Super Bowl 42 was second-most viewed show in US history
NEW YORK (AFP) — The heartbreaking end to New England's quest for an undefeated Super Bowl championship season was the second-most watched television program in American history, Nielsen Media Research revealed Monday.
The television audience measuring firm said that 97.5 million US viewers watched Sunday's telecast of Super Bowl 42, in which the New York Giants stunned the previously unbeaten New England Patriots 17-14.
That broke the old Super Bowl ratings record of 94.08 million viewers set in 1996 when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 for their third National Football League title in four seasons.
The only television program in US history watched by more people was the 1983 final episode of the series "M-A-S-H", which attracted 106 million viewers.
Eli Manning sparked the Giants to a touchdown in the final seconds for the victory, denying the Patriots' bid to match the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only undefeated championship team in NFL history.
