Ratings Roundup: Super Bowl XLV Is Most-Watched Show Ever
Story Highlights
As expected, Super Bowl XLV on Sunday night was the most watched TV program in U.S. history, averaging 111 million viewers on Fox, according to Nielsen fast-national ratings. The Packers’ 31-25 victory over the Steelers beat out the previous-record 106.5 million viewers set during last year’s Super Bowl XLIV. The game also posted a 46.0 rating, which ties Super Bowl XXX in 1996 as the highest-rated NFL finale since 1986…
…As for the rest of the Sunday sports fare, ABC’s coverage of the NBA’s Magic and Celtics drew a 2.8 overnight rating, up 33% from last year (Magic-Celtics, 2.1). The 2.8 is the highest overnight ever for an NBA game on ABC on Super Bowl Sunday, topping the previous high set in 2005 (Lakers-Rockets, 2.4)…
…The NHL failed to produce NBA numbers on Super Bowl Sunday. NBC’s coverage of the Penguins-Capitals game earned a 1.0 overnight rating, down 30% from last year (Penguins-Capitals, 1.3)…
…Despite lengthy weather delays, the CBS’s coverage of the third and fourth rounds of the Phoenix Open on Sunday posted a 2.0 overnight rating, up 5% from NBC’s Northern Trust Open coverage last year (1.9). Coverage of the second and third rounds on Saturday also drew a 2.0 overnight, up 25% from coverage of the Northern Trust Open last year (1.6). Weather delays forced the tournament to conclude on Monday on The Golf Channel.
