Super Bowl delivers 2nd-highest overnights for CBS
February 8, 2016
CBS’s broadcast of the Denver Broncos’ 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers has delivered the second highest overnight rating on record for the Super Bowl, beaten only by the 2015 game.
Early findings from Nielsen suggest that Super Bowl 50 averaged a 49.0 household rating/73 share in the 56 metered markets across the country, peaking with a 51.0/73 for the final 15 minutes (10-10:15 p.m. ET).
The 2015 game – screened on NBC – averaged a 49.7 household rating, which translated into an all-time record national audience of 114.4 million viewers. The Super Bowl has established all time US viewership records with five of its last six encounters.
2016 also marks the first year that the Super Bowl was available free via OTT streaming devices such as Apple TV and Roku that, with digital ratings anticipated to reach record levels.