SUPER BOWL XLVI IS MOST-WATCHED SHOW IN U.S. TELEVISION HISTORY

111.3 Million Watch Super Bowl XLVI, Tops Last Year’s Super Bowl (111.0 Million)

47.0 Household Rating is Best in 26 Years, Since 48.3 for Super Bowl XX

40.5 Adult 18-49 Rating is Best for a Super Bowl in 16 Years

14% Higher Than Last Giants-Patriots Super Bowl in 2008

12% Higher Than Last NBC Super Bowl in 2009

7th Straight Year Super Bowl Audience Increases

INDIANAPOLIS – Feb. 6, 2012 – Super Bowl XLVI is the most-watched television program in U.S. history and the highest-rated Super Bowl in 26 years, according to fast national data released today by The Nielsen Company.

The game, in which the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots, 21-17, was seen by a record 111.3 million viewers (6:31-9:58 p.m. ET), topping last year’s 111.0 for Super Bowl XLV on Fox and is the biggest audience to watch a television program in U.S. history.

MOST-WATCHED PROGRAMS IN U.S. TELEVISION HISTORY

1. 111.3 Million – Super Bowl XLVI, NBC (Last Night’s Game)
2. 111.0 Million – Super Bowl XLV, Fox
3. 106.5 Million – Super Bowl XLIV, CBS
4. 106.0 Million – M.A.S.H. Finale, CBS
5. 98.7 Million – Super Bowl XLIII, NBC

HIGHEST-RATED SUPER BOWL IN 26 YEARS: The game earned a 47.0 rating and a 71 share, a gain of two percent from last year’s 46.0/69 for Super Bowl XLV and is the highest-rated Super Bowl since 1986 (Bears-Patriots, Super Bowl XX, 48.3/70). The 47.0 rating is the 6th highest in Super Bowl history.

· The game drew a 40.5 rating in the advertiser-coveted Adult 18-49 demographic, the highest for a Super Bowl in 16 years (41.2 for Super Bowl XXX on Jan. 28, 1996)

HIGEST-RATED SUPER BOWLS:

1. 49.1/73 – Super Bowl XVI, CBS
2. 48.6/69 – Super Bowl XVII, NBC
3. 48.3/70 – Super Bowl XX, NBC
4. 47.2/67 – Super Bowl XII, CBS
5. 47.1/74 – Super Bowl XIII, NBC
6. 47.0/71 – Super Bowl XLVI, NBC (Last Night’s Game)
T7. 46.4/71 – Super Bowl XVIII, CBS
T7. 46.4/63 – Super Bowl XIX, ABC
9. 46.3/67 – Super Bowl XIV, CBS
10. 46.0/69 – Super Bowl XLV, Fox

VIEWERSHIP GROWS THROUGHOUT THE GAME: The viewership and rating grew throughout the game and peaked at a 117.7 million viewers and a 50.7/72, respectively, from 9:30-9:58 p.m. ET in the fourth quarter when Eli Manning led the Giants on a game-winning drive.

HALF HOUR VIEWERSHIP (Times ET):

6:31-7, 99.2 million
7-7:30, 107.9 million
7:30-8, 110.9 million
8-8:30, 114.0 million
8:30-9, 114.3 million
9-9:30, 115.4 million
9:30-9:58, 117.7 million

HALF HOUR RATINGS (Times ET):

6:31-7, 42.5/69
7-7:30, 45.5/71
7:30-8, 46.4/71
8-8:30, 47.4/70
8:30-9, 47.7/70
9-9:30, 48.9/70
9:30-9:58, 50.7/72

HALFTIME SHOW FEATURING MADONNA IS MOST-WATCHED EVER: The halftime performance by Madonna (8-8:30), was seen by 114.0 million viewers, nearly four million more than last year’s performance featuring the Black Eyed Peas (110.3 million), and is the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show featuring entertainment ever (dating back to 1991).

· The halftime viewership 18.3 million more than NBC’s last Super Bowl with Bruce Springsteen (95.7 million).

· The halftime show earned a 47.4 household rating, six percent higher than last year (44.7/68) and is the highest-rated halftime show featuring entertainment ever.

