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Super Bowl XLIV not only scored in the United States based Nielsen Ratings, it also set the record for the most watched Super Bowl ever in Canada. With 6.7 Million viewers on CTV and RDS, the game had a whopping 52% increase over last year's Super Bowl XLIII. In addition, it outdrew the CFL Grey Cup game.

Unlike the United States, however, the game did not become the all-time ratings champion. It only became the second-most watched show since CTV began archiving ratings results in 1994.


Here is the press release from CTV.

SUPER BOWL XLIV Is Most-Watched Ever in Canada with 6.7 Million Viewers on CTV and RDS

• New Orleans Saints victory is the second most-watched telecast in Canada since 1994
• One in two Canadians watch some part of the broadcast
• Audiences peaks at 8 million viewers in the final minutes of the fourth quarter
• 1.8 million watch series premiere of UNDERCOVER BOSS

Toronto, ON (February 8, 2009) SUPER BOWL XLIV is the most-watched SUPER BOWL ever with a record audience of 6.7 million viewers in Canada on CTV (6.025 million) and RDS (650,000) last night. Preliminary overnight data from BBM Canada confirms that the New Orleans Saints' 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday is the second biggest audience for any broadcast on Canadian television since 1994.*

Overall, an astonishing 16.64 million viewers, or one in two Canadians, tuned in to some or all of the broadcast on CTV or RDS.

Audience levels for SUPER BOWL XLIV on CTV and RDS peaked at 8 million viewers in the final minutes of the fourth quarter as the New Orleans Saints' Tracy Porter returned a Peyton Manning interception for a touchdown, sealing the Saints victory. The game attracted nearly two million viewers alone in Toronto/Hamilton, Canada's largest television market, and delivered an incredible 65 share among Men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

The national audience for SUPER BOWL XLIV is more than 52% higher than last year's NFL championship game that had an average audience of 4.3 million viewers.

The record audience comes as CTV and the NFL confirmed earlier today that they have extended their broadcast partnership for the next four years with the SUPER BOWL airing exclusively in Canada on CTV through to SUPER BOWL XLVIII.

"Last night's overwhelming audience is a testament to what a cultural phenomenon the Super Bowl is every year," said Rick Brace, President, Revenue, Business Planning and Sports, CTV Inc. "What a way to end a tremendous season of NFL football on CTV. We can't wait to bring fans and advertisers all of the SUPER BOWL excitement again next year."

CTV's extended SUPER BOWL XLIV coverage also had impressive audiences with SUPER BOWL XLIV Kick-off Show attracting 3.7 million viewers. CTV's newest reality series, UNDERCOVER BOSS, premiered in the coveted post-SUPER BOWL timeslot to an average audience of 1.83 million viewers.

SUPER BOWL XLIV caps off an incredibly successful season of NFL football on CTV , with the network setting new audience records throughout the regular season, playoffs and the SUPER BOWL.

Final SUPER BOWL XLIV audience numbers will be available in the coming weeks.

*CTV began archiving ratings data in 1994.
Audiences prior to August 31, 2009 based on BBM Nielsen Media Research Mark II meters

About CTV
CTV, Canada's Olympic Network, is also Canada's largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada's most-watched television network. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country and owns or has interests in leading national specialty channels, featuring news, sports, factual, arts, entertainment, music, youth and fashion programming. CTV Inc. is owned by CTVglobemedia Inc. Canada's premier multi-media company, which also owns Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail. CTV is the official broadcaster of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and London 2012 Games of the Olympiad. More information about CTV may be found on the network's website at www.ctv.ca.