The ratings for Super Bowl 46 were very strong, but not quite strong enough to set a new record.
The Giants’ 21-17 win over the Patriots came in with a 47.8 overnight rating and 71 share of the viewing audience, according to the Associated Press. That’s just off the record 47.9 overnight rating for the Packers’ victory over the Steelers last year, a mark that game shares with Super Bowl 21 when the Giants beat the Broncos.
Sunday night’s broadcast peaked in the fourth quarter when Nielsen reported a 51.8 rating as the Giants fought their way back to a victory. The game set a new Nielsen NFL record for Boston where the game received a 56.7 rating while the game trailed only that previous Giants Super Bowl among viewers in New York.