Preliminary overnight ratings for NBC's telecast of Super
Bowl XXX drew a 43.8 rating and 67.4 share, according to Nielsen
Sports Marketing. Super Bowl XXIX drew a final rating of 41.3
and a 62 share (Nielsen Sports Marketing).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Media reviews NBC's telecast of Super
Bowl XXX were generally positive. The N.Y. TIMES' Richard
Sandomir notes NBC "capably covered" the game, but he notes the
pregame show "went the easy, banal route" after a "stunning" pop-
culture intro (N.Y. TIMES, 1/29). USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke gives
NBC an "A-" and writes the network "stood under the pressure of a
close, big game as well as any network today." He also give
kudos to the pre-game, noting "the best-ever" opening (USA TODAY,
1/29). In Baltimore, Milton Kent writes, "Thankfully, for most
of the time, NBC pulled back at the precipice of hype and
presented ... a football game" (Baltimore SUN, 1/29). In
Houston, Carlton Thompson called it an "entertaining broadcast"
and notes Bob Costas' much-praised pre-game piece on Joe Gilliam
"reminded us how good -- and underutilized -- Bob Costas is"
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/29). In Chicago, Steve Nidetz called it
"an audio and visual delight" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/29). In San
Jose, Norman Chad writes NBC "got most of it right," with even
the announcers "largely palatable and restrained" (SAN JOSE
MERCURY NEWS, 1/29). In St. Pete, Ernest Hopper calls it a
"successful broadcast," but saw "room for improvement" in the
booth (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 1/29). In Philadelphia, Bill
Fleischman gives the announcers an "A" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 1/29).
Headline over Barry Horn's piece in Dallas: "Nothing But Class.
NBC gets, gives a quality performance" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
1/29). In Washington Dick Heller calls the telecast "OK, better
than many, but it could have been much more" (WASHINGTON TIMES,
1/29); while Tom Shales writes much "was mediocre ... especially
a few pathetic and chintzy cartoons" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/29).
