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Super Bowl XLIX gets highest overnight TV rating in big game’s history

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Patriots players celebrate as confetti falls at University of Phoenix Stadium following their 28-24 victory over the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.  (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is surrounded by photographers after winning Super Bowl XLIX.  (Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady holds aloft the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the awards presentation following a 28-24 victory over the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. The Patriots will begin defending their title on Sept. 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

  (Rob Carr / Getty Images)
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Quarterback Tom Brady and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork embrace after the Patriots beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.  (Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Patriots tight end Michael Hoomanawanui celebrates after winning Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday.  (Elise Amendola / Associated Press)
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Patriots owner Robert Kraft accepts the Vince Lombardi Trophy as NFL champions following the 28-24 win over the Seahawks.  (Michael Conroy / Associated Press)
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Patriots linebacker Akeem Ayers takes his turn with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl XLIX.  (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Patriots running back Shane Vereen celebrates with fans at University of Phoenix Stadium after New England won Super Bowl XLIX.  (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis is interviewed after New England beat Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX.  (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
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Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones gets a hug from his mom, Camille, during the celebration following New England’s win in Super Bowl XLIX.  (David Goldman / Associated Press)
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Quarterbacks Tom Brady of the Patriots and Russell Wilson of the Seahawks embrace following Super Bowl XLIX.  (Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll congratulates Patriots Coach Bill Belichick after Super Bowl XLIX.  (Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
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Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) and Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski are separated after a skirmish broke out in the final seconds of Super Bowl XLIX.  (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
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Patriots safety Malcolm Butler intercepts a pass at the goal line intended for Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette to help New England seal a 28-24 victory in the final minute of Super Bowl XLIX.  (Kathy Willens / Associated Press)
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Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll watches as players react following Malcolm Butler’s interception of a pass by Russell Wilson.  (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)
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Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson leaves the field after having a pass intercepted at the goal line in the final minute of Super Bowl XLIX.  (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse reaches up to make a juggling catch against Patriots safeties Malcolm Butler (21) and Duron Harmon (30) late in the fourth quarter.  (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse keeps his eye on the ball after it was deflected into the air by Patriots safety Malcolm Butler late in the fourth quarter. Kearse would make a juggling catch to put Seattle in the red zone.  (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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Patriots receiver Julian Edelman celebrates after making a three-yard touchdown catch against the Seahawks in the fourth quarter. It proved to be the game-winning score as New England won the game, 28-24.  (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Patriots receiver Julian Edelman is wide open to make a three-yard touchdown catch against the Seahawks in the fourth quarter.  (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
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Patriots receiver Danny Amendola makes a four-yard touchdown catch against Seahawks safety Earl Thomas in the fourth quarter to help New England pull to within 24-21 of Seattle.  (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
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Patriots receiver Danny Amendola celebrates after making a four-yard scoring catch against the Seahawks in the fourth quarter.  (Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich sacks Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the fourth quarter.  (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Patriots safety Malcolm Butler (21) tries to break up a pass to Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse in the third quarter.  (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin (89) is congratulated by teammate Bryan Walters after scoring on a three-yard pass play in the third quarter.  (Rob Carr / Getty Images)
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Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin is wide open to make a three-yard touchdown reception against the Patriots in the third quarter, helping Seattle take a 24-14 lead.  (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
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Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) intercepts a pass intended for Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski in the third quarter.  (Elise Amendola / Associated Press)
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Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner tries to evade the tackle attempt of Patriots running back Brandon Bolden after intercepting a pass in the third quarter.  (Matt York / Associated Press)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts after having a pass intercepted by the Seahawks in the third quarter.  (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)
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Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka connects for a 27-yard field goal to give Seattle a 17-14 lead over the Patriots early in the third quarter.  (Tannen Maury / EPA)
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Seahawks cornerback Tharold Simon breaks up a pass intended for Patriots receiver Brandon LaFell in the second half.  (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady makes a pass under pressure in the third quarter.  (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hits the turf after getting knocked down while throwing a pass against the Seahawks in the third quarter.  (David Goldman / Associated Press)
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Seahawks wide receiver Chris Matthews makes an 11-yard touchdown catch against Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan just before halftime of Super Bowl XLIX to help tie the score, 14-14.  (Elise Amendola / Associated Press)
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Seahawks receiver Chris Matthews celebrates his 11-yard touchdown catch late in the second quarter.  (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)
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Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll celebrates with receiver Chris Matthews after he made a touchdown catch to help tie the score against the Patriots before halftime.  (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)
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Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson reacts after throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass late in the first half.  (Michael Conroy / Associated Press)
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Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski makes a 22-yard touchdown reception against Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright in the second quarter to help give New England a 14-7 lead.  (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
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Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski celebrates with receiver Julian Edelman after his touchdown catch in the second quarter.  (Elsa / Getty Images)
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Patriots running back Shane Vereen is chased down by Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner on a 16-yard pass play that helped set up a touchdown in the second quarter.  (Rob Carr / Getty Images)
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Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch celebrates with teammates after scoring on a three-yard run against the Patriots in the second quarter.  (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
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Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch dives into the end zone for a three-yard touchdown to help even the score, 7-7, against the Patriots in the second quarter.  (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
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Seahawks receiver Chris Matthews hauls in a 44-yard pass in the second quarter to help set up Seattle’s first touchdown.  (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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Seahawks receiver Chris Matthews signals for a first down after making a 44-yard reception deep in Patriots territory in the second quarter.  (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with receiver Brandon LaFell after they connected on an 11-yard pass for a touchdown against the Seahawks in the second quarter.  (Rob Carr / Getty Images)
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Patriots receiver Brandon LaFell crosses the goal line against Seahawks cornerback Tharold Simon in the second quarter on an 11-yard pass play to score the first touchdown of Super Bowl XLIX.  (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell tries to bring down Patriots receiver Danny Amendola after a reception deep in Seattle territory in the second quarter.  (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images)
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Patriots receiver Brandon LaFell tries to escape the grasp of Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell and linebacker Bobby Wagner after a reception on a scoring drive in the second quarter.  (Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)
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Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane is knocked out of bounds by Patriots receiver Julian Edelman after making an interception near the goal line in the first quarter. Lane would leave the game with an injured arm.  (Roy Dabner / EPA)
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Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount fights for yards against the Seahawks defense in the first quarter.

