Super Bowl XLVI sets new TV viewing record

INDIANAPOLIS -- Super Bowl XLVI was the most-watched show in American television history, with an estimated average of 111.3 million viewers, narrowly topping the 111.0 million for last year's game, NBC announced Monday, citing data from the Nielsen Company.

Perhaps more impressively, the game averaged 47.0 percent of homes, the best rating for a Super Bowl in 26 years. While viewership benefits from the rising U.S. population, ratings (which reflect percentages) generally are far lower than in the past for most programs because of the proliferation of media options. Sunday's was the sixth-highest-rated Super Bowl ever.

During the frantic finish, an average of 117.7 million people watched from 9:30 to 9:58 p.m., and the rating soared to 50.7.

Boston led all major markets with 56.7 percent of homes watching -- 81 percent if you only count those with a television in use. Host Indianapolis ranked second with a rating of 56.4. New York was 18th at 49.7, second best for a football game in the market behind the 53.4 for the Giants' victory over the Broncos in Super Bowl XXI.

The halftime show featuring Madonna averaged 114.0 million viewers, a record for that event.