NBC's Super Bowl second-most-watched ever

UPDATED: NBC's presentation of Super Bowl XLIII was the second-most-watched ever for the sports franchise, falling just shy of last year's record game. Yet the network's special one-hour presentation of "The Office" fell short of most post-Bowl entertainment telecasts.

The Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals nail-biter averaged 95.4 million viewers during its four-hour-plus telecast. That's down a mere 2% from last year's game, but is a very formidable total and on par with 2007's game.

"The Super Bowl, once again, proved its ability to captivate America," said Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports. "The National Football League should feel a great sense of pride in providing a day of enjoyment to American families -- especially those who are struggling in these difficult times. Many people doubted this matchup, but it's the Super Bowl not the matchup that draws an enormous audience."

"We are in a great place to be in relation to last year's historic and unimaginable game when an undefeated powerhouse was upset by an underdog from the country's largest media market," he added. "Recording the two biggest Super Bowl audiences in history in two consecutive years proves that the NFL is stronger than ever."

The Super Bowl rating peaked around 10 p.m. when nearly half of America's television homes were tuned in.

In 2008, a record-setting total of 97.5 million Americans watched Fox's Super Bowl coverage where the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots. The highest-rated Super Bowl of all time was 1982's Super Bowl XVI. 

Despite Sunday's game keeping viewers engrossed until the very end, NBC's postgame presentation of "The Office" was less successful -- registering 22 million viewers and a 10.6 rating among adults 18-49.

The "Office" rating doubles the show's prior high and marks NBC's highest-rated entertainment telecast since 2004. But "The Office" falls below the last five post-Bowl programming telecasts (see list below), marking the least watched since Fox aired an hour of "The Simpsons" and "American Dad" in 2005.

NBC been criticized for picking the Thursday comedy for the coveted spot. The network has several troublesome hours and a few new shows coming up, but "The Office" is performing solidly and isn't expected to improve much from added exposure.

UPDATE: Now it's the MOST watched ever.

Some Monday morning media quarterbacking: Tom Shales: What Recession? No Downsizing in Super Bowl Ads ... NBC gets thumbs up for high-tech coverage ... AP: Depressed economy slipped into ads. USA Today's Super Bowl Ad Meter -- Doritos outscores Budweiser ...  Maureen Ryan: Post-Bowl "Office" was "an episode that leaves you giggling for days." ... EW: "Office" was stretched too long ... Advertisers made last-minute changes ... Station says porn clip interrupted Super Bowl ... NBC takes in record $206 million in Super Bowl ads ... Best half-time show ever? ... Halftime was the "best and worst of Springsteen" ... Jennifer Hudson outshines hokey Bruce ...  Videos: "The Office" complete episode, NBC promos, half-time show ... Huh: NBC didn't promote midseason show "Kings" ...

Top Markets for Super Bowl XLIII

1. Pittsburgh          53.6/79
2. Norfolk              52.6/72
3. Jacksonville      50.6/71
4. Buffalo              50.4/68
5. Richmond         49.3/67
6. Tampa               49.2/70
7. Ft. Myers           48.1/68
8. Cleveland           47.7/69
9. Phoenix              47.5/80

Recent Super Bowl Total Viewers

2009 -- NBC -- 95.4 million
2008 – FOX – 97.5 million
2007 – CBS – 93.1 million
2006 – ABC – 90.7 million
2005 – FOX – 86.1 million
2004 – CBS – 89.8 million

Recent Post-Game Shows

2009 -- The Office 22.0 million / 10.6 adults 18-49 rating
2008 – House – 29.1 million / 12.9 
2007 – Criminal Minds – 26.1 million / 9.9 
2006 – Grey’s Anatomy – 37.9 million (corrected from release) / 16.5
2005 – The Simpsons / American Dad – 19.1 million / 9.5
2004 – Survivor All-Stars – 33.5 million / 14.9

Most-watched TV broadcasts

1. "MASH" Finale        106.0 million   CBS     1983
2. Super Bowl XLII      97.5 million    Fox     2008
3. Super Bowl XLIII     95.4 million    NBC     2009  

Comments

[Jonathan B.]

Uh, Grey's Anatomy was actually the MOST watched post-Super Bowl episode in the last five years, with nearly 38 million viewers. So it's the least watched since Alias back in 2003. Still, I didn't think it would top 20 million, so I'm happy.

[James Hibberd]

You're right, thanks. It was wrong in a Super Bowl history press release, which used the HH number instead of viewers. Corrected.

[Adam]

It'll be interesting to see if NBC's "Chuck"/3D gimmick pays off at all tonight. I might give "Heroes" yet ANOTHER try, but I'm just not interested in watching "Chuck," 3D or not. Though I will say the Monsters vs. Aliens 3D commercial was pretty awesome. Assuming a good number of people had picked up the 3D glasses and then had them at the ready, the promotion should really help the movie at the box office.