NFL fans will be delighted to know that NBC Universal will be live streaming the events at Super Bowl XLIX for free.
The Verge reported that the network is planning to feature 11 whole hours of cable-free streaming to cover all the activities at the 2015 Super Bowl on February 1. This means that fans do not need to have a cable subscription to watch the championship game between the defending champs Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Fans who are not able to make it at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona will be able to watch the game through their computers and tablets. There is also no need to log in and authenticate.
Fans in attendance will be prevented from streaming the game from within the stadium, but NFL and Verizon teamed up to provide a specialized app that will allow fans to still watch the match live. Due to Verizon's rights contact with the NFL, only Verizon, not NBC, will be allowed to stream the game on smartphones.
The live programming will begin with the pre-game coverage at 12 p.m. on February 1 and will continue until the Seahawks and Patriots finish the game. NBC will proceed to feature its hit series "The Blacklist" afterwards and the stream will continue until 10 p.m. Fans can watch through NBC Sports Live Extra app and on the internet. Going to football sites like SuperBowl.com and NFL.com will also feature the stream.
It is not actually the first time that NBC or other TV networks streamed the big football event for free to internet users. The special inclusion of this year's "Super Stream Sunday" is the Super Bowl Halftime Show. NBC acquired the required music licensing rights to feature live performances by Lenny Kravitz and Katy Perry based on a report by Sports Illustrated. NBC Sports Live Extra was the very first product to live stream a Super Bowl game when it offered the service to viewers for Super Bowl XLVI on February 5, 2012.
TechCrunch reported that NBC will also market its "TV Everywhere" services. Viewers will discover after watching "The Blacklist" how to authenticate to view more content in the future.
Alison Moore, general manager and executive vice-president of TV Everywhere for NBCU stated, "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."
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