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Complete List of Winners for the 34th Annual Sports Emmy Awards

Let’s go over the entire list of those who won hardware in the 34th Annual Sports Emmy Awards. The awards were handed out at Frederick P. Rose Hall at Lincoln Center in New York.

Overall, NBC Sports Group has reason to crow with 23 Emmys, the most of any sports media group. Turner Sports was next with 7 followed by HBO with 6. The ESPN Family of Networks received five awards and MLB Network had three. The CBS consortium, Fox Sports Media Group and NFL Network won two and YouTube got one Emmy.

The entire list is below. It’s a long list so I give a jump break on the main page. Get ready to scroll for a while.

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NBC Sports Group Crows About Its 11 Sports Emmy Awards

NBC was the network to garner the most Sports Emmy Awards with 11 taking home the bacon for the Olympics, Sunday Night Football, Super Bowl XLVI, Bob Costas, Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth. That’s a lot of hardware. The next highest award-winner was HBO with six.

Here’s NBC’s press release.

NBC SPORTS GROUP COLLECTS 11 SPORTS EMMY AWARDS, MOST OF ANY SPORTS MEDIA COMPANY

London Olympics Garners Five Awards, Including Outstanding Live Event Turnaround
Sunday Night Football Wins Fifth Consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Series; Super Bowl XLVI Wins for Outstanding Live Sports Special
Bob Costas, Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Pierre McGuire Honored

NEW YORK – May 7, 2013 – NBC Sports Group won 11 Sports Emmy Awards, the most of any sports media company for the third straight year; the London Olympics received five Emmys, including Outstanding Live Event Turnaround; Super Bowl XLVII won for Outstanding Live Sports Special; Sunday Night Football won its fifth consecutive award for Outstanding Live Sports Series; and Bob Costas, Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Pierre McGuire were all honored in their respective categories at the 34^th Annual Sports Emmy Awards, presented tonight by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

MARK LAZARUS, NBC SPORTS GROUP CHAIRMAN: “We could not be more proud of our dedicated team. Tonight is particularly special because we were recognized for our coverage of the London Olympics and the NFL, two properties that touch virtually everyone in the NBC Sports Group – and our on-air commentators. It’s rewarding to know that our talent continues to be recognized year in and year out by our peers.”

Formed in January, 2011, the NBC Sports Group consists of NBC Sports, NBC Sports Network, Golf Channel, NBC Olympics, 11 NBC Sports Regional Networks, two regional news networks, NBC Sports Radio and NBCSports.com.

NBCUniversal’s coverage of the London Olympics was honored with a total of five Emmy Awards in the following categories:

• Outstanding Live Event Turnaround;
• The George Wensel Technical Achievement Award – NBC, NBC Sports Network, NBCOlympics.com, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, Telemundo;
• Outstanding Technical Team Studio;
• The Dick Schaap Outstanding Writing Award;
• Outstanding New Approaches, Sports Programming – NBCOlympics.com.

For the fifth consecutive year, NBC Sports won Outstanding Live Sports Series for Sunday Night Football. NBC Sports has now won the award in six of the last seven years, also winning in 2007 for its NASCAR coverage.

NBC Sports was also honored with the Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Special for its coverage of Super Bowl XLVI. NBC Sports also received the Emmy in this category for its coverage of Super Bowl XLIII.

Bob Costas was awarded his 25^th career Emmy and fifth consecutive for Outstanding Sports Personality-Studio Host. Costas hosted the London Olympics, is the host Football Night in America, NBC Sports’ acclaimed NFL studio show, and Costas Tonight, which airs on NBC Sports Network. He won the Emmy in the same category last year for his work on Football Night.

Al Michaels was awarded the Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality – Play-by-Play, for his work on Sunday Night Football. For Michaels, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 32^nd Annual Sports Emmy Awards in 2011, this marks his seventh career Emmy Award.

Cris Collinsworth was awarded his fifth consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality-Sports Event Analyst. This marks Collinsworth’s 14^th career Emmy, which includes wins in 2007 and 2008 in the Studio Analyst category for work on Football Night in America.

Pierre McGuire, NBC Sports Group’s “Inside the Glass” analyst for its NHL coverage, was awarded his first career Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality – Sports Reporter.

And ESPN’s press release is coming next.

34th Annual Sports Emmy Awards Winners

The 34th Annual Sports Emmy Awards were handed out tonight in New York at Frederick P. Rose Hall at the Time Warner Center.

Thanks to Josh Krulewitz, ESPN public relations maven, I can list the individual winners. I’ll have a full list from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences tomorrow and I’ll post it when it becomes available.

First, no surprises in the talent categories. The usual suspects won, Costas, Collinsworth, Barkley and Al Michaels is back for play-by-play, his sixth Emmy.

If you want to see the nominations in full, you can go here.

I’ll go in the order the awards were handed out.

The George Wensel Technical Achievement Award – Games of the XXX Olympiad: The Multi-Screen Olympics, NBC/Bravo/CNBC/MSNBC/NBC Sports Network/NBCOlympics.com/Telemundo

Outstanding Live Event Audio/Sound – NASCAR on Fox, Fox

Outstanding Production Design/Art Direction – NCAA March Madness: Brackets Everywhere, truTV

Outstanding Studio Show Weekly – Inside the NFL, Showtime/CBS Sports/NFL Films

Outstanding Long Feature – Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Steve Gleason: Tragic Hero, HBO

Outstanding Editing – 24/7: Pacquaio-Marquez 4, HBO

Outstanding Sports Promotional Announcement, Episodic – A Football Live: Life Story, NFL Network/NFL Films

Outstanding Sports Personality, Sports Reporter – (TIE) Pierre McGuire, NBC (why?) and Tom Verducci, MLB Network/TBS

Outstanding Graphic Design – MLB Network Division Series: The Scrapbook, MLB Network

Outstanding Sports Documentary – Namath, HBO

Outstanding Technical Team Studio – Games of the XXX Olympiad, NBC/Bravo/MSNBC/NBC Sports Network/Telemundo

Outstanding New Approaches Sports Programming Short Format – Sport Science, ESPN/Base Productions

Outstanding Playoff Coverage – (TIE) National League Championship Series: Cardinals vs. Giants, Fox and NBA Playoffs, TNT

Outstanding Camera Work – Outside the Lines: Breaking the Silence, ESPN

Outstanding Edited Sports Special – One Heartbeat, CBS Sports Network/CBS Sports

Outstanding Music Composition/Direction/Lyrics – Namath, HBO/NFL Films

Outstanding Sports Promotional Announcement, Institutional – (TIE) It’s Not Crazy, It’s Sports: Shake On It, The Name, Born Into It — ESPN/Wieden & Kennedy and NCAA March Madness: Brackets Everywhere, TBS/CBS/TNT/truTV

Outstanding Sports Personality, Play-by-Play – Al Michaels, NBC

Outstanding New Approaches Sports Event Coverage – Red Bull Stratos: Space Jump, YouTube/Red Bull Media House

Outstanding Open/Tease – NBA on TNT: All-Star Game Tease, TNT

Outstanding Post Produced Audio/Sound – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Miami Dolphins, HBO/NFL Films

Outstanding Sports Personality, Sports Event Analyst – Cris Collinsworth, NBC

The Dick Schaap Writing Award – Games of the XXX Olympiad: Measure & Motion, NBC

Outstanding New Approaches Sports Programming – Games of the XXX Olympiad: Countdown to London, NBCOlympics.com

Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology – Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, HBO

Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio Analyst – Charles Barkley, TNT

Outstanding Sports Journalism – E:60: Beitar Jerusalem, ESPN2

Outstanding Technical Team Remote – Winter X Games 2012, ESPN 3D

Outstanding Short Feature – NFL GameDay Morning: Immaculate Remembrance, NFL Network

Outstanding Live Sports Series – Sunday Night Football, NBC

Outstanding Studio Show, Daily – MLB Tonight, MLB Network

Outstanding Live Event Turnaround – Games of the XXX Olympiad, NBC

Outstanding Live Sports Special – Super Bowl XLVI, NBC

Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio Host – Bob Costas (who else?), NBC/NBC Sports Network

The network press releases crowing about their Sports Emmy wins are trickling in. I’ll post them in order of their arrival into the Fang’s Bites inbox.