“THE VOICE” DELIVERS HUGE NUMBERS: The season two premiere of “The Voice” that followed the Super Bowl averaged a 16.3 rating in adults 18-49 and 37.6 million viewers overall, making it the highest-rated entertainment program in 18-49 in six years, since ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” post-Super Bowl telecast on February 5, 2006 (16.5). “The Voice” is up versus last year’s post-Super Bowl telecast of “Glee” by 47 percent in 18-49 (16.3 vs. 11.1) and up one percent versus the 2010 post-Super Bowl telecast of “Undercover Boss” (16.3 vs. 16.2).

BOSTON SETS LOCAL MARKET RECORD: The rating in Boston was the best ever for an NFL game in that market (56.7/81) topping the previous high of 56.1/78 for Super Bowl XXXVI (56.1/78 on Fox).

· The New York market registered a 49.7/74, the second-highest overnight for an NFL game in that market, trailing only the 53.4/72 for Super Bowl XXI, the Giants first-ever Super Bowl. By comparison, New York registered a 44.9/67 for Super Bowl XLII, the last time they were in the big game.

· The host market of Indianapolis registered a 56.4/79 overnight rating, the second-best overnight for a host market only trailing Jacksonville (58.9/77) for Super Bowl XXXIX).

TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR SUPER BOWL XLVI:

1. Boston, 56.7/81
2. Indianapolis, 56.4/79
3. Norfolk, 54.2/73
4. Columbus, 54.1/72
5. New Orleans, 54.0/72
T6. Nashville, 53.5/74
T6. Jacksonville, 53.5/70
8. Buffalo, 52.9/72
9. Kansas City, 52.1/73
10. Milwaukee, 52.0/73
*New York ranked 18th with a 49.7/74

 

NBCUNIVERSAL SURROUNDS SUPER BOWL XLVI

Features and Segments from NBCUniversal Properties Include CNBC, Golf Channel, Bravo, Telemundo, Access Hollywood, Weather Channel, E!, Style, G4, iVillage

NBC Sports Network to Present More Than 18 Hours of Live Super Bowl Programming including Costas Tonight: Live from the Super Bowl and Daily Editions of NBC SportsTalk: LIVE from the Super Bowl

TODAY Show Segments Live from Indianapolis Start Friday

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to Originate Four Shows from Indianapolis including LIVE Show on Super Bowl Sunday Night

NEW YORK – January 25, 2012 – NBCUniversal will surround its coverage of Super Bowl XLVI with an unprecedented and diverse collection of assets ranging from sports to news to entertainment. It will also utilize Spanish-language programs, kids news services, theme parks and in-flight programming to cover and promote the game.

Coverage of Super Bowl XLVI from Indianapolis on Sunday, February 5 begins at Noon, ET with the Super Bowl XLVI Pre-Game Show.

NBCUNIVERSAL AT THE SUPER BOWL: The following NBCUniversal properties and programs will have live presence in Indianapolis to cover Super Bowl XLVI.

· TODAY Show
· Weekend TODAY
· Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
· E! News
· Access Hollywood
· Bravo’s Top Chef
· CNBC sports-business reporter Darren Rovell
· Weather Channel’s Al Roker, Jim Cantore and Stephanie Abrams
· Style correspondents, Jeannie Mai and Alexa Prisco
· Golf Channel’s Feherty Live
· Telemundo
· NBC SportsTalk
· Scholastic Kids press corps reporter

NBC Sports Network: The recently rebranded NBC Sports Network will be live on site in Indianapolis with more than 18 hours of live coverage including the first ever Costas Tonight: Live from the Super Bowl and daily editions of NBC SportsTalk: LIVE from the Super Bowl.

TODAY Show: America’s No. 1 Morning News Program will kick off Super Bowl weekend with a split show from Indianapolis on Friday with Al Roker and Ann Curry. Natalie Morales and Savannah Guthrie will join TODAY’s coverage on Super Bowl morning.

TODAY with Kathie Lee and Hoda: The fourth hour of the TODAY Show will feature a Super Bowl-themed “Who Knew” segment on Wednesday of Super Bowl week and a Super Bowl kickoff featuring cuisine and chefs from the two Super Bowl cities Friday of Super Bowl weekend.

