Super Bowl overnight ratings best in 23 years

Betallsports · Feb 8, 2010

Super Bowl likely most watched-ever

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The Nielsen Co. says the Super Bowl got its highest overnight ratings in 23 years.

It means, when final figures are released later Monday, there's a strong likelihood the game will be the most-watched Super Bowl ever. Last year's game between Pittsburgh and Arizona has that distinction, with 98.7 million viewers.

The quick measurement of the nation's 55 biggest media markets gave the New Orleans-Indianapolis game a 46.4 rating. Last year's game had an overnight measurement of 42.1.

The overnight ratings figure was the largest since the 1987 game between the New York Giants and Denver Broncos.

Willye · Feb 8, 2010

beat them all and beat the finale of mash

EveryGamblersDream · Feb 8, 2010

It went down as the most watch program in television history. Yahoo article:

he Super Bowl was watched by more than 106 million people, surpassing the 1983 finale of “M-A-S-H” to become the most-watched program in television history.

The Nielsen Co. estimated Monday that 106.5 million people watched the New Orleans Saints upset the Indianapolis Colts. That beats the “M-A-S-H” finale, which had 105.97 million viewers in an era when there were fewer television sets.

msubulldog · Feb 8, 2010

have not watched it yet as listened on radio yesterday while driving.

Rambo · Feb 8, 2010

I got this from dave meltzer of wrestling observer. This guy knows his shit.

Last night's Super Bowl was the most watched show in U.S. television history. The show did a 45.0 rating and 68 share, with 106.5 million viewers. The previous most-watched TV show in history the final episode of "MASH" in 1983, did 106.0 million viewers. Keep in mind these are not the final numbers, but they are a pretty close indication of what the final numbers will be. New Orleans did a 56.3 rating and 82 share. DC did a 56.0 and 73 share. Nashville (54.4) also beat Indianapolis (54.2). It was the highest rating for a Super Bowl game since the Cowboys-Steelers game in 1996. In all, 153.4 million different people saw at least part of the game.

nimue77 · Feb 9, 2010

Considering there are more Americans now the Mash figure is more impressive.
Additionally, for Mash people knew that could watch a re-run or even, to a limited extent, tape it.
Nobody (with a life) watches a football game after it already happened.

Rambo said:
I got this from dave meltzer of wrestling observer. This guy knows his shit.

Last night's Super Bowl was the most watched show in U.S. television history. The show did a 45.0 rating and 68 share, with 106.5 million viewers. The previous most-watched TV show in history the final episode of "MASH" in 1983, did 106.0 million viewers. Keep in mind these are not the final numbers, but they are a pretty close indication of what the final numbers will be. New Orleans did a 56.3 rating and 82 share. DC did a 56.0 and 73 share. Nashville (54.4) also beat Indianapolis (54.2). It was the highest rating for a Super Bowl game since the Cowboys-Steelers game in 1996. In all, 153.4 million different people saw at least part of the game.