Pat Summerall Broadcasting Timeline

With the sad news of the passing of former NFL player and broadcaster Pat Summerall, I’ll provide you with a timeline of his broadcasting career. Summerall was one of the best NFL play-by-play announcers of all time. One of the few who did both play-by-play and analysis during his career, he also branched out to call both college and pro basketball, boxing, golf and tennis.

Summerall was also a host for NFL Films along with eventual partner Tom Brookshier. Together, they called three Super Bowls (X, XII, XIV). And he was teamed with John Madden with whom he called eight Super Bowls.

He began his career with CBS back in 1962 and remained with the Tiffany Network until 1994 when the network lost the rights to the NFL to Fox. Summerall then moved to Fox where he stayed through the 2002 season. He worked the Cotton Bowl for the network from 2007 until 2010.

Summerall also filled in on ESPN’s Sunday Night Football in 2004.

Here’s the timeline.

1962 — Summerall joins CBS Sports after retiring from the NFL. He’s teamed with Chris Schenkel on New York Giants games.

1965 — Summerall is moved to DC NFL Team games with Jim Gibbons.

1967 — Calls the first half of Super Bowl I with Ray Scott, then moves to the sidelines for the second half to make way for Jack Whitaker and Frank Gifford in the booth. (UPDATE: Classic Sports TV and  Media says Summerall only worked the sidelines)

1968 — Begins calling The Masters and US Open Tennis on CBS. Also CBS abandons its practice of assigning announcing teams to one team. Summerall is shifted to the network’s number one team with Ray Scott. He and Scott call Super Bowl II.

1970 — Calls Super Bowl IV with Jack Buck and Frank Gifford.

1972 — Calls Super Bowl VI with Ray Scott.

1974 — Calls his last Super Bowl (VIII) as analyst with Ray Scott. Becomes the lead play-by-play man for the first season of the NBA on CBS through the finals between Boston and Milwaukee. CBS reassigns him to play-by-play on the NFL and teams him with Tom Brookshier, his partner on the NFL Films show, “This Week in Pro Football.”

1975 — Hosts the Pan American Games in Mexico.

1976 — Calls Super Bowl X with Brookshier.

1978 — Calls Super Bowl XII in New Orleans.

1980 — Calls Super Bowl XIV, his last with Brookshier.

1981 — Splits the first 8 weeks of the season between Hank Stram and John Madden. After Week 8, CBS decides to team Summerall and Madden permanently.

1982 — Summerall calls Super Bowl XVI with Madden.

1983 — Replaces Vin Scully on the 18th hole at The Masters and teams with Ken Venturi on the PGA on CBS for the rest of his time on the network.

1984 — Summerall and Madden team for Super Bowl XVIII.

1985 — Calls the NCAA Tournament with Larry Conley.

1987 — Summerall and Madden team for their third Super Bowl (XXI).

1990 — Summerall and Madden call Super Bowl XXIV.

1992 — Summerall and Madden call Super Bowl XXVI. Is admitted to the Betty Ford Clinic for treatment of alcoholism.

1994 — Summerall and Madden call their last NFL game for CBS, the NFC Championship between San Francisco and Dallas at Texas Stadium. Summerall calls his final Masters on CBS and is replaced on the 18th hole by Jim Nantz. Summerall and Madden join Fox Sports.

1997 — Summerall and Madden call their first Big Game in five years, Super Bowl XXXI on Fox.

1999 — Summerall and Madden pair for Super Bowl XXXIII.

2002 — Summerall and Madden call Super Bowl XXXVI, their final Big Game together. Madden leaves Fox to join Al Michaels on Monday Night Football. Summerall retires, then decides to return to Fox calling primarily Dallas Cowboys calls with Brian Baldinger. After the 2002 season, Summerall leaves Fox after the network would not guarantee he could work mostly Dallas games.

2004 — Substitutes for Mike Patrick on ESPN’s Sunday Night Football and partners with Joe Theismann and Paul Maguire on preseason and early season games until Patrick returns.

2007 — Returns to Fox to call the Cotton Bowl.

2010 — Calls his last Cotton Bowl for Fox.

2011 — Makes his final appearance on Fox on the Cotton Bowl pregame show.

A Late Friday Night/Early Saturday Morning Sports Media Notebook

Let’s do a notebook tonight, shall we? If I can’t do linkage and it always seems something gets in the way these days, I might as well do a notebook.

I’ll try to provide as many links and stories as possible here.

• Interesting story from The Big Lead. The daily 9 a.m.-3 p.m. ET SportsCenter block on ESPN is going to get a bit of a facelift. Jason McIntyre reports that instead of two shifts of three hours, ESPN will go to three two hour blocks. Kevin Negandhi and Hannah Storm will continue to be the combination to start off the block, but instead of going from 9 a.m.-noon, they’ll be reduced by one hour. Chris McKendry/Jay Crawford and Sage Steele/David Lloyd will be the other two weekday teams. ESPN has not confirmed the report, but The Big Lead’s confidence on this story is quite high.
• Here’s another story from The Big Lead. This upcoming season is the last year in Tim McCarver’s contract with MLB on Fox. Jason McIntyre gets comment from Fox on this.
• Add Cablevision to DirecTV and Verizon Fios to the providers tacking on a surcharge on subscribers who have packages with sports regional networks. In Cablevision’s case, it’s a $2.98 monthly fee that begins in April. Mike Farrell of Multichannel News says the surcharge is for subscribers who have the MSG Networks, SNY and YES RSN’s. This is the providers’ pushback on increasing subscriber fees from RSN’s which come as a result of high media rights for various professional teams. We’ll see if there’s any outcry from subscribers.
• ESPN Radio hack Colin Cowherd continues to say stupid things about the Midwest, this time about Indiana Pacers fans. This guy really needs to shut up.
• Joe Posnanski has been officially hired by NBC Sports to become its main columnist on its website and be featured on its multiple platforms. Ed Sherman of The Sherman Report wonders if this is the right move for Posnanski who left the fledgling Sports on Earth site after less than a year.
• Speaking of Ed, he speaks with Jim Romenesko about blogging for little to no money, something I’m quite familiar with.
• From David Goetzl of MediaPost comes this analysis of a lawsuit brought forth by Dish Network against ESPN. Very good background on a dispute that has been simmering for quite some time.
• To Sports Video Group where we have an interesting look at how ESPN3 produces a women’s college basketball that will be streamed on its platform.
• A few items from Paulsen at Sports Media Watch. First, NBA All-Star Saturday on TNT hit a three-year low, but still is among the best ratings ever for the event. Despite Danica Patrick, still not a good start for Fox for the Daytona 500 Speedweeks. And Paulsen has some various ratings news and notes.
• Ken McMillan at the Middletown (NY) Times Herald has the Arena Football League schedule on CBS Sports Network for the 2013 season. CBSSN takes over the rights after the AFL had been on NFL Network from 2010-2012. CBS will have the Arena Bowl in August.
• Robert Feder at TimeOut Chicago notes that Comcast SportsNet has ended its partnership with the Chicago Tribune and will rebrand its roundtable show as SportsTalk Live.
• Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail reviews the first week of TSN’s new radio format and its new afternoon drive host.
• Could the NFL move the Draft to May into a ratings sweeps period? Tim Baysinger of Broadcasting & Cable says it’s entirely possible.
• By the way, this is not necessarily sports media, but it’s related. NBC definitely misses Sunday Night Football. Since the NFL season ended, the Peacock is having a hard time attracting viewers. The network will finish in 5th place in the 18-49 demographic for the February sweeps. Dominic Patten of Deadline notes that NBC will finish below CBS, Fox, ABC and wait for it…. Univision for the first time in its history. It’s not been a good 2013 for NBC thus far.
• This week, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss passed away at the age of 80. He was first in the L.A. market to televise all of his team’s games creating the Prime Ticket regional sports network to air all of the Lakers’ home games and putting the road games on an over the air station. Before his passing, the Lakers went a step further in creating another RSN, Time Warner Cable SportsNet and doing two feeds, one in English and another in Spanish, another innovation. Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star looks at the impact Buss had on sports television.
• Media Life Magazine notes a new study which shows low recall of Super Bowl ads, something the NFL TV partners and its sponsors do not want to hear.
• Jonah Keri at Grantland says MLB has opened up the vault and released some of its old highlights.
• Formula 1′s ratings are down worldwide, a concern for the sport.

