Nielsen Rates Super Bowl Low

NEW YORK — Despite projections that Super Bowl XXI would be the most watched program in television history, Sunday’s contest between the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos was the lowest-rated Super Bowl since 1981, Nielsen figures released today showed.

The estimated 123 million viewers who tuned in to watch all or part of Super Bowl XXI were enough to barely give CBS victory in the overall weekly ratings. The game got a 45.8 rating and 66 audience share. The lowest-rated 1981 Super Bowl was between the Oakland Raiders and the Philadelphia Eagles.