Weekend TODAY: Jenna Wolfe will report from Indianapolis for Weekend TODAY for Saturday’s coverage.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: For the first time in the show’s history, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon will take the show on the road – to Indianapolis – for a total of four shows; including one first-ever LIVE Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show on Sunday night after Super Bowl XLVI.

Weather Channel: Jim Cantore will join NBC’s Super Bowl coverage from Indianapolis, and Wake Up with Al’s Stephanie Abrams and Al Roker will also be on-site reporting the Super Bowl headlines for Weather Channel.

CNBC: Sports business reporter Darren Rovell will do live hits from Indianapolis Thursday-Sunday, and will also tape his NBC Sports Network show, Sports Biz: Game On from Indianapolis on the Friday before the game.

Golf Channel: In anticipation of season two of his critically acclaimed series premiering Feb. 27, David Feherty will host a special Feherty Live stage show from Indianapolis Friday night, which Golf Channel will air as a one-hour special Saturday at 10 p.m. ET. And throughout Super Bowl week, Golf Channel’s popular morning show, Morning Drive, will feature various NFL guests, including former and current players and executives to talk Super Bowl predictions. Friday’s Golf Central show will include look-ins at Feherty’s rehearsals in Indianapolis and promote Sunday’s Super Bowl.

E!: The nation’s premier destination for celebrity and entertainment news will report from Indianapolis Wednesday through Monday with correspondents Catt Sadler and David Burtka.

NewsChannel/Affiliates: NBC’s NewsChannel, which feeds all 235 NBC affiliates nationwide, will have numerous reporters on-site in Indianapolis doing live stand ups for stations and offering technical support for other on-site stations.

Bravo: Top Chef, Bravo’s Emmy-Award winning culinary show, will be on-site in Indianapolis with host Tom Colicchio and two popular former contestants, Richard Blais and Antonia Lofaso, competing to create the perfect tailgate food. Their tailgate preparations and end result will be featured on NBC’s Super Bowl XLVI Pre-Game Show. Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison of Football Night in America will determine the winner.

NBCU Entertainment: Stars of NBC’s primetime line-up will hit the Super Bowl pre-game red carpet with host Nick Cannon. Celebrities from NBC’s new primetime shows include Jessica Simpson (Fashion Star), Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Carson Daly (The Voice) and Katharine McPhee (Smash).

Access Hollywood: The No. 1 entertainment show will be on-site in Indianapolis with reports on all Super Bowl festivities Tuesday through Monday.

Style: The destination for inspiring lifestyle programming will feature a pre-game Super Bowl party-planning segment with Bill and Giuliana Rancic. Throughout Super Bowl week, the couple will offer party tips on Style and through Style’s twitter handle, @mystylequicktip. The segments will pay off in a Super Bowl Party reveal with Bill and Giuliana during Super Bowl pre-game, a few hours before the game kicks off.

iVillage: the largest content-driven community for women online, will feature VIDEOS and profiles on wives of NFL players on how they achieve family balance with the hectic schedule of the NFL. iVillage will also feature stories on Super Bowl community and philanthropic events throughout the week. The iVillage community will participate with their Super Bowl content through activities and discussions on the iVillage social media pages.

Telemundo/mun2: Stars of Telemundo and mun2 will be in Indianapolis all week, covering all the NFL and Super Bowl activities. Telemundo will air a 1 hour special, Sabor Al Super Bowl XLVI, on Saturday at 2pm EST/PST, 1pm CST, highlighting all activities leading up to the big game and providing expert analysis for the US Hispanic audience.

Universal Parks: Universal Parks and Resorts in Los Angeles and Orlando will help promote NBC’s coverage of Super Bowl XLVI by featuring NBC Sports-produced trailers and video on their CityWalk Astrovision screens throughout Super Bowl week. Super Bowl signage on print billboards and other signage throughout the Parks will also be present.

Universal Pictures: Several movies from Universal Pictures will be promoted during Super Bowl pre-game.