I think that’s where I’ll end things for now.

CBS’ Spectacular Super Bowl XLVII Open

When CBS opened its broadcast of Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, the network used this produced package featuring past Super Bowl MVP’s including Joe Namath and Lynn Swann. This set a new standard for opens.

This was a mashup of Queen’s We Will Rock You by Helmut VonLichten with the NFL on CBS theme by E.S. Pothumus. I was really impressed with this and I think you will be too. It lasts 3:05 and totally worth every second.

That’s it.

Quick Mid-Week Links

I’ll do some linkage here.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand says Dick Vitale finally gets to call the NCAA Final Four, but for an international audience.

John Ourand at Sports Business Daily reports that Fox is in talks with Regis Philbin to host a show on Fox Sports 1.

Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report wonders if having Gus Johnson on the World Cup will work for Fox.

Marisa Guthrie of the Hollywood Reporter talks with CBS Sports Head Honcho Sean McManus about the network’s handling of Super Bowl XLVII.

Rick Kissell at Variety says the Super Bowl put CBS on top of the 18-49 ratings demographic and probably put it there to stay for the rest of the TV season.

George Winslow of Broadcasting & Cable says online streaming of the Super Bowl set a record.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News has NBC looking forward to the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Anthony CrupiCrupiCrupi of Adweek says CBS did not experience a post-Super Bowl bounce on Monday.

Brian Steinberg of Advertising Age notes that Fox is already pitching advertisers for Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey.

Bill Cromwell from Media Life Magazine says Budweiser’s touching Clydesdale Super Bowl ad was the most popular among the publication’s readers.

Jeff Pfeiffer at Channel Guide says Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl received its highest ratings ever on Sunday.

The Nielsen Wire blog has the final viewing numbers for Super Bowl XLVII on CBS. Still close to my prediction of 108.2 million.

The Tampa Bay Times’ Eric Deggans writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center says CBS failed to address the main issues facing the National Football League before, during and after its Super Bowl broadcast.

Brandon Costa of Sports Video Group says ESPN has blanketed the country with satellite trucks in order to cover National Signing Day today.

ESPN’s Darren Rovell asks if movie ads were the true winners on Super Bowl Sunday.

The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn writes that former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield will co-host a new reality show on MLB Network. Wait until you read about the premise.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says NBC will begin its Olympics coverage from Sochi a day early.

Newsday’s Neil Best says Lindsay Vonn’s injury at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships put a damper on NBC’s Olympic media kickoff event on Tuesday.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette says Time Warner Cable has added MSG Plus and MSG Plus 2 in the Capital Region.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes that Tennis Channel will air Rafael Nadal’s return to tennis today.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call feels CBS did not step up to the magnitude of Super Bowl XLVII.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun says some local TV stations did not distinguish themselves during coverage of the Ravens Championship Parade.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle reports that the Astros are changing radio stations.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman says Super Bowl XLVII set a local ratings record.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that the Reds will remain on its flagship station and with it, air more Spring Training games.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says on his weekly radio show appearance, Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers offered the olive branch to Brett Favre.

Danny Ecker from Crain’s Chicago Business looks at how Windy City businesses fared during Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News looks into Fox’s announcement of using Gus Johnson on soccer.

The Toronto Globe and Mail runs a Canadian Press story reporting that former pitcher Jack Morris will become a Blue Jays TV and radio analyst.

The Canadian Sports Media blog wasn’t happy about CTV cutting off Super Bowl coverage early for the second year in a row.

EPL Talk is not thrilled about having Gus Johnson on soccer.

Jason McIntyre at The Big Lead says SportsNation co-host Charissa Thompson has a new boyfriend and he works with the Alleged Worldwide Leader as well.

In Awful Announcing, Allen Kenney writes that due to ESPN’s high college football rights fees, Disney’s profits fell in the first quarter of its fiscal year.

Dave Kohl at The Broadcast Booth looks at the coverage that National Signing Day is receiving.

And that will conclude our linkage.

Super Bowl XLVII Sets Streaming Record

In just its second year of online streaming, the Super Bowl was able to increase the number of online steams from 2012. The National Football League says the stream of the Baltimore Ravens vs. the San Francisco 49ers attracted three million unique users up 46% from Super Bowl XLVI.

In addition, those users generated 10 million video streams using the various exclusive camera angles that weren’t available on television. That was more than double from last year.

And the amount of time the game was streamed online was up almost 50%.

I’m sure the numbers will go up even further next year when Fox has the game.

Here’s the press release from NFL and CBS.

Super Bowl XLVII Live Stream Sets Viewership Records

Unique Viewers Reach 3 Million, with 114.4 Million Minutes of Video Streams
Most Social Telecast Ever, According to Monitoring Services

NEW YORK – Feb. 5, 2012 – The CBSSports.com, NFL.com and NFL Mobile live stream of Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday set multiple viewership records for a single-game sporting event in the United States and also made history as the most social telecast ever, according to data provided by Omniture and third-party monitoring firms.

Online, the CBSSports.com live stream of the matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens attracted three million unique viewers to the Super Bowl XLVII video player, up 43 percent from Super Bowl XLVI.  Viewers generated nearly 10 million live video streams, up more than 100 percent from last year, resulting in a record 114.4 million minutes streamed, which was up 46 percent over last year’s game.

Sunday also marked the largest recorded audience in CBSSports.com’s history, as viewers streamed the game live, watched Beyonce’s half-time performance (the first time a Super Bowl half-time performance has been streamed live online in the U.S.), viewed alternative camera angles, connected with friends and followers socially, and watched broadcast commercials again on-demand.

In addition to viewership numbers, Super Bowl XLVII smashed the record for the most-social event in the history of television, according to third-party research firms BlueFin, SocialGuide and Trendrr. Trendrr tracked more than 52.5 million social comments throughout the day, more than three times the numbers tracked for 2012’s Grammy Awards and Super Bowl XLVI, the previous top events.

“Our live stream of Super Bowl XLVII not only set online viewership and social-media records but set the standard for a second-screen sports experience,” said Jim Lanzone, president of CBS Interactive. “Our goal was to create an environment that would serve as the perfect complement to CBS Sports’ coverage of the game. We’re extremely proud of this historic experience.”

“This year’s record-setting engagement demonstrates that our fans are always looking for more ways to engage with NFL content,” said Hans Schroeder, NFL senior vice president of media strategy and development.

CBS Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl XLVII (Feb 3: 6:32-8:41 and 9:11-10:47 p.m. ET) was watched in all-or-part (at least six minutes) by a record 164.1 million viewers. Last night’s 164.1 million (persons 2+) is the highest number of viewers to ever watch all-or-part of the Super Bowl. The previous high was 2011’s 162.9 million for the Green Bay Packers-Pittsburgh Steelers game.

Official stats for Sunday’s live stream of XLVII on CBSSports.com and NFL.com:

• Unique Viewers: 3 million

• Total Minutes Streamed: 114.4 million

• Live video streams: 10 million

• Engagement: 38 minutes per-viewer

That will do it.

NFL and CBS Tout One Record Super Bowl XLVII Can Claim

This from the National Football League and the Columbia Broadcasting System. Both are saying that Super Bowl XLVII set a record in total viewership.

For the game which has been divided into two time periods, 6:32-8:41 p.m. ET and 9:11 p.m.-10:47 p.m. ET minus the Superdome power outage, the telecast saw a total viewership of 164.1 million viewers, beating the previous record of 162.9 for Super Bowl XLV on Fox in 2010. Total viewership means people aged two and up watching all or just a portion of the game.

This makes Super Bowl XLVII the most-viewed show in U.S. television history.

We have the NFL’s press release.

RECORD 164.1 MILLION FANS TUNE IN TO SUPER BOWL XLVII ON CBS

SUPER BOWLS RANK AS TV’S TOP 22 SHOWS ALL-TIME

The 2012 NFL season concluded with another television milestone as Super Bowl XLVII on CBS reached a total audience of 164.1 million viewers (6:32-8:41 and 9:11-10:47 PM, ET), making it the most-viewed show in U.S. television history according to The Nielsen Company.

