A classic Super Bowl could not quite match last year’s equally epic tilt in the ratings department.
The Steelers’ win over the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII drew a 42.1/65 overnight rating on NBC Sunday night, down 6% from a 44.7/66 for Super Bowl XLII between the Giants and Patriots last year.
The 42.1 overnight is virtually flat from a 42.0 for Super Bowl XLI between the Colts and Bears, and matches the overnight for Super Bowl XL between the Steelers and Seahawks — the last time Pittsburgh won the game.
Ratings peaked at a 48.0/70 from 10-10:30 PM, when the Cardinals and Steelers traded the lead on touchdown passes to Larry Fitzgerald and Santonio Holmes, respectively.
NBC easily won the night, averaging a 38.8/60 rating and 76.4 million viewers in prime time (7-11 PM). Keep in mind Super Bowl XLIII began prior to prime time, and an episode of The Office is factored into the numbers.
The next closest network was CBS, which averaged a 3.7/6 and 4.6 million in prime time.
Overnight ratings for the Super Bowl.
42.1/65: XLIII, Steelers/Cardinals (Sun., 2/1/09 NBC)
44.7/66: XLII, Giants/Patriots (Sun., 2/3/08 FOX)
42.0/63: XLI, Colts/Bears (Sun., 2/4/07 CBS)
42.1/62: XL, Steelers/Seahawks (Sun., 2/5/06 ABC)
43.4/63: XXXIX, Patriots/Eagles (Sun., 2/6/05 FOX)
44.2/63: XXXVIII, Patriots/Panthers (Sun., 2/1/04 CBS)
43.8/62: XXXVII, Buccaneers/Raiders (Sun., 1/26/03 ABC)
42.5/61: XXXVI, Patriots/Rams (Sun., 2/3/02 FOX)
39.0/59: XXXV, Ravens/Giants (Sun., 1/28/01 CBS)
43.0/61: XXXIV, Rams/Titans (Sun., 1/29/00 ABC)