NBC News Scholastic Reporter: Kids press corps reporter Grace Ybarra will be on-site in Indianapolis to report on the youth-themed Super Bowl activities for Scholastic News, a youth-oriented news service and NBC News partner.

G4: The gaming and technology network will air a special Super Bowl-themed segment of the popular show, Gadget Pr0n, which will feature all the best gadgets and technology needed to create the ultimate Super Bowl viewing experience. The episode will air Monday, Jan. 30.

NBC Experience Store: The popular Rockefeller Center destination features a window display promoting NBC’s coverage of Super Bowl XLVI.

American Airlines: NBC’s in-flight programming on American Airlines, which reaches 5 million viewers/month is airing Super Bowl features throughout the month of January.

NBC Out-of-Home Platforms: NBC Sports utilized the promotional platforms of NBC’s out-of-home assets to extend the Super Bowl tune-in message. Super Bowl spots ran on the following screens: taxi cabs, universities, arenas, PATH stations and gas pumps.

NBC Retail Store Screens: NBC Sports-produced Super Bowl promos ran in retail stores including Wal-Mart, Costco and Sam’s Club stores nationwide throughout January. Super Bowl promos were seen on 210,000 screens in 6,400 stores, reaching 600 million viewers.

 

GIANTS HOST COWBOYS FOR NFC EAST DIVISION TITLE ON “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL”-COVERAGE BEGINS WITH FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA AT 7 PM ET

NEW YORK – December 28, 2011 – The NFC East division title is on the line as the New York Giants (8-7) host the Dallas Cowboys (8-7) in a win-and-in game on Sunday Night Football. The winner will be the No. 4 seed in the NFC and will host a Wild Card round playoff game next week, while the loser’s season is over. The last time these two teams met was Week 14 on Sunday Night Football with the Giants rallying from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat the Cowboys, 37-34, in Dallas. The game was seen by 24.5 million people, the second-most watched SNF game this season (see chart below).

Calling Cowboys-Giants will be six-time Emmy Award-winner Al Michaels (play-by-play), in his 26^th season as the voice of the NFL’s premier primetime package; 12-time Emmy Award-winner Collinsworth, who won the Emmy for outstanding event analyst in both of his seasons in the Sunday Night Football booth; and sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, in her first season on SNF.

Coverage begins Sunday with Football Night in America at 7 p.m. ET with 22-time Emmy Award-winner Bob Costas hosting the program live from inside MetLife Stadium. Costas is joined on site by Michaels and Collinsworth for reaction to the afternoon games.

Dan Patrick co-hosts Football Night from Studio 8G at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios and is joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, Peter King of Sports Illustrated and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com. Alex Flanagan will report from Sports Authority Field at Mile High on the Chiefs-Broncos game.

ON COWBOYS-GIANTS:
Collinsworth: “There were so many points and so many yards put up in that last one (Week 14 game) that maybe it comes down to the defensive side of the ball on Sunday. Jason Pierre Paul was remarkable in the last game. He really almost won the thing by himself. And DeMarcus Ware is going to have to get after Eli Manning.”

Harrison: “It’s going to be more of a defensive-minded game. The Cowboys are going to come out and try to slow down the Giants pass rush by running the ball. The Giants will win. They will run the ball with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, and in tight games like this, I trust Eli not Romo.”

Dungy: “This is a playoff game.”

 

(WWE) WWE Suspends Heath Slater

STAMFORD, Conn., October 17, 2011 – In accordance with its Talent Wellness Program, WWE (NYSE:WWE) has suspended Heath Miller (Heath Slater®) for 30 days effective immediately for his first violation of the company’s policy.

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 500 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo.
Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

-30-

Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

 

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST SHAUN WHITE HEADLINES COMPETITION AT DEW TOUR’S WENDY’S INVITATIONAL ON NBC SPORTS & USA

NEW YORK – August 12, 2010 – Following a gold-medal-winning performance at the Vancouver Olympics in snowboard halfpipe, Shaun White is now vying for a Dew Tour Skateboard title. White highlights NBC Sports’ and USA Network’s coverage of the Wendy’s Invitational this weekend from the Rose Quarter in Portland, Ore. NBC Sports’ live coverage of skateboard park airs Saturday and skateboard vert airs Sunday at 4 p.m. ET both days. USA Network will air late-night coverage of the BMX vert competition Saturday at midnight ET and coverage of BMX park Sunday at 2 a.m. ET.

