How Many People Tuned in to Watch The Beatles Perform on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' in 1964?

Thursday, February 10, 2022

The Beatles first performed on The Ed Sullivan Show on Feb. 9, 1964. The performance was the crowning moment in the group’s first tour of the U.S. It helped open the flood gates for the British Invasion and brought Beatlemania to its peak.

Now, Feb. 9 is like a holiday to some Beatle fans. They celebrate it by watching that record-smashing, historical performance each year. It became one of the most famous TV performances in the U.S. But how big of an impact did it have, at least in numbers? How many people tuned in to watch The Beatles that night in 1964?

Getting to play on The Ed Sullivan Show was a massive honor, especially for up-and-coming artists. However, The Beatles, who already had a No. 1 hit in America, didn’t come cheap.

According to Mental Floss, The Beatles “would only agree to appear if the show covered their travel expenses and paid them a $10,000 fee (which would be just under $90,000 in 2022 dollars). Sullivan and his producers agreed, but only if The Beatles would commit to making three appearances. They had a deal.”

Source: cheatsheet.com