SB50 Overnight TV Ratings Second-Best Ever

Even though Super Bowl 50 ended up being a relatively dull game, it appears to have kept viewers engaged, at near-record levels.

Sunday’s big game drew the second-best overnight rating in history, according to Nielsen data released this morning by CBS, which carried the game.

The Denver Broncos’ 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers averaged a 49.0 household rating, according to metered markets.

According to MediaLife Magazine, that was behind only last year’s contest on NBC, which posted a 49.7 metered-market household rating. Overnight records go back to 1976.

This year’s game also drew a 73 share, meaning nearly three-quarters of all households watching television were tuned into the game.

Here’s how the ratings broke down throughout the night, peaking in the final 15 minutes of the Broncos’ win:

• 6:45 to 7 p.m. – 44.6/70
• 7 to 7:30 p.m. – 47.3/73
• 7:30 to 8 p.m. – 48.6/73
• 8 to 8:30 p.m. – 49.8/74
• 8:30 to 9 p.m. – 49.9/73
• 9 to 9:30 p.m. – 49.6/72
• 9:30 to 10 p.m. – 49.9/71
• 10 to 10:15 p.m. – 51.0/73