Athlete analysts Jamie Bestwick, Chris Miller and Paul Zitzer will join host Todd Harris and correspondent Tiffany Simons from Portland.

The Wendy’s Invitational marks White’s first skateboarding contest since his recent Olympic snowboarding victory. White previously captured the 2007 Dew Cup in skate vert with three straight event titles.

In addition to White, the star-studded field of athletes competing in this weekend’s Dew Tour includes reigning Dew Cup champions, Olympic gold medalists and X Games 16 gold medalists including Pierre Luc-Gagnon – skate vert (’08 Dew Cup Champion, X Games 16 gold medalist), Ryan Sheckler – skate park (three-time Dew Cup Champion and X Games 16 gold medalist), Garrett Reynolds – BMX park (defending Dew Cup champion and recent X Games gold medalist), and Dave Mirra – BMX park (BMX legend and second in last season’s Dew Cup standings).

Complete 2010 Dew Tour Schedule, airs on NBC Sports & USA:

Sept. 16 – 19: Toyota Challenge – Salt Lake City, Utah – Energy Solutions Arena

Oct. 14 – 17: Dew Tour Championships – Las Vegas, Nev. – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

AMA MOTOCROSS, SATURDAY, 3 PM ET (LIVE)
NBC Sports presents live coverage this Saturday of AMA Motocross from New Berlin, NY.

2008 AMA Motocross Champion James Stewart makes his long awaited return to the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship this Saturday at the Rockstar Energy Drink Unadilla National. After a 23-month hiatus from the outdoor nationals, Stewart will attempt to dethrone rookie phenom Ryan Dungey, who has won the last seven races. NBC Sports will bring the action live from Unadilla Valley Sports Center as the world’s fastest riders battle it out at the legendary facility.

The broadcast team of Jason Weigandt, Jeff Emig, and Erin Bates will call the on-track excitement from Unadilla in New Berlin, New York.

 

ABC’S NBA FINALS SCORES THE MOST-WATCHED GAME 6 IN 13 YEARS

ABC Shoots to the Top on Sunday with Coverage of the 2011 NBA Finals, Beating
Its Combined Competition on CBS, NBC and Fox with Viewers and Adults 18-49

The Net Generates its Strongest Non-Oscar Sunday Numbers in More Than 5 Years

Sunday’s No. 1 TV Show in Viewers and Young Adults, The Finals on ABC Stands
As the Top-Rated Show of the Evening for 25 Consecutive Telecasts in Adults 18-49

ABC’s Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals Qualifies the Most-Watched in 13 Years

The 2011 NBA Finals on ABC Game 6 Outdelivers Fox’s Season Finale of “Idol”
In Adults 18-49 to Become TV’s Top-Rated Telecast Since the Oscars in February

On Average, ABC’s 2011 Miami-Dallas NBA Finals is Up Sharply Over the Last Time the Two Teams Met in 2006 to Finish as the Top Non-Seven-Game Series Since 2004

Sunday Night (7:00-11:00 p.m.)
Driven by its coverage of the 2011 NBA Finals Game 6 (Dallas-Miami), ABC shot to the top of Sunday’s primetime (according to Nielsen’s time-period based “Fast Affiliate Ratings”), outdelivering its combined competition on CBS, NBC and Fox by 22% in Total Viewers (18.0 million vs. 14.7 million) and by 109% in Adults 18-49 (7.3/20 vs. 3.5/10).  In fact, the Net ranked No. 1 on all 6 evenings with its broadcasts of the 2011 NBA Finals among young adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) and across all key Men demos (M18-34/M18-49/M25-54).

* In viewers and young adults, ABC produced its biggest non-Oscar Sunday in more than 5 years – since 3/12/06.

