According to Nielsen, Super Bowl LV attracted 96.4 million viewers across CBS, streaming platforms, and other outlets. CBS alone had 91.6 million viewers, the most-watched show of the year. But compared to the broadcast of last year's Super Bowl, viewership was down 8%. 

Deadline said, "the 55th Super Bowl distinctly had the smallest network audience since the very different TV era of 2006." 

Despite the loss of viewership, Super Bowl LV was the most live-streamed event in history, with 5.7 million viewers per minute, up 69% from 2020's prior high.

The eruption in streaming makes perfect sense since cable cutting has been accelerating in recent years. 

The 31-9 blowout game by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on home turf, with quarterback Tom Brady, also led to an audience decline through much of the game.