Ratings Roundup: Super Bowl XLV Is Most-Watched Show Ever

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.