CBS Trying To Get NFL To Stream Super Bowl XLIV Online

Tuesday, April 21, 2009


I can't imagine that anyone would opt to watch the Super Bowl online, and not on television, but CBS is petitioning the NFL to get them to add the game on the web. According to Business Week, NBC's online streaming of Sunday Night Football is going to used as a template....

A big attraction for advertisers: Fans generally want to watch sporting events in real time, rather than storing them on digital video-recording services like TiVo (TIVO). While streaming viewers for other types of content chafe at watching online ads, says Screen Digest's Amel, sports sites can jam them into timeouts with little or no backlash.

And online streaming may come yet to the granddaddy of sports events, the Super Bowl. CBS hopes to entice the NFL to allow it to stream the game in February, when the network has the rights to telecast it from Miami, according to Smith. The NFL hasn't said yes, although it claims a success last year when it jointly streamed 17 games online with NBC as a test. The online streaming, which numbered in the millions, didn't cannibalize TV viewing of the Sunday night games, says Brian Rolapp, the NFL's senior vice-president for media strategy. He says 80% of viewers turned to the streams to complement TV watching, as the Internet version offered four alternative camera angles to supplement NBC's primary picture.

Rolapp says the league hasn't decided whether to stream games again this year, and would be open to discussing CBS's Super Bowl request. Says CBS's Smith: "They may say no. But there's night watchmen out there who can't get to a Super Bowl party."
I don't know if anyone saw CBS' online stream of the Masters, but it was by far the most amazing video quality, I've ever seen online. Again, I think the Super Bowl might not garner that many online viewers, but it's certainly worth a try.

CBS Cleans Up on the Sports Fans (Business Week)

7 Comments:

That is one of the ugliest Super Bowl logos I have ever seen.

49er16 said...
Apr 21, 2009, 3:21:00 PM  

CBS just needs to pony up the cash to have every major sporting event. If they can get them all online with the same quality as the NCAA Tourney, they'll be the kings of sports.

JHitts said...
Apr 21, 2009, 3:29:00 PM  

I don't blame CBS trying to get the NGL to stream the super bowl broadcast, becasue if you look at the way CBS covers the NCAA torney online, is by none the best video quality out ther. And I thoguht that NBC did a pwtty good job with its streaming of Sudnay Night games last year.

Unknown said...
Apr 21, 2009, 3:48:00 PM  

NFL

Unknown said...
Apr 21, 2009, 3:50:00 PM  

49er, you beat me to the punch. That is an atrosous looking thing. Serious, I could have designed something better.

walnuts said...
Apr 21, 2009, 4:07:00 PM  

What sort of person would watch the Super Bowl on a laptop? Loners? Idiots?

GMoney said...
Apr 21, 2009, 4:13:00 PM  

@GMoney

Being both a loner and an idiot, I still watched the Super Bowl on my TV... but, I might be interested if they had more expanded cameras and angles like they did for their Masters coverage.

Rob in WI said...
Apr 21, 2009, 9:17:00 PM  

Post a Comment