The 49ers-Ravens championship game topped the previous record of 162.9 million total viewers for Super Bowl XLV (Packers-Steelers) and marks the fifth consecutive Super Bowl to reach a total audience of more than 150 million viewers. Super Bowls account for the 22 most-watched programs in history in terms of total audience.

Most-Watched TV Programs, Total Viewers

Game	Total Viewers
Super Bowl XLVII (49ers-Ravens), 2/3/13	164.1 million
Super Bowl XLV (Packers-Steelers), 2/6/11	162.9 million
Super Bowl XLVI (Giants-Patriots), 2/5/12	159.2 million
Super Bowl XLIV (Colts-Saints), 2/7/10	153.4 million
Super Bowl XLIII (Cardinals-Steelers), 2/1/09	151.6 million

Source: NFL, The Nielsen Company

Here’s CBS’ version of the announcement which states the viewership for Super Bowl XLVII is up 2% over last year.

CBS SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF SUPER BOWL XLVII IS  WATCHED IN ALL-OR-PART BY RECORD 164.1 MILLION VIEWERS

The CBS Television Network’s coverage of Super Bowl XLVII featuring the BALTIMORE RAVENS’ 34-31 win over the SAN FRANCISCO 49ers’ on Sunday, Feb 3 (6:32-8:41 and 9:11-10:47 PM, ET) was watched in all-or-part* by a record 164.1 million viewers, up 3% from last year’s 159.2 million for Super Bowl XLVI (N.Y. Giants-New England).

Last night’s 164.1 million (Persons 2+) is the highest number of viewers to ever watch all-or-part of the Super Bowl. The previous high was 2011’s 162.9 million for the Green Packers-Pittsburgh Steelers game.

*(watched at least six minutes of the telecast)

That’s all.

The Post Super Bowl XLVII Linkage

We have a lot of reviews, recaps and critiques of CBS’ production of Super Bowl XLVII. Phil Simms is a common theme here. Keep that in mind as you read the stories from across the country. If there’s one thing that unites sports media observers, it’s bad announcing.

Here’s my review that was written very early this morning.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch feels Phil Simms did not get the job done.

Will Leitch of Sports on Earth goes all Wu-Tang on CBS. Leitch does not spare anyone on the Tiffany Network.

Drew Magary at Deadspin would like the networks’ NFL pregame shows to undergo a huge overhaul.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand says CBS’ Steve Tasker was thrust into a starring role when the Superdome’s power went out.

USA Today has the results of its annual Ad Meter survey.

And USA Today explains how the results ended up as they did.

Ed Sherman of The Sherman Report says Phil Simms wasn’t up to par.

Dan Levy at the Bleacher Report looks at the best and worst of the Super Bowl on CBS.

Keith Thibault over at Sports Media Journal says CBS didn’t step up to the plate.

Marc Berman at Media Insights deciphers the preliminary ratings.

TVbytheNumbers notes that the Parents Television Council is up to no good once again.

Ken Kerschbaumer of Sports Video Group talks about how CBS handled the Super Bowl blackout.

Brad Gagnon from Awful Announcing reviews the CBS telecast.

David Lieberman of Deadline says sports rights fees are rising at a very fast rate.

Jordan Zakarin of the Hollywood Reporter writes about another Will Farrell Old Milwaukee Super Bowl ad that aired in only three markets last night.

George Winslow at Broadcasting & Cable notes that internet usage dropped by double digits during the Super Bowl.

Tim Nudd from Adweek looks at some of the Super Bowl’s best ads.

Simon Dumenco of Advertising Age has the 10 Super Bowl commercials that blew up social media.

Toni Fitzgerald at Media Life  says Super Bowl XLVII became the third most-watched program in US TV history.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes that CBS, especially Phil Simms could have done better.

Newsday’s Neil Best says Phil Simms was all over the place last night.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick certainly wasn’t thrilled with CBS.

Ken McMillan of the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record is in the minority who felt CBS got the job done on Sunday.

At the Albany Times Union, Pete Dougherty notes that CBS failed to inform viewers properly during the Superdome power outage.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun is no fan of CBS’ coverage and today is no exception.

However, David finds praise for NFL Network’s pregame show especially for Baltimore native Melissa Stark.

Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times says Phil Simms was a lowlight of CBS’ coverage.

Barry Jackson at the Miami Herald writes that CBS’ telecast was a mixed bag.

David Barron with the Houston Chronicle says the Superdome blackout could prove to be a boon for those advertisers which bought time late in the Super Bowl.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer chooses his top 10 Super Bowl ads.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that Milwaukee finished in the top 10 for local market ratings for Super Bowl XLVII.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post says the Superdome blackout made Super Bowl XLVII even more memorable.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News feels CBS’ explanation of the blackout made for surreal TV.

Joe Flint of the Los Angeles Times writes that CBS is seeing red after Ravens QB Joe Flacco’s “F” bomb seeped on air.

Charlie McCollum of the San Jose Mercury News says CBS didn’t rise up to the levels of the Big Game.

Peter Hartlaub at the San Francisco Chronicle notes that CBS had problems explaining the blackout.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail offers his critique of the CBS broadcast.

SportsRantz says we know the Baltimore Ravens will kick off the 2013 NFL season on NBC, but will it be against New England or Pittsburgh?

Cork Gaines from the Business Insider Sports Page says Fox is already promoting Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey.

And to end our linkage today, The Big Lead has the best pictures of Extra co-host and exhibitionist Maria Menounos during Super Bowl Week.

That does it. Enjoy the rest of your Monday.

CBS Deletes Blackout So Super Bowl XLVII Becomes 3rd Most Watched Program in US TV History

We have the numbers from CBS. Super Bowl XLVII did not set a viewership record, ending a three year streak that ended with last year’s Super Bowl that averaged 111.3 million viewers. Still, the average viewership for this year’s Big Game resulted in an astounding 108.41 million people who watched the contest between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers (A quick aside, your humble blogger predicted yesterday that viewership would be 108.2 million. I pat myself on the back).

CBS also requested Nielsen to delete the period when the blackout hit the Superdome in between 8:41 p.m. ET and 9:11 p.m. So overall, the fast national rating was 46.3 with a 69 share, again lower that last year’s numbers of 47.0/71.

CBS will take those numbers as nothing else can come close to an audience of over 100 million viewers. Rather impressive numbers despite being down from the last two Super Bowls. Here’s the press release.

CBS SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF SUPER BOWL XLVII IS THIRD MOST-WATCHED PROGRAM IN TELEVISION HISTORY AND
SECOND-HIGHEST RATED SUPER BOWL IN 27 YEARS

Average of 108.41 Million Watch Baltimore Win Super Bowl XLVII
Network Garners Fast National Household Rating/Share of 46.3/69

The CBS Television Network’s coverage of Super Bowl XLVII featuring the BALTIMORE RAVENS’ 34-31 win over the SAN FRANCISCO 49ers’ on Sunday, Feb 3 (6:32-8:41 and 9:11-10:47 PM, ET) was watched by a Nielsen estimated average of 108.41 million viewers, making it the third most-watched program in television history (Super Bowl XLVI – 111.3 million; Super Bowl XLV – 111.0 million).

CBS Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl XLVII earned an average fast national household rating/share of 46.3/69 (47.0/71; N.Y. Giants-New England; Super Bowl XLVI), making it the second highest-rated Super Bowl in 27 years (1/26/86; 48.3/70; Chicago-New England).

Last night’s Super Bowl HH rating/share peaked at a 50.7/73 with an average of 113.92 million viewers from 10:30-10:47 PM, ET.

That will do it.

How Kevin Harlan Described The Super Bowl Blackout on Radio

One advantage of radio is that when power goes out, you go to telephones to make due until the electricity comes back. That is what happened to Dial Global Radio, the national audio NFL rightsholder and broadcaster of the Super Bowl. Kevin Harlan was at the mic when the blackout occurred. After some dead air, the Dial Global control room in New York went to commercial and engineers were able to establish contact with the broadcast booth via a landline telephone.

Boomer Esiason used a second landline to talk with Harlan and sideline reporters James Lofton and Mark Malone used their cell phones from the field. Host Jim Gray had to vamp on a landline phone as well.

