At about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday just over half of all households which own TVs were watching the Super Bowl, according to early ratings figures released by CBS this morning.

These figures, based on overnight data from TV markets with local people meter measuring technology, only represent part of the total ratings picture.

And according to this data, the overall average household rating for the entire Super Bowl fell at 46 percent of all those who own TV sets.

More complete figures will be available later today, along with details on how many people watched the game total. But already, CBS is boasting about how the numbers were the best they've seen in 23 years among metered markets.

Here's the press release:

CBS SPORTS' COVERAGE OF SUPER BOWL XLIV SCORES HIGHEST RATING IN 23 YEARS

New Orleans Win Over Indianapolis Garners Overnight Rating/Share of 46.4/68 in Metered Markets

CBS Sports' coverage of Super Bowl XLIV featuring the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS' 31-17 win over the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS on Sunday, Feb. 7  (6:30-9:45 PM, ET), earned an average overnight household rating/share of 46.4/68, the highest-rated Super Bowl in the metered markets in 23 years.

(1/25/87; 47.8/68; CBS Sports' coverage of Super Bowl XXI – Phil Simms-led New York Giants' win over Denver).

This year's 46.4/68 is up +10% from last year's 42.1/65 (Pittsburgh-Arizona) in the metered markets.

            The Super Bowl XLIV rating/share peaked at 50.6/71 from 9:30-9:45 PM, ET.  Following is a breakdown of the ratings by half-hours:

(All times ET)

            6:30-7:00   –    41.5/65                                    8:30-9:00   –    48.0/69

            7:00-7:30   –    45.0/69                                    9:00-9:30   –    49.8/70

            7:30-8:00   –    46.3/69                                    9:30-9:45   –    50.6/71

            8:00-8:30   –    45.3/67                                   

Top Rated in the Metered Markets

1.                  New Orleans                      56.3/82                      

2.                  Washington, D.C.               56.0/73                      
3.                  Nashville                            54.4/73                      

4.                  Indianapolis                        54.2/80                     

5.                  Columbus, Ohio                 54.0/74