tech
February 13, 2026
The Bad Bunny halftime show wasn't for you or me
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TL;DR
- Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show averaged 128.2 million viewers, making it the fourth-highest viewed halftime show historically.
- Overall Super Bowl viewership has declined, with the recent game averaging 124.9 million viewers, down from 127.7 million the previous year.
- Nielsen's change in methodology may have inflated recent viewership numbers, but the trend suggests a decline in unifying cultural events.
- The NFL's strategy to select Bad Bunny reflects an effort to attract younger and global audiences, as market saturation among older demographics is a concern.
- Cultural fragmentation, driven by streaming and social media, means that shared national viewing experiences are becoming rare.
- Historical viewership for events like the Oscars, Grammys, and State of the Union addresses has significantly decreased over the years.
- The NFL is banking on the loyalty of core fans while attempting to broaden its appeal, a strategy that may alienate long-time viewers.
- The concept of a universally appealing halftime show performer is becoming obsolete in a post-monocultural era, with artists like Taylor Swift being rare exceptions.
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