Until the power returned, Dial Global used the old fashioned telephone to continue the broadcast until everything was restored.

We have an audio clip of Kevin describing the scene. I wish that CBS had used telephones with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms to help set the scene in the Superdome.

Great job by Kevin to describe the scene and being the listener’s eyes and ears. He’s truly one of the best announcers on national TV and radio.

Not Only Did You Stay During the Super Bowl Blackout, Your Friends and Relatives Watched Afterwards

We have the official press release from CBS Sports in regards to the overnight ratings record for Super Bowl XLVII. The ratings breakdown tells us a slight downwards blip after the Ravens scored on the 2nd half kickoff and blackout, but then soared as the San Francisco 49ers made their comeback to make the game close.

The average overnight rating set a record, 48.1 with a 71 share. That’s up 1% from last year. If those numbers hold, then we’re on pace to see a viewership record for the fourth year in a row.

Locally, Baltimore set the pace for the country with 59.6/83. New Orleans was next with 57.1/77 and Washington, DC was in third garnering a 56.9/80. San Francisco finished out of the top 10 markets with a 49.0/84 number.

Here’s the CBS statement.

1.  Baltimore                                   59.6/83
2.  New Orleans                              57.1/77
3.  Washington, DC                        56.9/80
4.  Norfolk                                      55.8/76
5.  Dayton                                       54.6/72
6.   Columbus, OH                           54.3/73
7.   Indianapolis                               54.2/76
8.   Richmond-Petersburg             53.7/74
9.   Milwaukee                                 53.4/73
10.  Jacksonville                              53.3/70

Note: Nielsen fast affiliate data released at 11:00 AM, ET is not time adjusted and will not reflect CBS’s actual Sunday’s time adjusted fast national ratings that will be available from CBS later today.

That’s going to do it.

The Moment The Lights Went Out At The Superdome From Inside The NFL Control Room

When the lights went out in New Orleans, we didn’t get much information through CBS. The network was hampered by a lack of information from the National Football League, Superdome officials and the city’s electric grid. When a statement was released, it only led to more questions that couldn’t be answered in the network’s Super Bowl broadcast.

Well, CBS News’ Armen Keteyian was at the game and doing a story for this month’s edition of 60 Minutes Sports on the behind the scenes machinations at the Big Game and was inside the NFL’s control room at the stadium. He was talking with the league’s point man when the blackout occurred. I understand why CBS Sports’ cameras weren’t inside the control room, but at least someone from there should have been made available to the live telecast to inform us what was happening and when the game would resume. No transparency here.

We have this clip from CBS This Morning that also provides a tidbit that Beyoncé’s halftime performance went three minutes over its allotted time. That’s very interesting. So a lot of things conspired to extend the Super Bowl to its latest conclusion, 10:45 p.m. ET.

Here’s the clip.

The entire 60 Minutes Sports piece will air on Showtime this Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET. I’ll post the press release on the program later today.

Super Bowl XLVII Sets Overnight Rating Record

This in from CBS. We’re learning that despite a blackout and a studio crew vamping for 35 minutes, Super Bowl XLVII set an overnight ratings record. If this holds for the final rating, we may be on the way to a viewership record which would surprise your humble blogger. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves right now.

The rating comes from CBS and CBS News.

That’s an astounding number. This means that despite the blackout and a 28-6 game at the time the lights went out in New Orleans, people stayed throughout the broadcast. We’ll see what this means when the final numbers are released later.

Super Bowl XLVII Provides Bizarre Moments; CBS Tries to Step Up; Phil Simms Missing

On Sunday, the Super Bowl was played in New Orleans for the tenth time, tying with Miami as the most times a city has hosted the Big Game. And in a city that is known for voodoo and the macabre, the tenth time in the Crescent City turned out to the most bizarre of any Super Bowl. Having to deal with a 35 minute blackout that was caused by a power surge, CBS had to scramble to cover the incident without its main voices, Jim Nantz and Phil Simms as electricity to the broadcast booth was cut.

For a network that normally doesn’t utilize sideline reporters, CBS had to rely on Steve Tasker and Solomon Wilcots to carry the broadcast until the studio crew of James Brown, Bill Cowher, Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe was ready to fill. Up until the power outage, CBS was having a decent broadcast.

Replays were sharp. The production was going well. Jim Nantz was Jim Nantz, calling a good game. However, Phil Simms was missing and perhaps CBS needed to issue an Amber Alert for him as he did not have his best broadcast. Simms did not step up for a big game, a rarity for him. Normally in the upper echelon of NFL analysts, Simms had a pedestrian performance. Several times Nantz tried to set up him, but instead, we received silence from Simms. I’m not sure what was going on in the booth.

On a fake field goal attempt by the Baltimore Ravens, Simms did not give an opinion on whether the failure would hurt the team at the end of the game nor if he felt it was warranted.

Also, Simms did not offer an opinion on a controversial non-call whether a 4th and goal attempt by the San Francisco 49ers at the end of the game was a penalty until three or four replays were aired.

Normally, an analyst who is on top of trends and a very good first guesser, Simms was behind on plays and seemed to be aloof. I hope this is a one-time thing for Simms. I normally like him, but I was wondering what happened to him on Super Bowl XLVII.

Back to the power outage, CBS had to fill 35 minutes. Highlights were used a couple of times, however, viewers were subjected to Cowher, Marino and Sharpe talking over each other. Boomer Esiason, normally a part of the CBS studio crew, was on the Dial Global Radio broadcast and thus, was not part of this portion of the telecast. And during this segment, we got our one and only glimpse of Tracy Wolfson during the game as she reported on the power outage. Why wasn’t she utilized more?

In addition, a big fail to the NFL for not providing a spokesman to CBS to provide comments and updates as to when the game would resume. Producers in the truck fed information to James Brown and he informed viewers on the resumption of the Super Bowl.

When the game resumed, CBS’ production which was at a B minus grade continued at that level.

CBS set a standard for sports opens with a fantastic production utilizing past Super Bowl MVP’s such as Joe Namath and Lynn Swann, set to a remixed “We Will Rock You” and NFL on CBS theme.

For the Super Bowl Today pregame, CBS provided the usual client strokes to Ritz Crackers in a painful segment featuring butcher Rachel Ray and to Pizza Hut. The show did offer a frank discussion on concussions following a feature on player safety. Also Esiason offered strong opinions in the last 35 minutes of the four hour pregame on Ray Lewis doubting his denials in a 2000 double stabbing in Atlanta.

Its best features were on the Ravens’ OJ Brigance who has ALS and on 49ers’ tight end Vernon Davis. Another strong feature was on Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch pointed out that CBS did not rely on silly celebrity red carpet interviews that had plagued Fox’s and NBC’s pregames over the last two years. Let us hope that Fox won’t bring them back in 2014 when Super Bowl XLVIII is played in New Jersey.

Greg Gumbel was a welcome addition to the Super Bowl Today hosting one panel at CBS’ Super Bowl headquarters in New Orleans with James Brown at the Superdome. Guest analysts Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals, Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks all showed promise if they choose to go to television after their playing careers are over.

CBS receives a B minus for the pregame.

For the postgame, San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh refused to an interview, the second consecutive game in which he refused to speak to the networks. The NFL’s TV partners pay a lot of money for access and I’m sure he’ll be “advised” by the league to do his part should he be in the same position next season. Shannon Sharpe who criticized Bill Belichick after the AFC Championship for not providing an interview to CBS, did not have time on the main network to do the same to Harbaugh and I’m not sure if he criticized him on the extended postgame on CBS Sports Network.

So it’s another NFL season in the books. We do know that NBC will cover the 2013 season opener in Baltimore in September. We’ll be ready to cover the TV networks then.

