Super Bowl ratings - all-time high

As predicted, last night's Super Bowl was not only the highest rated sporting event of all time, it was also the highest rated television event of all time.

The New Orleans Saints' defeat of the Indianapolis Colts, on CBS, drew 106.5 million viewers. The previous record was held by the season finale of MASH, in 1983, which had 106 million viewers.

The game had a 45.0 rating, up 7% from last year's 42.0 rating for the Pittsburgh Steelers-Arizona Cardinals match-up. It's the highest-rated Super Bowl since 1996 and the Cowboys-Steelers, which had a 46.0 rating. (There are more viewers this year even though the rating was higher in '96.)

Last night's telecast peaked at a 48.5 rating between 9:00-9:30 p.m. ET. The game was seen in all or part by an estimated 153.4 million viewers, all of whom treated to a good game...and sub-par advertising.