The blackout that interrupted the Super Bowl Sunday night provided a diversion for viewers as well as a change in momentum in a game that looked one-sided. It also likely provided a lift to CBS’s coverage of Super Bowl XLVII, which recorded the biggest number in television history among the nation’s biggest cities.
Those ratings are what arrive first overnight, and give a strong indication that the total viewer record, which was set last year for the Giants-Patriots Super Bowl, will likely be eclipsed. The overnight rating for Sunday’s game, measured in the biggest cities, was a 48.1 with a 71 percent share of the audience. That tops the previous high rating of 47.9, also with a 71 share, set two years ago for the Packers-Steelers. Last year the game hit a 47.8 but still attracted more total viewers than the previous year (because of slight adjustment in the value of rating points by Nielsen).
An increase of .2 rating point will almost surely translate to an increase in viewers when te national numbers are reported later Monday. Last year’s total of 111.3 million viewers was the most watched television event of all time.
The value of the blackout was in pushing more of the game into prime-time hoursâ€"especially because the end of the game was compelling. The last half hour of the game was the highest rated of the night, with a 52.9 rating, and a 75 share of the national audience. (the share is the percentage of all viewers watching television at the time.)