Overall Grades For Super Bowl XLVII Ads

A+

Taco Bell: Viva Young (2nd quarter)
Jeep: Whole Again (Halftime into 3rd quarter)
NFL Network: Leon Sandcastle  (End of 3rd quarter)

A

Best Buy: Asking Amy Poehler (1st quarter)
Oreo: Whisper (1st quarter)
Doritos: Fashionista Daddy (2nd quarter)
Paramount Pictures: Star Trek: Into Darkness (2nd quarter)
Volkswagen: Get Happy (2nd quarter)
Budweiser: Brotherhood (3rd quarter)
Ram: Farmer (4th quarter)

A-

Cars.com: Wolf (2nd quarter)

B

Audi: Prom (1st quarter)
Doritos: Goat 4 Sale (1st quarter)
Universal: Fast & Furious 6 (1st quarter)
Toyota: RAV4 Wish Granted (1st quarter)
Hyundai: Stuck (2nd quarter)
Walt Disney Pictures: Iron Man 3 (3rd quarter)
Kia: Space Babies (4th quarter)
Tide: Miracle Stain (4th quarter)
Mercedes-Benz: Soul (4th quarter)
Samsung: The Big Pitch (4th quarter)

B-

Coke: Security Camera (1st quarter)
Bud Light: Lucky Chair (3rd quarter)

C

Budweiser Black Crown Coronation (1st quarter)
Disney: Oz The Great and Powerful (1st quarter)
Bud Light: New Orleans Journey (2nd quarter)
Lincoln: MKZ Phoenix (2nd quarter)
NFL: Thank You (Halftime into the 3rd quarter)
Blackberry: My New Blackberry (3rd quarter)
Wonderful Pistachios: Crackin’ Style (3rd quarter)
Lincoln: Steer the Script (3rd quarter)
Beck’s: Saffire (3rd quarter)

C-

Milk: Morning Run (2nd quarter)

D

M&M’s: Love Ballad (1st quarter)
Pepsi Next: Party (1st quarter)
Subway: February (3rrd quarter)

F

Hyundai: Team Hit (1st quarter)
Go Daddy: Perfect Match (1st quarter)
Calvin Klein: Man’s Schlong (2nd quarter)
GoDaddy.com: Your Big Idea (2nd quarter)
Coke: Mirage (2nd quarter)
Subway: Congrats, Jared (2nd quarter)
Sketchers (2nd quarter)
E*Trade: Save It (3rd quarter)
Axe: Lifeguard (3rd quarter)
Kia: Hot Bots (3rd quarter)
Gildan: Getaway (3rd quarter)
Speed Stick: Handle It (3rd quarter)
SodaStream: Effect (4th quarter)

What?

MiO Fit: Anthem (3rd quarter)

Grades For Super Bowl XLVII Ads, 4th Quarter

Ram: Farmer — A
Kia: Space Babies — B
Tide: Miracle Stain — B
SodaStream: Effect — F
Mercedes-Benz: Soul — B
Samsung: The Big Pitch — B

CBS Statement on the Superdome Blackout

In the midst of the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVII, the Louisiana Superdome got hit with an electrical blackout forcing a delay in the game of 35 minutes. CBS scrambled into delay mode with sideline reporters Steve Tasker and Solomon Wilcots before tossing it to the Super Bowl Today crew of James Brown, Bill Cowher, Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe. Boomer Esiason was in the Dial Global Radio booth unable to make it down to the field.

They filled as best as they could, but Shannon Sharpe made some very strange statements.

Speaking of statements, CBS has released this one from spokesperson extraordinaire Jennifer Sabatelle regarding the blackout which knocked out power to the broadcast booth where Jim Nantz and Phil Simms were working.

STATEMENT FROM CBS SPORTS ON POWER OUTAGE DURING SUPER BOWL XLVII to be attributed to JENNIFER SABATELLE, Vice President, Communications, CBS Sports

“Immediately after the power failure in the Superdome, we lost numerous cameras and some audio powered by sources in the Superdome. We utilized CBS’s back-up power and at no time did we leave the air. During the interruption, CBS Sports’ Steve Tasker, Solomon Wilcots and our studio team reported on the situation as a breaking news story, providing updates and reports while full power was being restored to the dome including our sets and broadcast booth. All commercial commitments during the broadcast are being honored.”   

There you have it.

Grades For Super Bowl XLVII Ads, 3rd Quarter

Jeep: Whole Again — A+
NFL: Thank You — C
Walt Disney Pictures: Iron Man 3 — B
Century 21: Wedding — F
Blackberry: My New Blackberry — C
E*Trade: Save It — F
Subway: February — D
Bud Light: Lucky Chair — B minus
Axe: Lifeguard — F
MiO Fit: Anthem — What?
Kia: Hot Bots — F
Gildan: Getaway — F
Wonderful Pistachios: Crackin’ Style — C
Lincoln: Steer the Script — C
Speed Stick: Handle It — F
Beck’s: Saffire — C
Budweiser: Brotherhood — A
NFL Network: Leon Sandcastle — A+

Grades For Super Bowl XLVII Ads, 2nd Quarter

Doritos: Fashionista Daddy — A
Calvin Klein: Man’s Schlong — F
Cars.com: Wolf — A minus
Bud Light: New Orleans Journey — C
GoDaddy.com: Your Big Idea — F
Paramount Pictures: Star Trek: Into Darkness — A
Milk: Morning Run — C minus
Hyundai: Stuck — B
Volkswagen: Get Happy — A
Coke: Mirage — F
Subway: Congrats, Jared — F
Taco Bell: Viva Young — A+
Sketchers — F
Lincoln: MKZ Phoenix — C

Grades For Super Bowl XLVII Ads, 1st Quarter

Budweiser Black Crown Coronation — C
M&M’s: Love Ballad — D
Audi: Prom — B
Hyundai: Team Hit — F
Go Daddy: Perfect Match — F
Doritos: Goat 4 Sale — B
Pepsi Next: Party — D
Best Buy: Asking Amy Poehler — A
Budweiser Black Crown Celebration — D
Disney: Oz The Great and Powerful — C
Coke: Security Camera — B minus
Oreo: Whisper — A
Universal: Fast & Furious 6 — B
Toyota: RAV4 Wish Granted — B

NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning Quotage For Super Bowl Sunday 2013, Part 3

Now we have the final part of the quotage for the Super Bowl XLVII edition of NFL GameDay Morning. This is part 3.

NEWS & SOUND BITES FROM SUPER BOWL SUNDAY EDITION OF
NFL GAMEDAY MORNING –
PART 3 OF 3
3:00 PM – 5:30 PM ET

Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning

- “Ray Lewis will go down as one of the greatest leaders ever.” – Michael Irvin on Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis who is playing in his final game tonight.

- “When people talk about leadership, they are going to talk about how Ray Lewis did it.” – Marshall Faulk on Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis who is playing in his final game tonight.

- “I would rather not get to the Super Bowl, then to get to the Super Bowl and then lose.” – Darren Sharper

- “The better team is the San Francisco 49ers. When you put [the individual position advantages] all together, I don’t think it is that evenly matched.” – Kurt Warner on Super Bowl XLVII

- “The defense does not define the Baltimore Ravens. They are physical, but not intimidating [or] consistent.” – Deion Sanders on the Baltimore Ravens

- “There will be a game changing decision – like Sean Payton’s onside kick – one of the Harbaugh brothers will have to make which will separate them.” – Steve Mariucci on the battle of Jim and John Harbaugh in Super Bowl XLVII

- “He might not step on this field to play but he should understand he had a huge role and a huge responsibility in teaching this team that they could be a championship football team.” – Kurt Warner on San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Alex Smith

- “Absolutely there is a future for the pistol offense. You look at the production these [quarterbacks] are putting up week after week, and the stress that it puts on defenses.” – Brett Favre on if there is a future for the pistol offense in the NFL

NFL Network Super Bowl Picks

Marshall Faulk – Ravens
Warren Sapp – 49ers
Kurt Warner – 49ers
Michael Irvin – 49ers
Steve Mariucci – 49ers
Deion Sanders – Ravens
Brian Billick – Ravens
Willie McGinest – 49ers
Shaun O’Hara – 49ers
Darren Sharper – Ravens
Heath Evans – Raven
Melissa Stark – Ravens

On NFL.com the following video clips from NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing: 

One-on-one with John Harbaugh – Brian Billick sits down with the Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh to talk about is preparation for Super Bowl XLVII:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134473/One-on-one-with-John-Harbaugh 

Niners to have new offensive plan? – Are the San Francisco 49ers going to tweak their pistol offense and surprise the Baltimore Ravens? Steve Wyche and Ian Rapoport have the latest news surround Super Bowl XLVII:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134651/Niners-to-have-new-offensive-plan