“2011 NBA Finals on ABC Game 6″ (7:59 – 10:48 p.m. E.T.)
Based on Nielsen’s special-ordered program-based “Fast National Ratings,” the series-clinching 2011 NBA Finals on ABC Game 6 (Dallas at Miami) overshadowed the primetime landscape to register as Sunday’s dominant No. 1 TV program in Total Viewers (23.5 million) and across each of the key Adult demographics:  A18-34 (9.6 rating), A18-49 (9.5 rating) and A25-54 (9.9 rating).  In the advertiser-coveted Adult 18-49 demographic, The Finals on ABC finished as the No. 1 TV program of the night for the 25th straight broadcast.  The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat 105-95 to win the franchise’s first-ever NBA championship.

* In Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, the series-clinching game of 2011 NBA Finals generated the biggest-ever Game 6 results on ABC – since beginning carriage of The Finals in 2003.  In fact, it marked the most-watched Game 6 overall for The Finals in 13 years – since the series-ending Game 6 of the 1998 Chicago-Utah match-up on 6/14/98.

* Outperforming the season finale of Fox’s “American Idol” in Adults 18-49, Game 6 of the NBA Finals on ABC emerged as TV’s highest-rated telecast since the 2011 Academy Awards on ABC in February – since 2/27/11.

* On average, the 2011 NBA Finals outperformed the first six games of last year’s huge Lakers-Celtics match-up  among Total Viewers (+5% – 17.3 million vs. 16.4 million), Adults 18-49 (+8% – 7.1 rating vs. 6.6 rating) and Adults 18-34 (+9% – 7.3 rating vs. 6.7 rating), achieving the biggest non-seven-game series since 2004 (Lakers-Pistons).  In addition compared to the last time the same two teams met in The Finals in 2006 (also a 6-game series), the 2011 Miami-Dallas NBA Finals was up by wide margins in Total Viewers (+33% – 17.3 million vs. 13.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (+34% – 7.1 rating vs. 5.3 rating).

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast National, Live + Same Day Program Ratings), 6/12/11.

 

SHAWN MICHAELS TO ENTER WWE HALL OF FAME

World Wrestling Entertainment® announced today that one of the greatest Superstars to ever perform for WWE, “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 2 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA, the evening before WrestleMania® XXVII.

“Shawn Michaels was the best in-ring performer in the history of WWE,” said Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO.

Shawn Michaels had one of the most storied careers in the annals of World Wrestling Entertainment. He held every major championship over his 23 year career with the sports entertainment company. In addition to his “HBK” moniker and as one half of
“D-Generation X®,” Michaels earned the nickname “Mr. WrestleMania” due to his numerous memorable matches at the annual, pop culture extravaganza. Fittingly, Michaels’ final match took place last March at WrestleMania XXVI, losing to The Undertaker® in an epic match where he put his career on the line.

Tickets go on sale for the 2011 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this Saturday, January 15 at 10 AM ET and are available through the Philips Arena Box Office, www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets or by calling Ticketmaster Charge By Phone at 1-800-745-3000.

About World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly, PG content across all of its platforms including television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 500 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Shanghai, Tokyo, Toronto and Sydney.

 

NBC SPORTS SCORES BEST PRIMETIME WILD CARD RATING EVER AND BEST WILD CARD SATURDAY IN 16 YEARS

NEW YORK – January 9, 2011 – NBC Sports coverage of last night’s New York Jets 17-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts earned NBC the best overnight rating for a primetime Wild Card Playoff game ever and the best for any Wild Card Saturday game in 11 years (the NFL began primetime Wild Card games in 2002). Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks 41-36 victory over the New Orleans Saints was the best Saturday Wild Card Game 1 overnight rating in two decades and the two-game average for yesterday is the best in 16 years, according to overnight data released today by The Nielsen Company.

JETS-COLTS BEST PRIMETIME SATURDAY WILD CARD EVER: The Jets-Colts game (8:15-11 p.m. ET) earned a 20.8 overnight rating and 33 share, the highest rating ever for a primetime Wild Card Saturday game and the best for any Wild Card Saturday game since the 1999 season (Arizona-Dallas, 20.9/38).

* The 20.8 is six percent higher than last year’s Eagles-Cowboys game (19.6/33) which was, at the time the best since 1999, and 14 percent higher than the Colts-Chargers game in January 2009 (18.3/30).
* The rating peaked 10-10:30 p.m. ET at a 23.6/38.

