INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE FOR SUPER BOWL XXXIX SHOWS INCREASE IN CHINA, JAPAN, MEXICO & UK  

All around the world, more viewers than ever tuned in to Super Bowl XXXIX.

Viewership for the February 6 NFL title game in Jacksonville, Florida was up in China, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom – by impressive margins.

In the UK, more than two million viewers watched the New England Patriots capture their third Super Bowl in four years with an exciting 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.  Combined viewership on ITV and SKY more than doubled last year’s total with a 119 percent increase.

In Mexico, more than 12 million fans tuned in on TV AZTECA and TELEVISA, in figures measured by IBOPE and provided by the Media Planning Group.  That viewership represents a 47 percent increase from Mexico’s audience for Super Bowl XXXVII, the last time the game was broadcast on free national television in the country. 

In Japan, ratings on NTV and NHK showed a 15 percent increase from last year as the combined audience topped four million, according to Hakuhodo Dy Media Partners.  It was the third consecutive Super Bowl to show an increase on those networks.

The game also proved to be a popular viewing choice for fans in the world’s most populous nation, as more than 20 million people in China watched Super Bowl XXXIX on Dragon TV, a division of the SHANGHAI MEDIA GROUP.

“We are thrilled to see our new fan development and media distribution strategies resulting in higher ratings for NFL game broadcasts abroad,” said KATIE BOES, NFL senior director of international media.

“We expect to enjoy continued growth in our broadcast audience during the upcoming 2005 NFL season due to increased terrestrial coverage, the rollout of more extensive grassroots participation programs, and increased availability of services such as Sunday Ticket and NFL Network.”