Super ratings on Sunday

Sunday’s Super Bowl got a 42.6 “fast national” rating with a 64 share, up slightly from last year’s 41.6/62 for Pittsburgh and Seattle.

The average audience at any one time Sunday was 93.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research on Monday. That made the game the second-most watched Super Bowl and the third-most watched television program of all time.

The record for a Super Bowl is 94.1 million for Dallas’ 27-17 victory over Pittsburgh in 1996 at Tempe, Ariz. The record for any program is 106 million for the 2 1/2 -hour final episode of “MASH” in 1983, which got a 60.3 rating with a 76 share.

In Los Angeles, Indianapolis’ 29-17 victory over Chicago got a 33.5 rating with a 60 share and had an average viewing audience of 3,597,000.

The 42.6 national rating is the highest for a Super Bowl since the 2000 game, St. Louis vs. Tennessee, got a 43.3. There were more viewers this year because there are more homes now with television sets.

Nielsen estimates 139.8 million people watched at least a portion of Sunday’s game.

A commercial in which a young man planned to propose to his girlfriend did not air during the game. Efforts to reach CBS public relations employees Monday to find out why were not successful.

Larry Stewart

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Former Pittsburgh defensive backs coach Darren Perry was hired to fill the same role with the Oakland Raiders.

Perry, who coached the Steelers’ secondary since 2003, resigned last month after a meeting with new Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin.

Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin brought him on board to succeed Lorenzo Ward.

“Darren’s track record speaks for itself in Pittsburgh, first as an outstanding player and then equally as a proven coach,” Kiffin said.

“His work in the defensive backfield has resulted in championship caliber play from all areas.”

Perry, 38, starred at Penn State, then started at safety for seven consecutive seasons with Pittsburgh after being taken in the eighth round of the 1992 draft. He finished his career with New Orleans in 2000.

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Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher suffered a toe injury in the Super Bowl and will not play in Saturday’s Pro Bowl for the NFC. Antonio Pierce of the New York Giants will replace Urlacher on the team.... Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor was added to the NFC’s roster after Brian Dawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles withdrew because of personal reasons.

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Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph pleaded not guilty to possession of marijuana at Burlington, Ky. Joseph was scheduled for another hearing Feb. 22 in Boone County District Court.

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The Buffalo Bills re-signed special teams player Coy Wire to a multiyear deal. Wire, Buffalo’s third-round pick in 2002, has been a fixture on the Bills’ special teams, and finished fourth on the team with 17 special teams tackles in 2006.