Swift factor helped Super Bowl become most-watched US broadcast since Apollo 11 moon landing | Ents & Arts News

Taylor Swift’s appearance at the Super Bowl helped it become the most-watched broadcast in US television history since the 1969 moon landing.

Roughly 123.4 million people watched the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers on TV and streaming platforms, according to Nielsen ratings released by CBS.

Only the Apollo 11 moon landing had more viewers, estimated to be up to 150 million in the US.

Nielsen said a record 202.4 million people watched at least part of the game across all networks. The data does not include people who watched in places such as bars.

The Chiefs beat the 49ers 25-22 in overtime.

High ratings were guaranteed, with the Chiefs defending their championship title and Usher performing the half-time show with a plethora of guest appearances.

Swift’s much-anticipated appearance was marked by her downing a beer and celebrating a dramatic victory for her boyfriend’s team, the Kansas City Chiefs.

The singer was repeatedly shown on the big screens of Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and the cameras caught her winning what appeared to be a beer-chugging contest, prompting cheers from the crowd.

The 14-time Grammy winner flew halfway around the world to see her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and his Chiefs teammates face off against the San Francisco 49ers.

Swift made it to the stadium after travelling across nine time zones from the last of four shows at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, with self-proclaimed Swifties across the globe speculating about the potential strain on her schedule for weeks.

The singer has been criticised for her use of private planes by climate activists and appears to have sold one of her two personal jets over a dispute with a student who had been tracking her flights.

Usher put on a half-time show marked by impressive choreography and several guest appearances.

He performed a 13-minute set joined by Alicia Keys and several other guests, including HER, Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon and Ludacris.