Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay 31, Pittsburgh 25, Fox 111,000,000

by srr50 on Feb 7, 2011 3:56 PM CST in Texas Longhorns and Other Football

While Green Bay captured Super Bowl XLV in dramatic fashion 31-25 over Pittsburgh, the Fox broadcast of the game became the most-watched televised program in U.S. history.

The telecast of the Packers 13th NFL championship and 4th Super Bowl win averaged 111 million viewers. It broke the record set by last year's Super Bowl by 4.5 million. It is the 6th straight year that viewership has increased for the championship contest.

Last night's game drew 13.5 million more viewers than the last Super Bowl to be broadcast on Fox in 2005.

The NFL enjoyed a spectacular season in terms of TV viewership with all of its partners having the most-viewed seasons ever. As an example, Sunday Night Football on NBC was the highest-rated program in prime time during its run, averaging almost 22 million viewers each week. This marked the first time a sports series has ranked as the most-watched show from the start of the TV season to the end of the NFL regular season. The trend continued throughout the playoffs.

NFL football is the most consistent programming winner for the broadcast networks, and only American Idol comes close.

Texas' win over USC in the 2006 is the most-watched BCS championship game ever -- and at 35.5 million viewers it was about one-third of the audience for Super Bowl XLV.

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Yea! Let’s strike!

by Drew Dunlevie on Feb 7, 2011 4:31 PM CST reply actions

Technically it is a lockout — the Collective Bargaining Agreement ends March 3, 2011.

NFL Revenue increased 43 percent between 2005 and 2009. The NFL points to Super Champion Green Bay — the only publicly owned franchise — which saw its profits cut in half in 2010. The NFL players union says “fine, show us the books from other teams,” The NFL has declined to do so.

Millionaires arguing with Billionaires. The Union could use decertification as a weapon. That would make it a trade organization, and based on anti-trust laws the league becomes 32 individual businesses and a lockout could be seen as an illegal group boycott.

I assume we will miss a lot of summer training camps and some pre-season football.

I cannot believe that either side is dumb enough to not have this settled by opening weeked, which this year just happens to fall on 9-11.

by srr50 on Feb 7, 2011 5:35 PM CST reply actions

If only Texas-USC could have lined up the Black Eyed Peas for their half time show, they could have had a shot 100 million viewer mark.

by Mad Clapper on Feb 7, 2011 6:52 PM CST reply actions

actually 400,000 of those viewers don’t count against that number. The NFL sold them temporary TV’s that were deemed to be too hazardous for viewing and had to be disposed of. The fans didn’t find out until kickoff. To make amends the NFL is giving the fans an afternoon of the NFL experience. The day kicks off with a live viewing of Jerry Jones ego, followed by a seminar on PED best practices and concludes with free concussions for all of the inconvenienced 400,000.

by Art Vandelay on Feb 7, 2011 8:12 PM CST reply actions

2112 Recruiting News:

2112 QB CONNOR BREWER to UT

by starting to smell on Feb 7, 2011 9:12 PM CST reply actions

One has to hope that they (players, owners, league officials) are not arrogant and stupid enough to slow down this amazing momentum over small percentages. As long as the popularity of the league keeps growing, EVERYONE will continue to make more money.

I know you have to negotiate for all you can get, but they ALL lose in the court of public opinion. Hopefully they consider the perception, and the long term momentum and monetary gains and end this before training camp.

by steg on Feb 7, 2011 9:33 PM CST reply actions

The pending 18 game season is a huge mistake unless they greatly expand rosters and add another bye week. Hell, the Packers had 15 guys on the IR at the end of the season.

Man, they are going to be around for a while.

I have to think the NFL gets this done. Not sure they are really all that far apart when you get past the rhetoric.

by bullzak on Feb 8, 2011 9:28 AM CST reply actions