Strong overnight number puts Super Bowl on pace for record

Super Bowl on pace for record viewership

NEW YORK — The Nielsen Co. says the Super Bowl got its highest overnight ratings in 23 years.

It means, when final figures are released later Monday, there’s a strong likelihood the game will be the most-watched Super Bowl ever. Last year’s game between Pittsburgh and Arizona has that distinction, with 98.7 million viewers.

The quick measurement of the nation’s 55 biggest media markets gave the New Orleans-Indianapolis game a 46.4 rating. Last year’s game had an overnight measurement of 42.1.

The overnight ratings figure was the largest since the 1987 game between the New York Giants and Denver Broncos.