It looks like the Super Bowl is going to set another new record for the most watched program in American television history. And if the preliminary overnight rating is any indication, the number is going to be massive.
A 49.7 rating and 72 share, meaning almost half of all televisions in the United States were tuned in to the Super Bowl and almost three-quarters of televisions in use.
Thrilling Patriots’ 28-24 win over Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX on NBC delivers highest overnight rating in Super Bowl history with 49.7/72.
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) February 2, 2015
NBC’s Super Bowl XLIX overnight topped a 50 in each half hour from 8pm ET forward & peaked at a 52.9/73 from 10-10:15 p.m. ET.
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) February 2, 2015
NBC’s Super Bowl XLIX overnight up 4% from last year (47.6/70) and up 3% from prior record (48.1/71 for Ravens-49ers SB XLVII in Feb. ‘13)
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) February 2, 2015
Incredibly, according to Sports Media Watch, the 49.7 overnight ties the highest ever for a sporting event with the 1994 Winter Olympics that featured Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. We’ll update when final viewership numbers come in.
UPDATE: Here they are. As expected, Super Bowl XLIX is now the most watched program in American television history with 114.4 million viewers. The game peaked at 10 PM ET with 120.3 million tuned in for the climactic finale.
Here’s the chart from NBC’s release:
MOST-WATCHED PROGRAMS IN U.S. TELEVISION HISTORY*
1. 114.4 Million – Super Bowl XLIX, NBC (Last Night’s Game)
2. 112.2 Million – Super Bowl XLVIII, FOX (Feb. 2014)
3. 111.3 Million – Super Bowl XLVI, NBC (Feb. 2012)
4. 111.0 Million – Super Bowl XLV, FOX (Feb. 2011)
5. 108.7 Million – Super Bowl XLVII, CBS (Feb. 2013)
6. 106.5 Million – Super Bowl XLIV, CBS (Feb. 2010)
7. 106.0 Million – M.A.S.H. Finale, CBS (Feb. 1983)
8. 98.7 Million – Super Bowl XLIII, NBC (Feb. 2009)
*for Super Bowls, includes only full game telecasts
