Ratings News - 6th February 2012 *Full Tables Added*

It is not a record, but it is quite impressive none-the-less. Based on the 56-metered markets, Super Bowl XLVI on NBC (the New York Giants 21, the New England Patriots 17) averaged a 47.8 rating/71 share in households on February 5, according to Nielsen. Comparably, this is the third highest overnight rating in Super Bowl history and just one-tenth of a rating point behind the 47.9 rating for both Super Bowl XVL and Super Bowl XXI.

Here is the top five rated Super Bowls based on the overnights:
47.9/71 – Super Bowl XLV (Fox): Packers 31, Steelers 25
47.9/71 – Super Bowl XXI (CBS): Giants 39, Broncos 20
47.8/71 – Super Bowl XLVI (NBC): Giants 21, Patriots 17
47.5 – Super Bowl XIV (CBS): Steelers 31, Rams 19 (share not available)
46.9/70 – Super Bowl XX (NBC): Bears 46, Patriots 10

Keep in mind that last year’s match-up averaged a record 111 million viewers. With only a 0.2 overnight rating point variation, Super Bowl XLVI could top that.

Highlights of note include:
-The 47.8/71 is seven percent higher than Super Bowl XLII (when the Giants defeated the Patriots, 17-14).
-The overnight rating is 14 percent higher than the last Super Bowl on NBC (Super Bowl XLIII, Steelers 27, Cardinals 23), and higher than any of NBC’s previous 11 Super Bowls (when there were metered markets).
-This tops all other Super Bowls involving the Giants and Patriots since the People Meters began in 1988.

The New York market registered a 49.7/74, ranking No. 18 overall. Boston led the pack, with a record 56.7/81, with the top 10 markets in the overnights as follows:

Boston: 56.7/81
Indianapolis: 56.4/79
Norfolk: 54.2/73
Columbus: 54.1/72
New Orleans: 54.0/72
Nashville: 53.5/74
Jacksonville: 53.5/70
Buffalo: 52.9/72
Kansas City: 52.1/73
Milwaukee: 52.0/73

Leading out of Super Bowl XLVI was the second season-premiere of The Voice at a 19.4/33 from 10:15-11:15 p.m., which was 120 percent above the series-opener on May 31, 2011 (8.8/14).

Source: Marc Berman@TVMediaInsights