SAINTS-SEAHAWKS BEST IN 20 YEARS: The Saints-Seahawks game (4:30-8 p.m. ET) drew an overnight rating of 18.3 with a 33 share, the best Saturday Wild Card Game 1 in 20 years (Redskins-Eagles, 18.6/43 in the first year of the NFL’s four-game Saturday-Sunday Wild Card format).

* The 18.3 is eight percent higher than last year’s Jets-Bengals game (16.9/31) and 28 percent higher than the Falcons-Cardinals Wild Card game in January 2009 (14.3/28).
* The rating for the first game peaked at a 23.1/38 from 7:30-8 p.m. ET.

2-GAME WILD CARD AVERAGE BEST IN 16 YEARS: NBC Sports scored the best two-game average overnight rating for an NFL Wild Card Saturday in 16 years. NBC’s Wild Card Saturday, featuring the Saints-Seahawks in the afternoon and Jets-Colts in primetime, averaged a 19.4/33, the best average for two Saturday Wild Card games since the 1994 season (20.1/41 for Lions-Packers and Chiefs-Dolphins).

* The average is six percent higher than the 18.3 for last year’s two-game average and a 19 percent improvement over the 16.3/29 average for the two Wild Card Saturday games in Jan. 2009 (Falcons-Cardinals in afternoon and Colts-Chargers in primetime).

During primetime (8-11 p.m.) NBC averaged a 20.6/33 dominating its competition, delivering more than six times the primetime average of the night’s No. 2 broadcast network (CBS, 3.5/6) and generating nearly three times the combined ABC-CBS-Fox rating.

8-11 p.m. Metered-Market Averages:

NBC, 20.6/33
CBS, 3.5/6
Fox, 2.0/3
ABC, 1.7/3

TOP 10 MARKETS FOR SAINTS-SEAHAWKS:

1. New Orleans, 54.4/73
2. Seattle, 39.9/73
3. Indianapolis, 25.2/42
4. Baltimore, 24.6/42
5. Richmond, 22.2/36
6. Jacksonville, 22.0/35
7. Norfolk, 21.7/35
8. Boston, 21.2/38
9. San Diego, 21.0/42
10. Philadelphia, 28.0/34

TOP 10 MARKETS FOR JETS-COLTS

1. Indianapolis, 48.0/68
2. Baltimore, 29.9/44
3. New Orleans, 28.9/38
4. Nashville, 26.9/38
5. Boston, 25.7/40
T6. Norfolk, 25.6/37
T6. San Diego, 25.6/42
8. Pittsburgh, 25.2/37
9. Jacksonville, 24.8/36
10. Las Vegas, 24.6/38

The New York market ranked 20th with a 21.9/34

 

“SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” RAMS-SEAHAWKS EARNS BEST OVERNIGHT RATING IN NEARLY A DECADE FOR NFL’S SEASON-ENDING GAME

12.6 Overnight Tops Last Year’s Season-Ending Game by 11%

SNF Powers NBC to Another Sunday Night Win

NEW YORK – January 3, 2011 – Last night’s “Sunday Night Football” game earned the best overnight rating in nearly a decade for the NFL’s season-ending game, including the best overnight for a Week 17 game in SNF history, and was up 11 percent over last year’s Week 17 game, according to overnight data released today by the Nielsen Company. The game, in which the Seattle Seahawks defeated the St. Louis Rams 16-6 in a ‘win-and-in’ contest to clinch the NFC West title, registered a 12.6 overnight rating and a 19 share.

* The 12.6/19 overnight rating is the best overnight rating in nine years for the NFL’s season-ending game (since 1/7/02, Min-Bal on ABC, 13.4/21).

* The overnight rating is an increase of 11 percent over last year’s Week 17 SNF (Bengals-Jets, 11.4/18) and is the highest season-ending overnight rating in the five-year history of “Sunday Night Football.”

* The rating peaked at a 13.4/23 from 11-11:15 p.m. ET at the end of the game.

