Super Bowl was most-watched television event ever

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- The results are in: Fox Sports was the big winner of Super Bowl XLVIII.

Defying early reports, the Super Bowl ratings came in with Fox scoring the highest number of viewers of any telecast ever, edging out the previous record set in 2012.

More than 111.5 million people tuned in to watch the Seattle Seahawks wipe the field with the Denver Broncos, good for a 46.4/69 average national share.

The toppled record-holder, Super Bowl XLVI, pitting the New York Giants against the New England Patriots, brought in 111.346 million, continuing a trend of record-breaking broadcasts. Last year's game, when the Baltimore Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers, was the exception, with 108.69 million tuning in.

In fact, the Super Bowls XLV (2011, at No. 3), and XLIV (2009, at No. 5) round out the top five telecasts of all time, with 111.041 and 106.476 million viewers, respectively.

That pushes down the long-time record holder, the 1983 series finale of M.A.S.H., to sixth.

[Deadline]