The NFL Suffers Worst Super Bowl Ratings in a Decade

The NFL saw a modest rebound in their regular season television ratings this year. However, that trend did not continue in the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl LIII match-up between the Rams and the Patriots drew a 44.9 overnight rating on CBS. Making it the lowest-rated Super Bowl in the history of the game;

CBS drew a 44.9 overnight rating for Patriots-Rams last night, which was lowest-scoring Super Bowl yet. That figure is lowest for Super Bowl since Steelers-Cards drew 42.1 in 2009. Boston market got 57.4 (best for game since 2015). L.A. market 44.6 (best SB in L.A. since 1996)

— Austin Karp (@AustinKarp) February 4, 2019

Not only were the Super Bowl LIII ratings — by far — the worst in NFL history. The poor numbers reflect a downward trend in the big game’s television numbers, that stretches back to 2015.

Last five super Bowl overnight ratings:

2019: 44.9 (Pats-Rams, CBS)
2018: 47.4 (Eagles-Pats, NBC)
2017: 48.8 (Pats-Falcons, Fox)
2016: 49.0 (Broncos-Panthers, CBS)
2015: 49.7 (Pats-Seahawks, 49.7) https://t.co/ZCRN73DSpm

— Austin Karp (@AustinKarp) February 4, 2019

According to Deadline:

Shown on CBS for the first time since 2016 and with ad spots going for around $5 million each, the Rams’ loss scored a 44.9/68 in metered market results.

To put that in the starkest light of day, that’s a dip of just over 5.2% from the big NFL battle of February 4, 2018 on NBC in the first round of ratings. On a larger playing field, that metered market result for yesterday’s game is the worst the Super Bowl has done in the early numbers since the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals on February 1, 2009.

A very tight and seamlessly flowing offering from the network, yesterday’s Super Bowl is also down a bit over 8% from the metered markets of the last time CBS had the game three years ago.

“On Sunday, 57.4 percent of homes in Boston were tuned in to watch the Patriots play in their ninth Super Bowl in 17 years. In Los Angeles, just 44.6 percent of homes watched the game. The Rams moved back to L.A. in 2016.”

Especially concerning for the NFL, is that the two teams in the Super Bowl represented major markets in Los Angeles and Boston. Specifically, the fact that the game couldn’t draw 50% of households in Los Angeles. If the NFL can’t reverse their bad ratings trend with two top ten markets included, the league will have to seriously consider major changes.

Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter @themightygwinn

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