NBC and the NFL announced today that Super Bowl 46 will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and NFL.com. The game, often the place to catch a first look at new movie spots, will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Here’s the announcement:
The Super Bowl, Pro Bowl and NBC’s wild-card playoff games will be streamed online and on mobile phones for the first time, the NFL announced Tuesday.
The games will be streamed online at NBCSports.com and NFL.com through SNF Extra, which features an HD broadcast, DVR-style controls, additional camera angles, in-game highlights, live statistics and interactive elements.
NBCSports.com and the NFL have streamed games online since 2008 with SNF Extra, NBC Sports’ exclusive video, but this is the first time playoff games have been streamed.
“We are especially excited to now bring our unique and innovative SNF Extra video experience to the NFL playoffs, Pro Bowl, and Super Bowl,” said Rick Cordella, vice president of NBC Sports Digital Media.
NBC’s streams on Sunday nights typically average 200,000-300,000 viewers, compared with 21 million for the telecasts. The network has seen no evidence it hurts the traditional broadcasts’ healthy TV ratings. If anything, the extra options online may help keep fans glued to the games on their sets.
“We don’t want to limit ourselves to people not in front of the TV,” Cordella said. “The playoffs are appointment viewing,” he added. “People schedule their day around it.”
“By adding multiple camera angles, HD-quality video, DVR controls along with social interactivity, our online streaming represents a compelling, second-screen experience that nicely complements NBC’s on-air presentation.”
NFL Mobile from Verizon will stream the broadcasts for the first time on a mobile platform, the NFL announced.
“We are pleased to work with our partners NBC and Verizon to bring our fans more ways to watch their favorite sport during their favorite time of the year,” said Hans Schroeder, NFL senior vice president of media strategy and development.
The Super Bowl is Feb. 5 in Indianapolis. The game is annually by far the biggest attraction on television, with last season’s Packers-Steelers matchup drawing a record U.S. audience for any show with 111 million viewers.
