Preliminary viewer results from the Super Bowl game on Sunday, showed that viewership was up 9 percent from last year's game, according to Nielsen Media Research on Monday.

The findings were based on preliminary numbers from 56 markets with an average rating of 44.7, which means that 44.7 percent of all households in those areas were tuned into the game, Nielsen said according to Bloomberg.

That's up from the 42.7 rating and 62 share in metered markets last year. Nielsen did not immediately have an estimate of how many people watched the New York Giants' thrilling Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots.

The most-watched telecast of all time was the 1983 finale of M-A-S-H, seen by 106 million people.

The most-watched Super Bowl ever was the 1996 game between Dallas and Pittsburgh, with 94.1 million people.

Last year's game between Indianapolis and Chicago was seen by 93.2 million viewers, Nielsen said. Many believe could be surpassed this year given the strong match up between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, as well as the Patriots' chance to go for a record unbeaten season.

Super Bowl National Football League