Most overlooked Super Bowl XLVII storyline – With so many intriguing storylines surrounding the Super Bowl, which one is the most overlooked? Deion Sanders and Brian Billick give you some topics to be aware of:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134662/Most-overlooked-Super-Bowl-XLVII-storyline

The Lewis Legacy – Win or lose, Ray Lewis will walk off the field as one of the greatest players in NFL History. The NFL GameDay Morning crew breaks down the star’s legacy and impact he had on the game of football
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134696/The-Lewis-Legacy

Word on the Street: Super Bowl XLVII – Gerry Sandusky of the Ravens Radio Network and Ted Robinson of the 49ers Radio Network give you he word in the street surrounding Super Bowl XLVII:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134707/Word-on-the-Street-Super-Bowl-XLVII

NFL GameDay Morning goes back to high school – NFL GameDay Morning flashes back and takes a look at the crew’s high school pictures
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134718/NFL-GameDay-Morning-goes-back-to-high-school

Who has the advantage: Super Bowl XLVII– Who has the advantage in Super Bowl XLVII, the Baltimore Ravens or San Francisco 49ers? The NFL GameDay Morning analysts give you their picks:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134727/Who-has-the-advantage-Super-Bowl-XLVII

Olivia Munn joins the crew – Actress Olivia Munn joins NFL GameDay Morning to share her thoughts on Super Bowl XLVII and reflect on Munn’s history as a sports journalist:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134740/Olivia-Munn-joins-the-crew

Best of Favre on set – Catch the very best moments of Brett Favre on the NFL GameDay Morning set from NFL Network’s pregame Super Bowl XLVII coverage:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134743/Best-of-Favre-on-set

NFL GameDay Morning: Bold Predictions – Find out what bold predictions the NFL GameDay Morning crew has for Super Bowl XLVII:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134734/NFL-GameDay-Morning-Bold-Predictions

On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning started at 9:00 AM ET, with host Rich Eisen and analysts Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp, Michael Irvin and Steve Mariucci live from the Louisiana Superdome. Additionally, host Melissa Stark was joined by Deion Sanders, Brian Billick, and Jerome Bettis on NFL Network’s second set inside the Superdome. Ian Rapoport and Steve Wyche provided reports on the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, while Kimberly Jones reported from the Ravens’ team hotel and Stacey Dales reported from the 49ers’ team hotel. Amber Theoharis was joined by Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara at the NFL Experience, and Chris Rose and Super Bowl champions with the New Orleans Saints Heath Evans and Darren Sharper provided the latest from the NFL Fan Plaza. Finally, Michelle Beisner reported from Bourbon Street, Ari Wolfe reported from San Francisco, and Rebecca Haarlow from Baltimore.

That concludes the pregame quotage.

NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning Quotage For Super Bowl Sunday 2013, Part 2

Let’s look at Part 2 of today’s quotage from NFL GameDay Morning.

NEWS & SOUND BITES FROM SUPER BOWL SUNDAY EDITION OF
NFL GAMEDAY MORNING –
PART 2 OF 3
12 Noon – 3:00 PM ET

Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning

- “Ray Lewis is the face, he’s the attitude – he’s everything – and they’re trying to send him out on top. I believe that they will.” – Deion Sanders on Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who plans to retire after Super Bowl XLVII

- “When Ray Lewis announced his retirement, he raised the level of play of all of these guys. I give Ray all of the credit for getting this team right where they are.” – Michael Irvin on the Baltimore Ravens’ run to Super Bowl XLVII

- “I would have loved to play with him.” – Brett Favre on Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis 

- “You want to dictate to him and I don’t think they have the personnel to be able to attack and dictate to Colin Kaepernick for four quarters.” – Warren Sapp on the Baltimore Ravens facing San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick

- “He might not step on this field to play but he should understand he had a huge role and a huge responsibility in teaching this team that they could be a championship football team.” – Kurt Warner on San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Alex Smith 

- “Absolutely there is a future. You look at the production these [quarterbacks] are putting up week after week, and the stress that it puts on defenses.” – Brett Favre on if there is a future for the pistol offense in the NFL 

On NFL.com the following video clips from NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:

The Harbaugh DNA – Childhood friends of the Harbaugh brothers, John and Jeff Minick, share their childhood experiences that have molded John and Jim into winners:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134466/The-Harbaugh-DNA

Brett Favre returns to the Superdome – The NFL GameDay Morning crew catches up with Brett Favre as he returns to the Superdome, where he won his only Super Bowl title:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134607/Brett-Farve-returns-to-the-Superdome

How does winning a Super Bowl change your life? – The NFL GameDay Morning crew talks about how winning a Super Bowl can effect a player’s career in the NFL along with when they are done playing:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134608/How-does-winning-a-Super-Bowl-change-your-life

What is the future of the pistol offense? – Can the pistol offense survive in the NFL? Brett Favre weighs in:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134612/What-is-the-future-of-the-pistol-offense

Niners to have new offensive plan? – Are the San Francisco 49ers going to tweak their pistol offense and surprise the Baltimore Ravens? Steve Wyche and Ian Rapoport have the latest news surrounding Super Bowl XLVII:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134651/Niners-to-have-new-offensive-plan

Health & Safety of the Game: Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Laurent Robinson – Andrea Kremer reports on Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Laurent Robinson’s concussion and recovery process on NFL GameDay Morning:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134606/Health-and-Safety-of-the-game-Laurent-Robinson

On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning started at 9:00 AM ET, with host Rich Eisen and analysts Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp, Michael Irvin and Steve Mariucci live from the Louisiana Superdome. Additionally, host Melissa Stark was joined by Deion Sanders, Brian Billick, and Jerome Bettis on NFL Network’s second set inside the Superdome. Ian Rapoport and Steve Wyche provided reports on the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, while Kimberly Jones reported from the Ravens’ team hotel and Stacey Dales reported from the 49ers’ team hotel. Amber Theoharis was joined by Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara at the NFL Experience, and Chris Rose and Super Bowl champions with the New Orleans Saints Heath Evans and Darren Sharper provided the latest from the NFL Fan Plaza. Finally, Michelle Beisner reported from Bourbon Street

Part 3 will be posted when it arrives in the Fang’s Bites inbox.

NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning Quotage For Super Bowl Sunday 2013, Part 1

NFL Network is sending out quotage from its 8½ hour NFL GameDay Morning marathon in three parts. This is Part I.

NEWS & SOUND BITES FROM SUPER BOWL SUNDAY EDITION OF
NFL GAMEDAY MORNING –
PART 1 OF 3
9:00 AM – 12 Noon ET

Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning

- “The better team is the San Francisco 49ers. When you put [the individual position advantages] all together, I don’t think it is that evenly matched.” – Kurt Warner on Super Bowl XLVII

- “The defense does not define the Baltimore Ravens. They are physical, but not intimidating [or] consistent.” – Deion Sanders on the Baltimore Ravens

- “The Baltimore Ravens have to stop the run by not bringing Bernard Pollard up [near the line of scrimmage] so the San Francisco 49ers don’t go over the top.” – Brian Billick on the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive strategy

- “There will be a game changing decision – like Sean Payton’s onside kick – one of the Harbaugh brothers will have to make which will separate them.” – Steve Mariucci on the battle of Jim and John Harbaugh in Super Bowl XLVII

- “Joe Flacco’s mentality brought the Ravens to the next level. Maybe he realized it was ‘put up or shut up’ time regarding his contract situation.” – Deion Sanders on what has changed in the Baltimore Ravens offense since Jim Caldwell was named offensive coordinator

- “The 49ers have the best linebacker group [in the NFL].” – Steve Mariucci on the San Francisco 49ers linebackers

On NFL.com the following video clips from NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:

Super Bowl XLVII key matchups – Don’t miss the key matchups to look out for as the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers battle in out in Super Bowl XLVII:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134600/Super-Bowl-XLVII-key-matchups

Joe Flacco’s contract status – Steve Wyche and Ian Rapoport have the latest on Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco’s contract status:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134601/Joe-Flacco-s-contract-status

Flacco vs. Kaepernick – Would you rather have Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco or San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick on your team? The NFL GameDay Morning analysts debate:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134602/Flacco-vs-Kaepernick

Does defense define the Baltimore Ravens – Former NFL running back Jerome Bettis and Brian Billick join NFL GameDay Morning to debate if defense defines the Baltimore Ravens:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134603/Does-defense-define-the-Ravens

Biggest challenges for the Harbaugh brothers – What are the biggest challenges for the Harbaugh brothers? Rich Eisen and Steve Mariucci weigh in:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134604/Biggest-challenges-for-the-Harbaugh-brothers

What does Alex Smith’s future hold? – What does the future hold for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith? Steve Wyche and Ian Rapoport chime in with their predictions as to where Smith will land next season:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000134605/What-does-Alex-Smith-s-future-hold

On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning started at 9:00 AM ET, with host Rich Eisen and analysts Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp, Michael Irvin and Steve Mariucci live from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.  Additionally, host Melissa Stark was joined by Deion Sanders, Brian Billick, and Jerome Bettis on NFL Network’s second set inside the Superdome. Ian Rapoport and Steve Wyche provided reports on the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, while Kimberly Jones reported from the Ravens’ team hotel and Stacey Dales reported from the 49ers’ team hotel. Amber Theoharis was joined by Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara at the NFL Experience.

