Super Bowl Xliv Dethrones M*a*s*h Series Finale

[UNTflyer]

http://www.thrfeed.c...v-ratings-.html

Sunday's big game set a new all-time U.S. ratings high, overthrowing the 27-year-old record held by the final episode of "M*A*S*H."

The New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts showdown drew 106.5 million viewers, smashing Super Bowl records and barely edging out 1983's "M*A*S*H" finale, which garnered 105.97 million viewers.

[hickoryhouse]

Makes me a little sad, some records are just to surprising to be broken. At least it was a great game.

[forevereagle]

Makes me a little sad, some records are just to surprising to be broken. At least it was a great game.

I maintain that the MASH record is still much more meaningful since there were not as many viewers during that time meaning that a larger portion of the population was watching it.

[UNTflyer]

I maintain that the MASH record is still much more meaningful since there were not as many viewers during that time meaning that a larger portion of the population was watching it.

Agree.

[CMJ]

I maintain that the MASH record is still much more meaningful since there were not as many viewers during that time meaning that a larger portion of the population was watching it.

I would agree as well. On the other side, the audience is so much more fractured now(cable TV was only a fraction of the channels we have now for example) - it's amazing to get a large national audience for much of anything these days.

[forevereagle]

I would agree as well. On the other side, the audience is so much more fractured now(cable TV was only a fraction of the channels we have now for example) - it's amazing to get a large national audience for much of anything these days.

Not saying that it isn't impressive, just not quite as impressive. Share is a much more meaningful metric than simply number of viewers. Also, it would be more interesting to know what percent of active TV viewers were watching, defining an active viewer as watching TV during the time of the measurement.

[CMJ]

Not saying that it isn't impressive, just not quite as impressive.

I guess what i was saying is it's not exactly a fair comparison in the way that pure viewers isn't. At the time of the MASH finale there were 3 networks and maybe 10-15 cable channels. Now we have 4 major networks and like 300 cable channels(or more).

So many more options are available now.

I'd also go with MASH as being more impressive, but it's not a slamdunk IMHO

Also, it would be more interesting to know what percent of active TV viewers were watching, defining an active viewer as watching TV during the time of the measurement.

This is also true

Edited February 9, 2010 by CMJ

[hickoryhouse]

Everyone expects the Superbowl to draw viewers, I doubt that M*A*S*H* was expected to draw that well, perhaps it was more of a surprise, if thats the case I think that M*A*S*H* is more impressive....

I was not really coherent when as a TV viewer when that happened though so I could be really wrong about the expectations.... I do love M*A*S*H though and I really couldn't care less about the Colts or Saints... maybe I'm biased.

[forevereagle]

I guess what i was saying is it's not exactly a fair comparison in the way that pure viewers isn't. At the time of the MASH finale there were 3 networks and maybe 10-15 cable channels. Now we have 4 major networks and like 300 cable channels(or more).

So many more options are available now.

I'd also go with MASH as being more impressive, but it's not a slamdunk IMHO

This is also true

This is one of the basic faults of the Nielsen TV ratings. They don't provide a context for the numbers they provide.

[Quoner]

This is one of the basic faults of the Nielsen TV ratings. They don't provide a context for the numbers they provide.

Wes Mantooth told me they also don't take into account houses that have more than two television sets and things of that nature, but he was probably just upset about finishing #2 in the ratings again.

[Green P1]

Wes Mantooth told me they also don't take into account houses that have more than two television sets and things of that nature, but he was probably just upset about finishing #2 in the ratings again.

You are too funny.

[Quoner]

You are too funny.

It works because it's timely and not played out.