Super Bowl XLIX ratings in Phoenix were astronomical
Feb 2, 2015, 3:40 PM | Updated: 9:39 pm
From the not-at-all surprising category: television ratings for Super Bowl XLIX were through the roof.
The game, which turned out to be one of the best Super Bowls ever, with the New England Patriots beating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24, also drew record TV numbers.
NBC announced 114.4 million people watched the game, which beats last year’s Super Bowl by 2.2 million.
According to Sports Business Daily’s Austin Karp, the overnight television number was 49.7, a new record.
Super Bowl drew a 49.7 overnight rating, best in history of the game. Up from 47.6 last year
— Austin Karp (@AustinKarp) February 2, 2015
Record-setting Super Bowl overnight rating of 49.7 for Pats-Seahawks is up 4% from Seahawks-Broncos in 2014, up 3% from Ravens-49ers in 2013
— Austin Karp (@AustinKarp) February 2, 2015
The Ravens-49ers Super Bowl in 2013 had been the previous record. Here is the top-five Super Bowl overnights of all time, according to NBC Sports:
1. 49.7/72 – Super Bowl XLIX; Patriots 28-Seahawks 24; NBC (Feb. 2015)
2. 48.1/71 – Super Bowl XLVII; Ravens 34-49ers 31; CBS (Feb. 2013)
T3. 47.9/71 – Super Bowl XLV; Packers 31-Steelers 25; FOX (Feb. 2011)
T3. 47.9/68 – Super Bowl XXI; Giants 39-Broncos 20; CBS (Jan. 1987)
5. 47.8/71 – Super Bowl XLVI; Giants 21-Patriots 17; NBC (Feb. 2012)
The final hour got the best ratings, according to NBC Sports. The ratings peaked at 53.5/74 from 9:45-10 p.m. ET after increasing throughout the entire game.
Karp’s colleague, John Ourand, had individual market numbers. Phoenix, the host city, fared very well, posting the third-highest market rating in the country.
Super Bowl overnights: Boston was a 61.0 and Seattle was 52.1. Others: New Orleans (55.7); Phoenix (55.6); Detroit (55.0); Norfolk (55.0).
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) February 2, 2015
The game wasn’t the only popular event of the night, as the halftime show also saw a five percent increase, according to NBC Sports. Katy Perry’s performance delivered a 50.8/73, compared to Bruno Mars’ rating last year of 48.6/71.
