NBCUniversal announced today that it will offer a free live stream of Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1 to all desktop and tablet users to promote its TV Everywhere service. For smartphones, Verizon has exclusive rights to stream the event to users through its own mobile app.
The stream will be available in the NBC Sports Live Extra app for tablets (and NBCSports.com/liveextra on desktop), which normally requires users to login using a cable subscription. However, for the 11-hour event scheduled to include pre-game festivities, the game itself and, for the first time, the halftime show, NBC will open the app to all:
The special access event kicks off at noon ET with NBC’s Super Bowl pre-game coverage and concludes with The Blacklist, which follows post-game coverage at approximately 10 p.m. ET. Consumers accessing NBC Sports Live Extra and NBC.com during “Super Stream Sunday” will not be prompted to log-in with their cable/satellite/telco credentials; however, as part of this special access, they will receive consistent messaging in and around the experience about the ease in authenticating after the end of The Blacklist.
The app is only available for users in the US and offers up to 1080p video for Retina iPads, but it doesn’t usually offer video over HDMI or AirPlay due to rights restrictions.
Variety notes that NBC doesn’t have rights for the stream on smartphones, however, as Verizon will have that locked down through its NFL Mobile app. Verizon and the NFL will also have a Super Bowl Stadium app that will include “exclusive in-stadium video content including commercials and replays from four different camera angles.”
The NFL will be forwarding users through its channels to the NBC and Verizon apps as its official stream. NBC said it hopes the event will “help raise overall awareness of TV Everywhere by allowing consumers to explore our vast TVE offering with this special one-day-only access.”
