NBC Earns 42.1/65 Overnight For Coverage Of Super Bowl XLIII

NBC Earns 42.1/65 Overnight Nielsen Rating For Super Bowl XLIII

NBC earned a 42.1/65 overnight Nielsen rating last night from 6:30-10:15pm ET for Super Bowl XLIII featuring Steelers-Cardinals, down 5.8% from a 44.7/66 for Giants-Patriots last year on Fox and even with the 42.1/62 overnight for Colts-Bears on CBS in '07. For Super Bowl XXXII in '98, the last time NBC televised the event, the net earned a 44.5/67 for Broncos-Falcons. Overnight ratings from the Louisville market are currently delayed due to inclement weather. Last night's game peaked at a 48.0/70 in the 10:00pm ET window during the game's fourth quarter.  Pittsburgh led all metered markets with a 53.6/79 rating, while Phoenix ranked ninth with a 47.5/80 rating, falling behind Norfolk, Jacksonville, Buffalo, Richmond, Tampa-St. Pete, Ft. Myers and Cleveland. Following the postgame coverage, NBC earned an 11.4/20 overnight rating for an hour-long episode of "The Office" from 10:45-11:45pm ET. Also view a half-hour ratings breakdown for the Super Bowl in primetime last night, as well as the Super Bowl pregame telecast in the afternoon (THE DAILY).

BACK IN THE BIG GAME: USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand writes NBC yesterday in its coverage of Super Bowl XLIII “avoided fumbles as it largely avoided clichés, distracting crowd shots and unnecessary graphics.” Instead, the net “successfully went old-school,” focusing on “plenty of replays, clear explanations and close-ups of players” (USA TODAY, 2/2). In Miami, Barry Jackson writes NBC “came up big” yesterday, “overcoming a few pregame audio glitches and presenting a broadcast that matched the quality of a classic game.” The net “masterfully covered the high drama of the game’s final minutes, thanks largely” to announcers Al Michaels and John Madden, as well as “superb use of replays from multiple angles” (MIAMI HERALD, 2/2). The GLOBE & MAIL’s William Houston writes NBC’s coverage had a “few miscues,” but they “were minor.” For the most part, Michaels’ play calling was “crisp and precise,” and Madden “kept his analysis brief and to the point.” The “pictures, the close-ups, reaction shots, the replays, particularly the overhead replays, and the isolation shots were almost enough by themselves to tell the story” (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/2). In San Jose, John Ryan writes it was the “Recession Super Bowl and it felt like NBC was trying to sell America something America didn’t much want to buy.” But when Michaels and Madden came on air, the “game started, and something happened that just doesn’t happen anymore in big sporting events: The crowd shots and self-promotion went away, and the game got to be the story” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/2). In Austin, Kirk Bohls writes it was “good, solid coverage by NBC with one major oversight,” as it “took until three minutes were left in the first half” for Michaels and Madden to mention that Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald had yet to catch a pass (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 2/2).

Michaels (l) And Madden Receive Praise For  Handling Of Super Bowl Broadcast Duties

PEACOCK STRUT: SI.com’s Bill Griffith writes NBC Sports & Olympics Chair Dick Ebersol “sees the big picture, makes great hires, and has both great anticipation and great feel when it comes to the big decisions. All he needed after the preparation was complete was a close game for big ratings. You have to think that will be the case” (SI.com, 2/2). In L.A., Tom Hoffarth writes NBC “recaptured some of its glory” last night, and the telecast “proved to be another coming-out party” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/2). On Long Island, Neil Best writes NBC delivered a “mostly solid, mostly seamless production under the brightest lights in sports media” (NEWSDAY, 2/2). In Albany, Pete Dougherty wrote NBC “got itself a Super Bowl for the ages, and its crew was up to the task.” While there “was room to quibble about the first three quarters, the network was at its best when the game was on the line” (TIMESUNION.com, 2/1). In New York, Ken Schott gave NBC’s coverage an “A,” and wrote Michaels and Madden “were wonderful.” NBC also “didn’t overwhelm us with unnecessary graphics” (DAILYGAZETTE.com, 2/1). In New Jersey, John Rowe writes the “entire NBC production was first rate. Graphics were kept to a minimum and the sideline announcers were seen, but rarely heard” (Bergen RECORD, 2/2). In Minneapolis, Judd Zulgad writes NBC’s presentation “was, for the most part, solid from beginning to end” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/2).

DYNAMIC DUO: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes when a Super Bowl “evolves into a knock-down-drag-out, the story really needs no embellishing.” For some announcers, the “urge is to keep reminding viewers … what a great game they are watching,” but Madden and Michaels “never crossed that line.” They “didn’t treat us like fools,” and they “stuck to football.” Madden’s “plain-spoken analysis, which has never been technical, was memorable,” and Michaels, who “likes straying deep into analyst territory, gave his partner plenty of room” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/2). In Baltimore, Ray Frager writes Madden was “definitely on his game in what was an NBC presentation up to the standards of what turned out to be a wonderfully entertaining Super Bowl.” The same “can always be said” of Michaels (Baltimore SUN, 2/2). In San Diego, Jay Posner writes Michaels was “on top of his game nearly the entire night, starting at the very beginning when he questioned” Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt’s decision to defer the ball to the second half after winning the coin toss. The chemistry between Michaels and Madden was “apparent throughout the night, and the latter made several interesting observations, especially regarding Arizona’s early offensive struggles” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/2). The MIAMI HERALD’s Jackson writes there was “typically exceptional work from Michaels,” as well as “keen analysis from Madden, who was at his best in the fourth quarter” (MIAMI HERALD, 2/2). NEWSDAY's Best writes Michaels “demonstrated why he is as good as it gets in play-by-play -- conveying both information and excitement in just the right balance.” Madden “came through with prescient analysis as the game reached a climax.” While it “took a long time in the first half for Madden to get around to analyzing how the Steelers were able to nullify” Fitzgerald, Madden in the fourth quarter “zeroed in on that key story line” (NEWSDAY, 2/2). The SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS' Ryan writes under the header, “In Super Bowl, A Big Win For Madden.” The “world would be a better place if NBC telecasts sounded like this next season” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/2).

