SOUTH ORANGE — The New England Patriots’ comeback win in Super Bowl LI may have made history, but people watched it the same way they always have.
A poll conducted by Seton Hall University’s Sharkey Institute found that an overwhelming majority of people watched the game on their TVs, as opposed to a computer, tablet, or other device. People also thought it was a good game, enjoyed the commercials, and praised Tom Brady as one of the best of all time.
Here are five key findings of the poll, which surveyed 661 people from across the country in phone interviews.
1. We watch the game on TV.
Most people — 98 percent — watched the game on their TVs. Only about 1 percent watched it on a phone, tablet, or computer. “It’s the biggest event of the year in America, and people want to watch it on their biggest and most reliable device,” said poll director Rick Gentile.
2. We like Tom Brady.
Of the respondents who identified themselves as sports fans, 63 percent said they feel Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in NFL history; 19 percent disagreed with the statement. Gentile called those results “remarkably high numbers, given the controversies surrounding him — a large dislike for the New England Patriots, his suspension over ‘deflategate’ and his support of a controversial president.”
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3. We like baseball, too.
About 44 percent of people said the Super Bowl was the most compelling of the recent sports championships – 26 percent chose Game 7 of the World Series, and 11 percent chose the college football championship between Alabama and Clemson. Gentile said those results are actually a big win for baseball.
“For the World Series to be named by one out of four Americans, three months after it ended and in the days after a thrilling Super Bowl is great news for baseball,” he said.
4. We don’t only watch half-time.
Asked what they enjoyed most while watching the game, 72 percent of people said the game itself. Only 13 percent named Lady Gaga’s half-time show, and 7 percent said the commercials.
5. We don’t think we are swayed by ads.
Only 12 percent of people said they saw a commercial that made them want to buy the advertised product. But, Gentile said that might not be an accurate reflection of how effective Super Bowl ads are.
“People generally don’t acknowledge that commercials influence their buying,” he said. “Of course, their purchasing habits show the opposite — advertising drives sales. And 12 percent of the viewing public is a very large number. Advertisers should be pleased.”
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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