
ST LOUIS (LALATE) – When the Giants vs. Patriots game kicks off in Super Bowl XLVI today, there will be a Live Stream online, for free, commissioned by the NFL. Giants vs. Patriots fans, and even fans of the Super Bowl XLVI pre-game show, will get over five hours of free live streaming video online today, the league confirms to news. Today represents not just a stark contrast to broadcasting coverage of past NFL Super Bowl games, but also a willingness of the NFL to embrace internet users as much as television viewers.
In previous years, the mere mention of a live stream online of a Super Bowl game suggested an illegal clip, ripped from one of the local or national TV carriers. Over the years, the NFL has been reluctant to stream its programming telecasts online.
But today that changes. NFL.com and msnbc.com are both carrying live streams, not just of the Giants vs. Patriots game, but also nearly five hours of pre-game shows, they confirm to news. The coverage started earlier this morning and will continue throughout the evening. Today, not only will the game dominate news, but also the way in which it is delivered to football viewers.
NBC tells news today that its coverage online is not just your traditional streaming video clip. Rather “NBC’s coverage of the Super Bowl and pregame live online” will feature “an HD player with DVR style controls, alternate angles, stats, highlights and more.” The program, however, has chosen Silverlight as the format for the coverage.
In contrast, Pizza Hut is sponsoring NFL.com’s coverage. NFL.com is currently featuring NFL Gameday live online in advance of the game. Unlike the MSNBC offering, NFL.com requires no software application with the imagery loading fast, smooth, and in impressive HD quality. With a Super Bowl start time of 6 PM EST, NFL.com will offer live streaming video coverage of the game thereafter.
To watch today’s game on NFL.com click HERE. To watch the game on NBC, click HERE.
Both carriers are expected to broadcast the full pre-game, half game and post game telecasts. In advance of the telecast, neither broadcaster has yet to comment to news if they will also air the Super Bowl television advertisements during the feed, or stay live on football coverage.
So could a time come when every major professional game is streamed online to fans, for free, in pure HD format? In the context of today’s digital branding, advertising platforms, and licensing programs, it appears only logical that today’s telecast should encourage other carries to do the same in the future.
NBC has been a leader in streaming Olympics overage online for years. But as professional sports coverage expands internationally, as U.S. viewership of overseas games continues to grow, the digital convergence of televisions and internet broadcasting today makes not only sense for fans but also for broadcasters.