Super Bowl LVIII, which aired on CBS this past Sunday, has made history by becoming the most-watched television program of all time. According to CBS Sports, the broadcast amassed an unprecedented 123.4 million viewers.

The game, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs triumph over the San Francisco 49ers, was viewed across CBS, Paramount+, and Nickelodeon. The staggering viewership figures surpassed the previous record held by the 2016 Super Bowl, which had an average viewership of 112.34 million.

This record-breaking viewership highlights the enduring popularity of the Super Bowl, which has consistently drawn massive audiences since its inception. The previous non-Super Bowl broadcast to receive a rating above 40 was the Seinfeld finale in 1998, with a 41.3.

The high viewership numbers for Super Bowl LVIII are even more impressive considering the evolution of how people consume media. In an era where streaming services and on-demand viewing are increasingly popular, the Super Bowl's ability to draw such a large live audience is significant.

The Super Bowl's audience size has grown exponentially since its early years. For comparison, Super Bowl XI in 1977 was watched by 81.9 million total viewers.

The record-setting viewership of Super Bowl LVIII underscores the event's status as a cultural phenomenon and its importance to American television history.