  (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
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Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch struggles to pick up yards against the Patriots defense in the first quarter.  (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
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Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is forced to scramble by Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower on a pass play in the first quarter.  (Harry How / Getty Images)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) callas a play at the line of scrimmage against the Seahawks in the first quarter.  (David Goldman / Associated Press)
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Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll argues with line judge Mark Perlman in the first quarter.  (Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)
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Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski runs for yardage after a reception against Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor.  (Elsa / Getty Images)
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Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) brings down Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch after a short gain in the first quarter.  (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount is stopped by Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner in the first quarter.

  (Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
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Seahawks safety Jeron Johnson questions why he was called for running into the kicker on the Patriots’ first punt of the game.  (Michael Conroy / Associated Press)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady prepares to pass against the Seahawks on the first drive of Super Bowl XLIX.  (Kathy Willens / Associated Press)
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Seahawks safety DeShawn Snead reacts after an incomplete pass by the Patriots in the first quarter.  (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)
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Idina Menzel sings the “Star Spangled Banner” during the pregame ceremony for Super Bowl XLIX.  (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images)
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John Legend sings “America, the Beautfiul” during the pregame ceremony for Super Bowl XLIX.  (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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The Air Force Thunderbirds fly over University of Phoenix Stadium during the pregame ceremony for Super Bowl XLIX.  (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady shouts while warming up before Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium on Feb. 1, 2015.  (Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll talks to quarterback Russell Wilson (3) as he warms up for Super bowl XLIX.  (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch wears a high-altitude training mask while warming up before the start of Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots on Feb. 1, 2015.  (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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Coach Bill Belichick watches the Patriots warm up before Super Bowl XLIX.

  (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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A Seattle Seahawks fan poses outside University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., hours before the start of Super Bowl XLIX between the New England Patriots and Seahawks on Feb. 1, 2015.  (Timothy A. Clary / AFP/Getty Images)
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New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis warms up before the start of Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 1, 2015.  (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson warms up before Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 1, 2015.  (Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady warms up before the start of Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 1, 2015.  (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Seattle Seahawks fan Tom Froemke, who is known as “Seahulk” poses outside University of Phoenix Stadium hours before Super Bowl XLIX between the Seahawks and the New England Patriots on Feb. 1, 2015.  (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)
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New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, left, and Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen shake hands before the start of Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on Feb. 1, 2015.  (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick watches his players warm up before Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 1, 2015.

  (Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman arrives at University of Phoenix Stadium hours before the start of Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots on Feb. 1, 2015.  (Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson arrives at University of Phoenix Stadium hours before the start of Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots on Feb. 1, 2015.  (Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)
By Chuck SchilkenStaff Writer 
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Just about half the TVs in the nation’s major media markets were tuned in to Super Bowl XLIX Sunday night. And that’s a record.

Nielsen, the TV-ratings company, reported Monday that the overnight rating for the New England Patriots’ 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks was an all-time high of 49.7, meaning 49.7% of the homes with televisions in those markets were watching the game.

While Nielsen still has no estimate on the actual number of viewers, that could very well end up being a record too since the overnight rating is four percentage points better than that for last year’s Super Bowl.

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That game -- a 43-8 victory for the Seahawks over the Denver Broncos -- was the most-watched TV event in U.S. history. It was the fourth time in five years that the Super Bowl set that mark.

This year’s showdown was anything but a blowout, with plenty of drama in the final seconds that may have kept most viewers glued to their sets. According to Nielsen, the game received a 72 share, meaning 72% of TVs that were in use Sunday night were tuned to the Super Bowl.

Twitter: @chewkiii

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Chuck Schilken

Chuck Schilken is a sports reporter on the Fast Break team. He spent more than 18 years with the Los Angeles Times’ Sports Department in a variety of roles. Before joining The Times, he worked for more than a decade as a sports reporter and editor at newspapers in Virginia and Maryland.

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