twitter…and I don't think Facebook at that time either.
I got to thinking, I wonder what the viewership was on the Finale of AI5…I think those numbers were high as well…Reason: Clay made a surprise appearance…and STOLE THE SHOW….Best Moment EVER on TV…..
its nice to read the numbers again from a12 from the fanale of a 15 its amazing considering the best moment ever was clay making his surprise aperence and stold the show
I don't believe I've ever seen more promotion than we've seen for The Voice and Smash. Hope nbc promotes this year's CApp, too. The AI2 finale and Clay's surprise appearance on AI5 was priceless.
I can't imagine the AI2 finale viewership will ever be topped. Nor will the excitement from that year ever be topped.