Despite power outage, new overnight ratings record for CBS

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CBS can thank the 49ers for staging their second half comeback. The preliminary numbers look impressive. Full ratings and viewership estimates still to come.

Interesting to note that this overnight rating excludes the power outage. Clearly, though, many viewers continued to watch, as it still did a 46.5 rating. Who knew Steve Tasker had that many fans?

From CBS:

CBS Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl XLVII featuring the BALTIMORE RAVENS, 34-31 win over the SAN FRANCISCO 49ers on Sunday, Feb. 3 (6:30-8:45 PM and 9:15-10:45 PM, ET), earned an average overnight household rating/share of 48.1/71, the highest-rated Super Bowl in the metered markets in history (2/6/11; 47.9/71; FOX; Green Bay-Pittsburgh).

This year’s 48.1/71 is up +1% from last year’s 47.8/71 (N.Y. Giants-New England) in the metered markets. Rating excludes from 8:45-9:15 PM, ET during power outage.

The Super Bowl XLVII rating/share peaked at 52.9/75 from 10:30-10:45 PM, ET. Following is a breakdown of the ratings by half-hours.

(All times ET)

6:30-7:00 – 42.6/67

7:00-7:30 – 46.3/71

7:30-8:00 — 47.9/72

8:00-8:30 – 48.2/71

8:30-8:45 – 48.3/71

8:45-9:15 — 46.5/68

9:15-9:30 – 47.9/68

9:30-10:00 –49.6/70

10:00-10:30 –51.3/73

10:30-10:45 –52.9/75

 

 

 

Posted in CBS

My view of Super Sunday: Not so super for Phil Simms; thumbs up for NFL Network

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I felt like I played in the game.

That’s what watching all this stuff for a zillion hours does to you. Super Sunday is an all-out assault on the senses that drains your very last brain cell. And that was before the power outage hit.

I’m more of a purist who can do without all the sideshows of the Super Bowl. I’ll take Championship Sunday every time.

Yet having said that, I’m already counting down the days until I see Scott Hanson again on NFL RedZone.

Here’s the good, bad and in between from Super Bowl 47–sorry, too tired to figure out the Roman numerals.

Note: I didn’t see every minute of every pregame show. I even watched the hockey and golf for a few minutes. So if I missed something, well maybe I’ll catch it next year.

Intercepted: I’m not sure why, but Phil Simms really was off his game Sunday. Following John Harbaugh’s decision to go with a fake field goal, Simms came back from commercial and said he wasn’t going to second-guess the coach? Huh? Isn’t that what an analyst does?

The call was begging for more analysis, agree or disagree. You can’t be a network analyst in the Super Bowl, and shy away from weighing in on such a controversial decision. Big blow to Simms’ credibility, as evidenced by the reaction on Twitter.

Throughout much of the first half, Jim Nantz, who had a good night, seemed to be working extra hard to draw out Simms, especially when things got a bit chippy between the two teams. Simms was hesitant.

Simms stepped up a bit in the second half. However, on the key play, he waffled on the no-holding call in the endzone. At one point, he said: “The more I see it, the more confused I get.”

Sort of sums up Simms’ night.

Lights out: So now we know that Steve Tasker is CBS’ official “the lights are out” reporter. The power outage made a mess of things for CBS, considering it also knocked out Nantz’s mic in the booth. CBS gave us the first ever power outage running clock in Super Bowl history. So that was exciting.

It wasn’t the network’s finest moment. Given all the billions the network shells out to the NFL, why didn’t it have an on-air interview with a league official to explain the situation?

Networking: I didn’t watch all of the NFL Network’s 8 1/2 hours of pregame coverage, but I watched a lot of it. The network has put together a solid cast of analysts who have developed a good chemistry. The Hall of Famers/Super Bowl champions were in their element Sunday. Marshall Faulk is vastly underrated, and his feature on his hometown of New Orleans was really strong.

The driver of the show, Rich Eisen, is funny, insightful, and not overbearing, unlike another NFL host on another cable sports network. All in all, a good interesting, informative and entertaining package.

Restrained: CBS was very restrained with its coverage of the Harbaugh brothers. We didn’t see the first reaction shots of the coaches until the beginning of the second quarter. And we barely got any shots of mom and dad, especially down the stretch. If Fox were doing the game, it would be cutting to the brothers and their parents after every play.

