The national overnight rating on NBC for the New York Giants' Super Bowl win over New England was less than 1 percent shy of the record tied last year.
Locally, viewership during the 3½-hour block Sunday night on NBC affiliate WFLA, Channel 8, dominated the competition.
Nationally, New York's 21-17 victory received a 47.8 rating and 71 share, Nielsen Media Research said Monday.
The rating trailed the 47.9/71 overnight for Green Bay's 31-25 victory over Pittsburgh last year on Fox and the 47.9/68 for the Giants' 39-20 win over Denver in 1987.
In the Tampa Bay market, the game began with a 37.2 rating with a 77 share from 6:30 to 6:45 p.m. It grew to 44.3/78 from 8 to 8:15 p.m., about the time Madonna performed at halftime.
The telecast peaked on WFLA as the Giants rallied in the fourth quarter, from 9:45 to 10 p.m., with a 46.2/78.
Nationally, the game began with a 43.3/69 from 6:30 to 7 p.m. and peaked at a 51.8/73 from 9:30 to 10 p.m.
Boston had its best NFL rating at 56.7/81, topping the 2002 Super Bowl, and New York's 49.7/74 was second only to 1987.
Indianapolis' 56.4/79 was second-best for a host, trailing only Jacksonville's 58.9/77 in 2006.
The rating is the percentage of television households tuned to a broadcast, and the share is the percentage of homes watching among those with TVs on at the time.

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