NFL SEASON-ENDING GAME OVERNIGHTS SINCE 2001

2010 1/2/2011 NBC StL-Sea 12.6 19

2009 1/3/2010 NBC Cin-NYJ 11.4 18

2008 12/28/2008 NBC Den-SD 10.6 17

2007 12/30/2007 NBC Ten-Ind 11.6 19

2006 12/31/2006 NBC GB-Chi 8.7 17

2005 12/26/2005 ABC NE-NYJ 10.5 18

2004 12/27/2004 ABC Phi-StL 11.7 19

2003 12/22/2003 ABC GB-Oak 12.1 19

2002 12/30/2002 ABC SF-StL 9.6 15

2001 1/7/2002 ABC Min-Bal 13.4 21

DEFEATED ALL SUNDAY NIGHT COMPETITION: Last night’s “Sunday Night Football” broadcast defeated all Sunday Night competition, the 17th straight week that primetime NFL football on NBC defeated its competition, on a night that included such competition as CBS’s 60 Minutes, ABC’s Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters, and Fox’s comedy lineup.

* “Sunday Night Football” powered NBC to a Sunday night win in primetime (7-11 p.m.), topping second place CBS (which was aided by an NFL overrun) by 23 percent. NBC also beat Fox (also aided by NFL overrun) by 58 percent and ABC by the same 58 percent.

SNF EXPECTED TO FINISH SEASON UNDEFEATED: When the viewership is available tomorrow from Nielsen, “Sunday Night Football” is expected to be the most-watched Sunday night show; the 17th time in 17 weeks that “Sunday Night Football” defeated its competition (every week this season). When adding in the NFL Kickoff opener on Thursday, Sept. 9 between the Vikings and Saints, the franchise went undefeated on 18 of 18 nights. Last season, SNF was the most-watched Sunday night primetime broadcast in a then-record 15 of 16 (94 percent) weeks. In 2008, SNF won 13 of 16 (81 percent) Sunday nights after winning 11 of 16 in 2007 (69 percent) and nine of 16 in 2006 (56 percent).

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR RAMS-SEAHAWKS:

1. St. Louis, 38.7/53
2. Seattle, 35.4/58
3. New Orleans, 22.9/31
4. Las Vegas, 20.1/29
5. Oklahoma City, 19.0/27
6. Tulsa, 18.3/24
7. Baltimore, 16.7/25
8. Milwaukee, 16.0/24
9. Portland, 15.6/26
10. Norfolk, 15.4/22

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WINTER CLASSIC PROGRAMMING CHANGE

2011 BRIDGESTONE NHL WINTER CLASSIC MOVING TO PRIMETIME WITH 8 P.M. ET START TIME DUE TO WEATHER

ADDITIONAL WINTER CLASSIC PROGRAMMING TO FILL ORIGINAL 1-4 P.M. ET WINDOW

NEW YORK – December 31, 2010 – Due to expected steady rain throughout tomorrow afternoon, the NHL has announced that the start time of the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will change from 1 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET. NBC Sports will still fill the original Winter Classic programming window of 1-4 p.m. ET with Winter Classic content such as live interviews and taped coverage of previous Winter Classics.

NBC SPORTS’ UPDATED NEW YEAR’S DAY PROGRAMMING

1-4 p.m. ET            Winter Classic Programming

4-6 p.m. ET            ADT Skills Challenge (golf)

8 p.m. ET            2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic

OFFICIAL NHL STATEMENT: The National Hockey League announced today the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will change the original 1 p.m. (ET) start time on New Year’s Day to 8 p.m. (ET).  The decision was based on the latest meteorological reports, which have advised an approaching front of potentially steady rain expected to fall through the afternoon and taper off by early evening, and after consultation with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Washington Capitals, national broadcast partners (NBC, CBC, RDS), the Pittsburgh Steelers, the National Hockey League Players’ Association, and local officials.

We have been further advised that cooler and drier air conditions are expected in the evening with the passing of the front.  The NHL feels that it was important to make this announcement at this time so as to minimize the inconvenience to all parties associated with the event, especially our fans.

All 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic tickets will continue to be honored and all ticket holder agreement language remains unchanged.

 

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