Ray Lewis: When it comes to awkward, it’s hard to beat CBS’ coverage of Ray Lewis. His former teammate Shannon Sharpe did the pregame interview. A questionable call, given their relationship, although Sharpe did ask Lewis about the Atlanta murders.

Then in the studio discussion, Boomer Esiason called out Lewis for not disclosing all he knows about the murders. However, the conversation didn’t go anywhere. Eventually, Dan Marino did an awkward segue back to football.

During the game, Nantz mentioned the murders once, and Simms interjected something that added nothing.

Oops: Joe Flacco could be heard saying, “F-ing awesome” immediately after the game. ESPN immediately issued an apology.

Emotional: The most memorable image of Sunday: The kids from Newtown singing America The Beautiful. Nothing comes close. Wonderful, touching moment.

Disaster: A pregame segment featuring Boomer Esiason and Shannon Shannon handing out Pizza Hut pizzas in the French Quarter was, in the words of my 17-year-old, “really stupid.” I’d say beyond stupid. Really, do the networks need the money that badly to have to shill for those products?

Inspirational: Hard to beat Lesley Visser’s feature on O.J. Brigance on Sunday or any day. Truly moving. Right up there was the story on Chuck Pagano and his battle with cancer.

And in the quality department, enjoyed Bill Cowher’s piece on Vernon Davis that featured insights from his former coach Mike Singletary.

Sobering: Andrea Kremer’s compelling feature on Jacksonville receiver Laurent Robinson on NFL Network. Robinson’s wife tells him, “One more concussion and you’re done.” Hard to imagine how he’ll ever play again.

True words: “Five minutes aren’t enough to discuss this,” said Boomer Esiason during a concussion segment on CBS. Right about that, although they could have had a few more minutes if they dumped the Pizza Hut thing.

Still punishing: Jim Brown appeared on NFL Network and was blunt as always on minority coaching hires and the league’s health issue.

Future analyst: Larry Fitzgerald. The Arizona receiver will be in demand after he hangs them up.

No. 4: Brett Favre, sans tie, was a nice addition to NFL Network. Critics might say he wasn’t polished, and he wasn’t. But I still tuned in because it was Favre. And despite the “you knows,” he still had plenty to say. A network job is there if he wants it, but I doubt he does.

Huh?: Looks like Favre doesn’t spend much time on his computer. Says to Eisen, “What’s a podcast?

Drowned out: It’s great to get some flavor of the town by setting up a stage in front of screaming fans. The problem is that it forces the hosts also to scream, which can be annoying. ESPN, and CBS early on, went the outdoor route more often than not. At one point, Suzy Kolber seemed to be yelling just to be heard. I don’t like to be yelled at.

Puppy Love: I would have liked to have heard Chris Berman call the Puppy Bowl for Animal Planet.

And out: I figure all the promos for CBS’ shows (a new record?) will be ringing in my head for weeks. Good thing the Super Bowl only is once a year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hoe many show promos can CBS squeeze into one Super Bowl?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puppy: I would have liked to have heard Chris Berman on the Puppy Bowl for Animal Planet.

 

 

Pelley interview with Obama was a missed opportunity

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For starters, I’m not sure when it became essential to hear from the president on Super Bowl Sunday. I’m all about being informed, but this day is about football, not politics.

What’s next? The Republican response to the presidential interview? Speaking of equal time, perhaps coverage of the president’s State of the Union address should include an interview with the winning Harbaugh brother.

Having said all that, I was disappointed that CBS’ Scott Pelley asked President Obama only one question related to his comments about football. Given what the president said about the dangers of the game, this would have been a good time to expand the discussion.

Mr. President, how do you reconcile enjoying a game that you believe is fundamentally dangerous?

Will the government ever have to step in?

And Pelley could have taken it beyond football, given all the recent news about PEDs involving the biggest stars in sports from Lance Armstrong to Alex Rodriguez. How does the president view sports’ ability to curb abuses of steroids and more?

I understand Pelley wanted the President to address the policy issues. Sports, though, is an important part of this society. It would have been interesting to receive his views on the pressing issues there, too.

