Super Bowl 2016 pregame: Start time, TV schedule and live stream
CBS has seven hours of pregame content lined up for Super Bowl Sunday.
The Super Bowl pregame show has taken on a life of its own. Even though the analysis is generally banal and there’s nothing new to say about the actual game, networks still pull out all the stops with elaborate studio sets, dozens of analysts and (in recent years) live musical performances. If nothing else, the pregame show certainly sells the grand spectacle of the Super Bowl.
Naturally, CBS is going all hands on deck with its pregame show this year. It has seven hours of pregame content lined up, featuring the usual studio pundits along with specials presented by NFL Films. But NFL Network and ESPN will also have programming that will get you prepped for the Super Bowl.
Let’s take a look at what all three networks have to offer on Super Bowl Sunday.
CBS
Super Bowl 50: Before They Were Pros: An NFL Films production, following players on the Super Bowl teams going back to their home towns and exploring how they got to this point in their lives.
Road to the Super Bowl: NFL Films’ annual look back at the highs and lows of the 2015 season, with all the grandiosity you’d expect from NFL Films.
Phil Simms All-Iron Team: Super Bowl Edition: To celebrate the game’s 50th anniversary, CBS analyst Phil Simms takes a look back at the best players and coaches from each decade of the Super Bowl. This special will also feature retired broadcaster Dick Enberg, who called eight Super Bowls.
The Super Bowl Today: The supersized version of The NFL Today you see every Sunday in the regular season. This features all the familiar studio faces with James Brown, Boomer Esiason, Tony Gonzalez and Bart Scott, while Ian Eagle and Greg Gumbel are also involved. Jason La Canfora serves as the lead insider, along with reporters Tracy Wolfson, Evan Washburn and Allie LaForce.
Super Bowl on CBS Kickoff Show: The final stretch run, featuring live performances from Ellie Goulding and Train, among others. This is also where we see the team introductions, the national anthem performance by Lady Gaga, opening coin toss and a tribute to past Super Bowl MVPs.
NFL Network
NFL Network has a full slate of coverage scheduled for the day, starting at 9 a.m. ET with a special edition of GameDay Morning Live followed by a special on Super Bowl commercials.
GameDay Morning Live: NFL Network is bringing viewers 8.5 hours of pregame Super Bowl coverage beginning at 9 a.m. ET. Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner and Michael Irvin will be live on set at Levi's Stadium, and they'll be joined by guest analyst Brett Favre. NFL Network will have a host of reporters and personalities covering every aspect of the big game, from Deion Sanders and Terrell Davis in the NFL Fan Plaza to Amber Theoharis and Willie McGinest on the Gold Carpet.
Super Bowl Commercials: At 5:30 p.m. Boomer Esiason, Kevin Frazier and Katharine McPhee will take viewers right up to kickoff as they host a special counting down the best Super Bowl commercials from the past.
ESPN
ESPN will broadcast live from Marina Bay in San Francisco throughout Super Bowl Sunday, with a full and varied schedule of programming starting at 6:30 a.m. ET.
NFL Matchup: ESPN’s preview show featuring Trey Wingo, Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge breaking down the X’s and O’s of Super Bowl 50 will air at 6:30 a.m. ET with a replay at 8:30 a.m.
NFL Insiders: ESPN’s program hosted by Trey Wingo and featuring Adam Schefter, Bill Polian and Louis Riddick will break down the details of the Super Bowl beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
Postseason NFL Countdown: ESPN's official pregame show will kick off at 11 a.m. and will be broadcast live from locations in Marina Bay and Levi's Stadium. Chris Berman will headline the coverage from Marina Bay, and he'll be joined by Wendi Nix, Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson and Adam Schefter. Suzy Kolber will be live at Levi's Stadium and will dissect every aspect of the Super Bowl matchup with the help of Trent Dilfer, Ray Lewis and Steve Young. Sal Paolantonio will be checking in with updates on the Broncos and Ed Werder will be covering the Panthers. Jim Trotter will also be providing team updates.
The game officially begins at 6:30 p.m. ET, but the festivities start long before that. Here is the complete schedule for the day.
All times Eastern
How to watch
CBS
Online: CBS Sports
11 a.m.: Super Bowl 50: Before They Were Pros
Noon: Road to the Super Bowl
1 p.m.: Phil Simms All-Iron Team: Super Bowl Edition
2-6 p.m.: The Super Bowl Today
6-6:30 p.m.: Super Bowl on CBS Kickoff Show
NFL Network
Online: Watch NFL Network
9 a.m.: GameDay Morning Live
5:30 p.m.: Super Bowl Commercials
ESPN
Online: Watch ESPN
6:30 a.m.: NFL Matchup
8:30 a.m.: NFL Matchup replay
9:30 a.m.: The Sports Reporters
10:00 a.m.: Postseason NFL Countdown
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