Harrison Provides NBC With Some First-Half Highlights With 100-Yard Touchdown Jaunt

ON CALL: In St. Petersburg, Tom Jones writes Michaels and Madden “called the game like they have every other game they’ve ever done, and that was the right thing to do because they remain the best crew in football” (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 2/2). The AP’s Douglas Rowe writes Michaels provided “spot-on play-by-play -- as always” -- and Madden “clearly delivers observations and insights without devolving into the arcane world of X’s and O’s” (AP, 2/2). In Denver, Dusty Saunders writes Michaels was “completely focused in the final moments, providing viewers critical information regarding time left, timeouts, personnel and field positions.” Madden was “on target most of the game, pointing out the defensive and offensive strategies of both teams” (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 2/2). In Buffalo, Alan Pergament wrote Madden “was especially good at describing how the Steelers held Fitzgerald in check for three quarters. However, he didn’t address the officiating” (BUFFALONEWS.com, 2/1). In Houston, David Barron writes Madden’s “only truly incomprehensible moment came when he said that Harrison ‘ran like James Brown’ on his TD run” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/2). In Philadelphia, John Gonzalez writes Michaels and Madden near the end of the game “stepped all over each other yelling ‘unbelievable,’ ‘incredible,’ ‘amazing,’ and ‘over the moon.’” Gonzalez: “I thought they might wrestle each other for the microphone” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/2). However, in Toronto, Garth Woolsey writes despite using such words, Michaels and Madden “still could not be accused of hyperbole” (TORONTO STAR, 2/2).

JAMES AND THE GIANT PLAY: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes Michaels “played all the right notes” on Steelers LB James Harrison’s interception and 100-yard return for a touchdown at the end of the first half. NBC “covered this play with exactitude -- the cameras showed Harrison successfully toe-dancing along the sideline, then conclusively how his knee did not touch the field before he went down, but instead landed” on Fitzgerald’s leg. Madden “quickly described how Harrison faked a blitz, then fell back into coverage.” But Sandomir notes the play “prompted a line that you fully expect of Madden.” Madden after the play said, “I think a guy makes a play like that, you’ve got to give him a touchdown” (N.Y. TIMES, 2/2). The L.A. DAILY NEWS’ Hoffarth writes Michaels “was at his ‘do you believe in miracles?’ best” on Harrison’s touchdown. Michaels announced the play with the “right amount of inflection,” and “captioned it perfectly: ‘The longest play in Super Bowl history -- wow’” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/2).

Media Lauds NBC For Its Camera Work Of Plays Like Dansby's Hit On Roethlisberger

PICTURE PERFECT: The L.A. DAILY NEWS’ Hoffarth writes NBC’s “extraordinary camera crew became the real stars of this show.” As the game progressed, “more replays showed that, on every occasion, NBC’s angles had the plays recorded correctly” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/2). The Baltimore SUN’s Frager writes the overhead angles NBC used throughout the game “provided terrific views as well,” and it “would be great to see that become a standard on football games” (Baltimore SUN, 2/2). In California, John Maffei writes the NBC duo of director Drew Esocoff and producer Fred Gaudelli “had a sensational day.” Esocoff “masterfully mixed overhead and ground cameras to give viewers sensational angles of every key play” (NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 2/2). The UNION-TRIBUNE’s Posner notes Gaudelli and his crew provided “every shot anyone could have wanted.” NBC’s camera crew “not only produced phenomenal pictures, but informative and timely graphics” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/2). The N.Y. DAILY NEWS’ Raissman writes what “really won the night for” NBC “were the pictures.” The “most memorable pictures” of the night “were the reaction shots” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/2). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes NBC’s “best in-game idea” was to show Cardinals LB Karlos Dansby’s hit on Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger in the third quarter, which drew a 15-yard penalty, in slow motion, because “only in slo-mo did the hit appear flag-worthy” (N.Y. POST, 2/2). The ST. PETERSBURG TIMES’ Jones writes NBC “doesn’t fall in love with replays the way Fox and, especially, CBS do, but it does use them wisely” (ST. PETE TIMES, 2/2). The HOUSTON CHRONICLE's Barron writes at “every critical point Sunday night” NBC had cameras and technology “in the right place to provide a definitive view” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/2).

CLOSE YOUR EYES: In Arizona, Alex Dalenberg notes viewers watching the game on KVOA-NBC in Tucson “got more action than they bargained for when a short clip from an adult movie channel interrupted Comcast’s feed with full male nudity during the final moments of the game.” Comcast officials said that about 30 seconds of feed from Club Jenna were shown locally after Fitzgerald’s fourth-quarter touchdown, and Comcast is working to “figure out how it happened.” The pornography “broke into the standard-definition” feed, and Comcast spokesperson Kelle Maslyn said that it “appears the porn only reached homes in the Tucson area, but Comcast did not know exactly how many homes were affected.” Comcast’s HD feed was not affected (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 2/2).