I don't know how many of you watch american football, but personally I'm so glad we finally have it back on terrestrial, last time was on Channel 4 in ''96? '97?. I've only noticed ITV1 have been covering it since the Wildcard Playoffs, but I gather they've been covering the regular season too? Is this the first season they've covered since Ch.4 had it?
As an Atlanta Falcons fan I was obviously disapointed they didn't beat the Eagles in the Conference Championships two weeks ago, but I'll be rooting for the Eagles because I don't want the Patriots to win it for a 3rd time in 4 years. But I have this feeling the Pats will win it, but as long as it's a good match I'm not too bothered.
Will anybody else be staying up all night to watch it? Who do you think will win or who are you rooting for?
Five have had rights for the past 5, 6 years to Terrestrial NFL coverage.
yep, i'm sure NFL coverage is on five with loads of other sports overnight such as argentinian football, dutch football, wrestling, kickboxing. it's because on five no-one seems to recognise it., but i'm sure there was some NFL coverage (highlights) on ITV2 as well. The pictures were from CBS I think.
Five have had regular live coverage for years, mainly Monday Night Football from ABC and ESPN Sunday Night Football.
Sky Sports have live double-headers every Sunday Night, plus every playoff game live.
ITV have only signed a contract to show highlights of the playoff games (4 hours of football squeezed into a 50 minute show (minus ad breaks) and the Superbowl Live.
Presenting on ITV will be Gaby Logan, Gary Imlach and James Cracknell. Yep, the olympic rower James Cracknell.
Fox Sports are host broadcaster for this years Superbowl, so expect lots and lots of flashy graphics, astons, 3D animations and more.
In Canada, Global simulcasts with FOX. We get really bad Canadian commercials on top of the multi-million dollar commercials that are either high quality/funnier/better that is offered on FOX. The cable company does this.
Luckily, I get digital cable which carries network affiliates from the eastern timezone which aren't subject to simulcast.
Slightly OT, but who is in charge of promotion of the Superbowl in the UK? As I couldn't help notice that there was an advert for it in The News Of The World that was promoting it on both ITV1 and Sky Sports. In cases like these, wouldn't a broadcaster have choice or have some form of deal with the NFL?
It looks like an alcoholic drinks company was providing the advertising space in the ad I saw, probably in a bid to get people to watch a game which would no doubt feature them prominently.
As for American Football? Pah, bring back ice hockey...
Nice for us UK viewers to get a mention when they came back from the ad break at 00:12 UTC EDIT: And in the ticker underneath the scoreline!
TBH I don't know anything about the sport, I'm just watching it for the flashy graphics, and the fact they seem to have tailored the breaks in the game to suit the advertisers
Although I'm on Earlies this week - and up in little over four hours - I'm thoroughly enjoying the game (and the coverage on ITV1 it has to be said is very good).
