POSTED: Monday February 2nd 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUPER BOWL XLIII ON NBC 2ND MOST WATCHED SUPER BOWL IN HISTORY

147 Million Total Viewers & 95.4 Million Average Viewers Watch Super Bowl XLIII

       TAMPA – Feb. 2, 2009 – Super Bowl XLIII is the second most
viewed Super Bowl in history with a total audience of 147 million
viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research, and third most-watched
television broadcast in history.  The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the
Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in a game described by John Madden as a \“super,
Super Bowl\” and Al Michaels as \“a classic.\”



\“The Super Bowl, once again, proved its ability to captivate America,\”
said Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. \“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.\”



The total audience ranks second all-time, trailing only Super Bowl
XLII\‘s 148.3 million viewers. That game benefited from a team from the
nation\‘s No. 1 media market as the New York Giants upset the New
England Patriots in the game\‘s final seconds to end the Patriots
historic undefeated season. (Total audience measures viewership for all
or part of a broadcast.)



Ebersol added: \“Recording the two biggest Super Bowl audiences in
history in two consecutive years proves that the NFL is stronger than
ever. These numbers confirm the power and consistency of the Super Bowl
as the top property in all of television.\”



The average viewership is also second in Super Bowl history, behind
only last year\‘s game (97.5 million). NBC now owns two of the top three
and three of the top five most watched Super Bowls of all-time, with
Super Bowl XXX third on the list with 94.1 million viewers and Super
Bowl XXVII fifth with 91.0 million viewers.



MOST-WATCHED SUPER BOWLS (average viewers):

1. Super Bowl XLII      97.5 million    Fox     2008

2. Super Bowl XLIII     95.4 million    NBC     2009

3. Super Bowl XXX       94.1 million    NBC     1996

4. Super Bowl XLI       93.2 million    CBS     2007

5. Super Bowl XXVII     91.0 million    NBC     1993



The \“MASH\” finale averaged 106 million viewers, making it the most-watched television broadcast in history.



MOST-WATCHED TELEVISION BROADCASTS (average viewers):

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



Official national household ratings will be available Tuesday morning.




       Members of the media can get more information about NBC
Universal and its programming on the NBC Universal Media Village Web
site at www.nbcumv.com.

# # #

Keywords · NBC · Super Bowl · Pittsburgh Steelers · Arizona Cardinals

Name: Brian Walker
Organization: NBC
Email:
Phone: +1.212-664-5533
URL: http://www.nbcuni.com

Please refer all questions to the company listed above issuing the press release. SFC will not be able to assist you with any inquiries and disclaims any content in these press releases.