MUMBAI: Super Bowl XLVI has become the most-watched television programme in U.S. history and the highest-rated Super Bowl in 26 years, according to fast national data released by The Nielsen Company.

The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), the highest level of professional American football in the United States.

The game, in which the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots, 21-17, was seen by a record 111.3 million viewers, topping last year‘s 111 million viewers for Super Bowl XLV on Fox and is the biggest audience to watch a television programme in U.S. history.

The game earned a 47 rating and a 71 share, a gain of two per cent from last year‘s 46.0/69 for Super Bowl XLV and is the highest-rated Super Bowl since 1986 (Bears-Patriots, Super Bowl XX, 48.3/70). The 47 rating is the 6th highest in Super Bowl history.

The game drew a 40.5 rating in the advertiser-coveted adult 18-49 demographic, the highest for a Super Bowl in 16 years (41.2 for Super Bowl XXX on January 28, 1996).

The viewership and rating grew throughout the game and peaked at a 117.7 million viewers and a 50.7/72, respectively, in the fourth quarter when Eli Manning led the Giants on a game-winning drive.

The halftime performance by Madonna was seen by 114 million viewers, nearly four million more than last year‘s performance featuring the Black Eyed Peas (110.3 million), and is the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show featuring entertainment ever (dating back to 1991).