NBC to Live-Stream Super Bowl, No Strings Attached

Make sure your laptop and tablets are locked and loaded come Super Bowl Sunday. You’re going to need them.

NBCUniversal today announced plans to live stream 11 hours of Super Bowl content, no strings attached. Those strings typically include a log-in process with the consumer’s cable or satellite account information. NBC will not be streaming via mobile app, however, as they do not have NFL live streaming rights. But with a tablet or phablet and the right web browser installed, streaming from nbcsports.com/liveextra shouldn’t be an issue.

The 11 hours, which is five hours too long (figure 3 ½ hours for the game, 45 minutes each pre and post-game shows) will be followed by the midseason premier of The Blacklist. That’s quite a gift for cord cutters that happen to love both Marshawn Lynch and James Spader. NBC’s coverage starts at noon ET and figures to end around 10 pm ET.

NBC’s motive for its “Super Stream Sunday” is to promote its TV Everywhere marketing campaign, naturally entitled “Watch TV Without the TV.” TV Everywhere is the practice of content providers using authenticated methods, such as streaming or video on-demand, to allow customers to access content they already pay for via the internet or mobile devices.

“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 this special one-day-only access, said Alison Moore, general manager and executive vice president of TV Everywhere and NBCUniversal.

Cord cutters beware – after the Super Bowl, TV Everywhere will only work with a valid user name and password associated with one’s provider account. But maybe this is NBC’s one big step in a direction of genuinely free live streaming – a future of connecting to a stream without a provider account.

“Consumer behavior is changing and people are looking to have content when they want it and where they want it,” Rob Hayes, executive vice president of NBC Digital told USA Today last month.

Katy Perry fans are also in luck. According to the press release, this is the first time NBC Sports Extra Live is live streaming the halftime show.

NBC did add that users will “receive consistent messaging in and around the experience about the ease in authenticating after the end of The Blacklist.”

(Image via The Inspiration Room)





Seth loves baseball and anything with Sriracha in it. Follow him on Twitter @sethkeichline.

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Jeff in T.O.
9 years ago

Q: Can we watch video on NBCSports.com/LiveExtra outside of the United States?
A: Due to broadcasting regulations, NBC is only allowed to show NBC Sports content on the internet in the United States and U.S. Territories. Users outside of these locations will still be able to access an extensive set of non-event video content on NBCSports.com.

Dang.

http://www.ustvnow.com will have to do, or I can always venture down the street to a pub!

Matt
9 years ago

There is little to no disadvantage for sports to do this. Since sports are always viewed live and dependent on ad revenue, the more people you can put it in front of for your partners the better. Especially for someone like NBC that doesn’t have a ton of leverage in carriage fees. Or would prefer people can view their programming and ads for free because viewership for ads is paramount for live sports

Matt
9 years ago
Reply to  Matt

I mean, there are two ways to go in the modern era
1) Be free and stuff live or desirable content with ads
2) Charge subscription like HBO Go or Netflix.

I could be alone, but I don’t mind watching ads. But I think integrating ads AND charges isn’t sustainable going forward.

Anon
9 years ago

CBS had their broadcast of the superbowl streaming online for free two years ago. I don’t remember how much more than the game was shown (ex. pregame, postgame, etc.), but it was on the CBSSports site with no stings attached (logins etc.)

Randy
9 years ago

So what? You don’t need cable to watch NBC.

Anonymous
9 years ago
Reply to  Randy

Yeah, I’m confused. Isn’t NBC one of the networks that is free for everyone?

Grant Harper
9 years ago

I think that it is really great that the Super Bowl was streamed for everyone to see. This is really convenient for those that don’t have cable. I know that my good friend was really sad that he couldn’t see the Super Bowl since he didn’t get to see it. I will be sure to tell him about this in case they choose to do this next year!