Overnight ratings for the Super Bowl just missed out on last year’s record.

Broncos/Panthers in Super Bowl 50 earned a 49.0 overnight rating on CBS Sunday afternoon, down 1% from Patriots/Seahawks on NBC last year (49.7), up 3% from Seahawks/Broncos on FOX in 2014 (47.6), and the game’s second-highest overnight on record (dates back to 1976).

The three highest Super Bowl overnights over that span have taken place in the past four seasons, with Ravens/49ers in 2013 ranking third (48.1).

The Broncos’ win, a defensive slugfest, peaked at a 51.0 overnight from 10-10:15 PM ET. Last year’s game peaked at a 53.5 from 9:45-10 PM, with the caveat that it was a closer matchup.

Keep in mind that a decline in the overnights does not necessarily mean a decline in the final numbers. Super Bowl 48 had a 1% dip in the overnights two years ago, but finished with a 1% increase in the final ratings. Conversely, Super Bowl 47 the previous year had a 1% increase in the metered markets and dropped 1% in the final results.



(Sun. overnight from CBS)