If we have to hear from the president on Super Bowl Sunday, let’s remember what the day is all about.

 

 

 

Posted in NFL

Sunday books: Richard Dent writes about feud with Ditka; coach never called after Bears great made Hall of Fame

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The Super Bowl is going to be a big day for Richard Dent. The MVP of Super Bowl XX in New Orleans will carry the Lombardi Trophy to the stage tonight for the big presentation.

The game on Jan. 20, 1986, capping off the Bears’ legendary season, was a defining moment for Dent. It eventually led to the defensive end’s induction into the Hall of Fame in 2011, an honor that was long overdue.

Dent now tells his entire story in a new book, Blood, Sweat & Bears: Putting a Dent in the Game I Love.

Here’s a Q/A I did with Fred Mitchell, the long-time Chicago Tribune columnist, who is the co-author of the book.

What about Dent’s career stands out for you?

The most remarkable aspect of Richard’s career, from my perspective, was that he quickly integrated himself into the Bears’ defense as an 8th-round draft pick out of tiny Tennessee State in 1983. They don’t even have eight rounds in the NFL draft anymore. Furthermore, Dent amassed 34 1/2 sacks in a two-year stretch (1984-85) en route to becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks (124.5 with the Bears and 137.5 for entire NFL career) and Super Bowl XX MVP.

How did he feel about being perhaps overlooked for so long?

Richard retains some bitterness about the Hall of Fame selection process after being a finalist six times. He feels there should be greater transparency as far as how members of the selection committee voted each year. He also would like former players added to the selection committee. Richard is forever grateful for his HOF selection, but repeatedly says “the numbers are the numbers,” which should have been good enough to get him inducted many years earlier.

Any surprising revelations in the book?

It was surprising and disheartening to learn that Richard and his longtime Bears coach, Mike Ditka, continue to feud after all of these years. Richard said Ditka has yet to congratulate him on his Hall of Fame induction in 2011. The sting remains for Richard that Ditka often referred to him as “Robert” when speaking to the media in a deliberate effort to tweak him. Hopefully the two will reconcile at some point and share the good vibes of being fellow Hall of Famers and a Super Bowl champ.

What was it like working with Richard? What did you learn from him?

Richard has an inspiring story to tell about overcoming the odds of growing up in a modest-at-best home setting in rural Atlanta with seven brothers- a few of whom spent time in jail. I appreciated Richard’s candor in talking about the distrust he felt from the Bears organization, which accused him of selling and using cocaine and ordered him to be tested for drugs early in his career. His legal appeal in 1988 proved to be a landmark case in the NFL and it forced the league to come up with a more comprehensive testing program.

Saturday flashback: Jim Murray’s brilliance on Super Bowl III; ‘Missionaries swallowed the cannibals’

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I defy anyone to write a better column off Sunday’s game.

*****

First of all, are you sitting down?

Be sure who you tell this to or they’ll think you’ve been drinking.

On Sunday afternoon, the canary ate the cat. The mailman bit the police dog. The minnow chased the shark out of its waters. The missionaries swallowed the cannibals. The rowboat rammed the battleship. The mouse roared, and the lion jumped up on a chair and began to scream for help.

The first thing that’s going to surprise you about the Super Bowl game is the closeness of the score. But, hang onto your hat. If you think that’s a shocker, wait till I get to the punch line.

The –- come closer and let me whisper this -– New York Jets are the Super Champions of football! Cross my heart! That funny little team from that funny little league they left on pro football’s doorstep a few years back. You know the one -– the team whose checks bounced and so did their quarterbacks.

And you know that smart-alecky quarterback they got for $400,000 and the NFL sat down and like to have busted laughing? Well, turns out he was a bargain. You know, they called him “Broadway Joe” and he went around wearing women’s fur coats and he closed up more bars than Carrie Nation? A sleep-to-noon guy who had been a model youth. He didn’t smoke till he started kindergarten and he never drank in high school till the sun went down. And when someone said the Jets had a “Boozer” in the backfield, someone thought it was a description instead of a name.

They said (Norman Van Brocklin did) that Broadway Joe would be playing in his first professional game in the Super Bowl. Well, he likes it better than that game they play over in that other league. He got beat three times over in that league.

