Super Bowl XLIV Surpasses 'MASH' Finale As Most Watched Program Ever

The USA Today is reporting that Super Bowl XLIV between the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints and the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts, which aired on Sunday night, has surpassed the final episode of Mash to become the most watched television program of all-time. The Nielson Co. has unveiled estimates indicating that Super Bowl XLIV was viewed by 106.5 million people. In comparison, the Mash finale was viewed by 105.97 million people.

While the statistics are slightly skewed by the fact that television sets were nowhere near as prevalently featured in the American home when the Mash finale aired on February 28, 1983, it does not take away from the remarkable amount of interest that Super Bowl XLIV generated. While the Super Bowl is one of the most viewed programs year in and year out, never before had the game captivated such a widespread audience, particularly amongst casual fans.

Consumer interest in Super Bowl XLIV was accentuated by the assortment of intriguing storylines involved with the game. The Saints were representing a city that had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and they were symbolic of the resiliency and perseverance that New Orleans displayed in wake of the tragedy. The Colts were led by league MVP Peyton Manning, who many believed would be universally regarded as the all-time greatest quarterback in NFL history had he been victorious.