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| Super Bowl breaks ratings record | Super Bowl breaks ratings record |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts has become the most-watched programme in US TV history, early figures show. | The New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts has become the most-watched programme in US TV history, early figures show. |
| A record 106.5 million people, watched the game last weekend, according to Nielsen media. | |
| The figure tops the 1983 finale of medical drama M*A*S*H which drew 105.97 million viewers. | The figure tops the 1983 finale of medical drama M*A*S*H which drew 105.97 million viewers. |
| The previous Super Bowl record was last year's game between Pittsburgh and Arizona, watched by 98.7 million. | The previous Super Bowl record was last year's game between Pittsburgh and Arizona, watched by 98.7 million. |
| There had been much interest in the game between The Colts - considered the favourites after winning the title just three years ago - and The Saints who were appearing in their first NFL title game. | There had been much interest in the game between The Colts - considered the favourites after winning the title just three years ago - and The Saints who were appearing in their first NFL title game. |
| The Saints' resurgence had been seen as a mirror of the ongoing recovery of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the underdogs' story propelled viewership. | The Saints' resurgence had been seen as a mirror of the ongoing recovery of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the underdogs' story propelled viewership. |
| Margin of error | Margin of error |
| The early viewing figures also drew some congratulations from Alan Alda, the star of M*A*S*H. | The early viewing figures also drew some congratulations from Alan Alda, the star of M*A*S*H. |
| "If the *M*A*S*H audience was eclipsed, it was probably due in large part to the fact that the whole country is rooting for New Orleans to triumph in every way possible," he said. | "If the *M*A*S*H audience was eclipsed, it was probably due in large part to the fact that the whole country is rooting for New Orleans to triumph in every way possible," he said. |
| "I am, too, and I couldn't be happier for them. I love that city." | "I am, too, and I couldn't be happier for them. I love that city." |
| However, it may be hard to tell which programme was really watched by more people because of the margin for error in such numbers. | However, it may be hard to tell which programme was really watched by more people because of the margin for error in such numbers. |
| Nielsen's estimate on Monday was preliminary, and could change with a more thorough look at more figures due on Tuesday. | Nielsen's estimate on Monday was preliminary, and could change with a more thorough look at more figures due on Tuesday. |
| Sunday's Super Bowl was viewed by more than double the 48 million Americans who watched President Barack Obama's State of the Union address last year. | Sunday's Super Bowl was viewed by more than double the 48 million Americans who watched President Barack Obama's State of the Union address last year. |
| An average 26.8 million people have tuned in to the latest series of American Idol, which is currently the most-watched series on US television. | An average 26.8 million people have tuned in to the latest series of American Idol, which is currently the most-watched series on US television. |