They said the Jets were the third-best team in their own league. If so, it’s a good thing they didn’t send the best. Everybody would have switched over to Heidi.

I would say, on the basis of what we saw Super Sunday, the NFL is a couple of years away. I mean they have individual performers, but the AFL appears to be better in teams.

. . .

It was like the turkey having the farmer for dinner, the rabbit shooting the hunter, the dove pulling the feathers out of the eagle.

The worm had not only turned, it was chasing the early bird right down the street and up a tree. And Broadway Joe can be singing the old Jimmy Durante tune, “You Know Darn Well I Can Do Without Broadway, But Can Broadway Do Without Me?”

Even at 400 grand, he may be the biggest bargain in Manhattan since they gave those Indians all those beads and started to put in subways. As for the NFL, it will have to start building to catch up.

 

 

ESPN NFL Countdown: Robert Griffin III narrates piece on Doug Williams’ historic moment in Super Bowl

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Nice idea and nice execution.

Here’s a preview of the piece that will run Sunday on ESPN’s NFL Countdown (10 a.m. ET).

From ESPN:

“Having the opportunity to play and win the Super Bowl 25 years ago, and to have Robert Griffin lll narrating this piece on me for ESPN, wow what a blessing!! Thanks, and Hail to the Redskins.” – Doug Williams

Doug Williams was the Washington Redskins starting quarterback in Super Bowl XXII. His remarkable performance against the Denver Broncos dramatically changed the way African American quarterbacks were perceived in the NFL. Robert Griffin III, who plays the same position, in the same city is one of those beneficiaries, and helps tell the Doug Williams story. Written by ESPN.com reporter Greg Garber.

“All of a sudden he’s got more than a game on his back. He’s got history on his back — the hopes and dreams of a whole race. ‘How did I get all of this? I’m just a football player.’ But it wasn’t just another game, and he wasn’t just another player. Not that day!” – Al Sharpton

“It translated into so many different aspects of life, whether it was in government, whether it was in business, or whatever, that an African American could win the biggest game, in the most popular sport, at the most popular position and the most leadership of positions.” – Warren Moon, on the impact of Williams’ performance

Saturday flashback: NBC Pregame show for Super Bowl III; Broadway who?

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Once upon a time, a 30-minute tune-up sufficed for Super Sunday. This is NBC’s pregame show from Super Bowl III.

One of the quarterbacks popped off and predicted a victory. You would think Joe Namath’s comments would be the big story right at the top, right?

Guess again. Instead, Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis (great glasses) focused the first segment focused on defense.

Yes, times have changed.

Why this woman sports reporter will be rooting for Jim Harbaugh

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I have known Cheryl Raye-Stout since forever. She has been a long-time sports radio reporter in Chicago.

Women in the lockerroom is a non-story, but that wasn’t the case back in the 80s. On her blog on WBEZ.org, Raye-Stout writes about her difficulties back then and how a young quarterback named Jim Harbaugh changed the culture for the Bears.

She writes:

The media relations person at Halas Hall announced that the locker room was open. There was a group of reporters, (very small compared to the numbers now) and I walked in the middle of the group. That is when I was greeted by angry, hurtful words and loud obnoxious screams. It was evident it was directed at me and the reporters all stepped away as I took the abuse. At that point, the Bears media person told me I had to leave and would not have access.

I walked out the door unsure as to what had just happened. I controlled my anger as the realization set in.

The situation changed when the Bears drafted Harbaugh in 1987:

A few weeks into the season I asked to talk to Jim as I sat on the floor. The media person went into the locker room and brought the rookie out for me. Jim looked at me and then said to the media person, “Why can’t she go in the locker room like she does after games?”

He wasn’t kidding. Jim had the firm look he shows now as San Francisco’s coach. There was no answer that would be satisfactory to Harbaugh. There was more to the conversation, but for me, his first words were the most relevant.

Until that point, no one else had even challenged or really cared about my situation. Jim and I talked, and we walked into the locker room. There were no angry voices, there were no insults. (Now there was no red carpet or rose petals thrown either.) At times there were some other incidents, but this was a huge change at Halas Hall.

Raye-Stout never forgot the gesture. She obviously has good reason to pull for Harbaugh Sunday.