Super Bowl draws record 111.3 million US viewers

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) and kicker Lawrence Tynes (9) celebrate with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Giants' 21-17 win over the New England Patriots in NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. MARK HUMPHREY /AP PHOTO

WASHINGTON – The Super Bowl between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots drew a record 111.3 million viewers in the United States, edging out last year’s game, The Nielsen Co. said Monday.

Last year’s Super Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers drew 111.0 million US viewers. The previous year’s game, between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts, attracted 106.5 million viewers.

The NBC television network, which broadcast Sunday’s game, won 21-17 by the Giants, said it was the “most-watched show in US television history” and the audience for the Super Bowl had increased for the seventh straight year.

This year’s Super Bowl was the first ever streamed live over the Internet, at NBCSports.com. NBC said streaming figures would be available on Tuesday.