Super Bowl Sunday will be Super Stream Sunday for NBCUniversal, which has plans to stream 11 hours of Super Bowl live coverage on its website for free.
NBC's livestream of Super Bowl XLIX will start at 12 noon Eastern Time on Feb. 1. The stream will cover pre- and post-game coverage, as well as the game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots and the halftime show to be headlined by pop singer Katy Perry. To conclude the stream will be a new episode of the prime-time drama "Blacklist" at 10 p.m.
Viewers can watch the stream on their tablets and computers. Smartphone users aren't included. Verizon has struck an exclusive deal with the National Football League (NFL) to stream to smartphones. Those who prefer to watch on their smartphones can download the Super Bowl Stadium app Verizon and NFL plan to release prior to Super Bowl Sunday.
This isn't the first time NBC offered a Super Bowl livestream. In 2012, the broadcaster streamed Super Bowl XLVI, followed by CBS and Fox in the last two years. However, NBC is streaming this year's Super Bowl in the hope of persuading more users to subscribe to its TV Everywhere (TVE) linear streaming service, which offers video-on-demand services for its popular programs.
"Super Stream Sunday builds off of NBCUniversal's commitment to create broader TV Everywhere opportunities for our consumers," said Allison Moore, NBC's general manager and executive vice president for TV Everywhere. "We are leveraging the massive digital reach of the Super Bowl to help raise overall awareness of TV Everywhere by allowing consumers to explore our vast TVE offering with one-day-only access."
To get access to the free stream, viewers can simply go to the NBC Sports Live Extra or NBC.com. Normally, they are asked to log in using their credentials provided by their TV providers. This time, however, NBC will be streaming its Super Bowl coverage for free. Viewers don't have to pay for anything; they don't need to log in to anything.
There is, of course, a catch, as there always is with these types of free services. NBC says livestream viewers will "receive consistent messaging in and around the experience about the ease in authenticating after the end of Blacklist." In other words, NBC will not stop bombarding viewers with messages to purchase TV Everywhere subscriptions after the stream has ended.
For those who aren't bothered by all the future spam they will get, and for those who won't have any access to a TV on Super Bowl Sunday, the free stream is as good as it gets. However, others can continue to watch this year's Super Bowl on their big-screen TVs for free, and for many, in all their lag-free, high-definition glory.