Part 2 is coming up.

Some Quick Super Bowl Sunday Media Thoughts

I haven’t been able to post as much as I would like over the last week and it’s usually a busy week on the site. My apologies. I will be here throughout today to update things and I’ll provide my grades to the Super Bowl ads after each quarter.

Some quick thoughts as we get ready to watch the Big Game:

• The last three Super Bowls have set viewing records. Super Bowl XLVI garnered 111.3 million on NBC. However, this year, the NFL enters this Super Bowl on a down note as the 2013 postseason averaged three year lows as Paulsen at Sports Media Watch points out. I think the Super Bowl viewership has plateaued and will not set a record this year. However, if the game goes to overtime, then all bets are off, but I don’t think the game will go to an extra period. The Big Game will garner 108.2 million viewers this year.
• It seems Super Bowl marketers want to get buzz about their ads before the Big Game. While many have learned their lesson and not released their ads in their entirety as they did last year, some still put theirs out in the days leading up to today. The ad that had the biggest buzz last year was Chrysler’s Morning in America spot that had Clint Eastwood narrating. I understand that marketers want their ads to go viral before the game, but I feel they lose buzz when they do that. But I’m not spending $4 million per spot and for many companies, this is the biggest shot they’ll get all year to get eyeballs. Still, I feel it’s best for marketers to air their ads during the game.
• CBS will have 62 cameras in the Louisiana Superdome for the Super Bowl. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will call the game and they’ll have Steve Tasker and Solomon Wilcots roaming the sidelines. Unless it has a halftime wardrobe malfunction as it did back in Super Bowl XXXVII, CBS gives you a very good nuts and bolts broadcast. It’s one of the best crews and has a good reputation in stepping up in the big events.
• Dial Global Radio will have Kevin Harlan and Boomer Esiason on the call. Esiason will do double duty as he’ll also be on TV with the Super Bowl Today crew. James Lofton and Mark Malone will be your sideline analysts/reporters. Kevin is a very good radio announcer. I love his Monday Night Football calls.
• Let’s play the game already!

Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday.

NFL Network’s First on the Field Quotage For Super Bowl Sunday 2013

We already have our first piece of Sunday NFL pregame quotage and it comes from NFL Network. It’s from First on the Field where Sterling Sharpe talks way too much and this is a guy who never talked to the media when he played.

Anyway, here’s the quotage.

NEWS & SOUND BITES FROM SUPER BOWL SUNDAY EDITION OF FIRST ON THE FIELD

Quotes from First on the Field

On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL Network was First on the Field at 7:00 AM ET, with host Melissa Stark and analysts Sterling Sharpe, LaDainian Tomlinson and Heath Evans from inside the NFL Experience. Additionally, Darren Sharper provided analysis from Café Beignet on Bourbon Street, and NFL Network reporters Albert Breer and Aditi Kinkhabwala provided live reports from both team hotels. Steve Wyche provided the first reports from inside the Louisiana Superdome.

- “Joe Flacco has realized it’s OK for him to be the leader of this Baltimore Ravens football team with Ray Lewis retiring…Joe Flacco is making plays and he’s now the leader.” – Sterling Sharpe on Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco 

- “Colin Kaepernick is a passer by birth and he runs by choice.” – Sterling Sharpe on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick

- “He’s going to be the key to stopping this San Francisco pass offense.” – LaDainian Tomlinson on Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed

- “If this game is close and it comes down to a kick, I don’t want David Akers kicking the football for me.” – LaDainian Tomlinson on San Francisco 49ers kicker David Akers

- “He not only wants the game to come down to a field goal – he’s hoping that the game comes down to a field goal.” – Sterling Sharpe on Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker

‘Sunday Sitdown’ – Jack & Jackie Harbaugh

Before their two sons face each other in Super Bowl XLVII, Jack and Jackie Harbaugh sat down with NFL Network’s Melissa Stark.

On if they wished their sons did not have to make the Super Bowl in the same season:
Jackie: “It doesn’t matter if we wished it or not because this is where they are. So now they have to handle that situation.”
Jack: “Twenty-six weeks, one half of a year. These guys have worked hard, and to see them both here is exciting.”

On having both sons facing each other in the Super Bowl:
Jack: “The scariest thing for me – and this is really scary – is if you’re in a situation where there are cameras on you and you’re watching the game, something happens and there is a reaction, a smile on your face, your hands or whatever you do emotionally, your eyebrows – that could be interpreted as maybe favoring one over the other. That just scares me because the last thing I would ever, ever want is to give any kind of feeling or impression that you favor one over the other.”

On if they will attend the Super Bowl parade of the team that wins:
Jackie: “I have no idea what we’ll do.”
Jack: “We need to be invisible. We need to be so proud of their teams and how they’ve gotten in this particular position right now…But this is their moment, this is their platform.”

On a conversation he had with John Elway’s father, Jack:
Jack: “That was one of the turning points in my life really as a parent, Jack Elway telling me they are going to have a lot of coaches; they are going to have a lot of coaches as they go through their career. But they only have one dad. Since that moment that he made that point to me, my life literally has changed. I think I’m a much better dad because of that now.”

First on the Field Super Bowl Picks

Melissa Stark: Baltimore Ravens; MVP – Joe Flacco
LaDainian Tomlinson: San Francisco 49ers; MVP – Colin Kaepernick
Sterling Sharpe: San Francisco 49ers; MVP – Aldon Smith
Heath Evans: Baltimore Ravens; MVP – Joe Flacco

That’s it.

Runtimes For CBS’ Super Bowl Today Features

We now have the times of the features that will be seen on the Super Bowl Today on CBS. Take a look.

THIS JUST IN…
…FROM CBS SPORTS

Following is the list of the scheduled times the features will run during CBS Sports’ SUPER BOWL TODAY pre-game show (all times ET; subject to change):

PATRICK WILLIS (2:15 PM)
Producer: Mark Burghart
San Francisco’s linebacker Patrick Willis grew up in rural Bruceton, Tenn., with three siblings in a small trailer. Life was not easy. His mother left when he was three, and his abusive father found that the daily struggle of raising his children became too much. As a last resort, the kids sought help from their school’s superintendent. Finally, the school’s basketball coach Chris Finley, and his wife, Julie, agreed to take in the four children. Patrick went on to play at Ole Miss and eventually with the 49ers, but the close bonds he had with the Finleys as a teenager remains strong to this day.

RAY RICE (2:35 PM)
Producer: Alanna Campbell
Baltimore running back Ray Rice takes us in his own words, on the Ravens’ journey to New Orleans. Along the way to New Orleans, Baltimore overcame injuries to superstars Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, as well as a late-season offensive coordinator change. Through it all, the Ravens never lost focus and find themselves one game away from becoming Super Bowl XLVII champions.

GATEWAY (2:40 PM)
Producer: Pete Radovich
On July 20, 2012, a deranged gunman entered a movie theater in Aurora, Colo, and opened fire. By the time he was finished, 12 people were dead, and 58 others were injured. Among those wounded, rising senior Zack Golditch of nearby Gateway High School. Shot through the neck, the 6-foot-5, 260 pound, 17-year-old became a symbol of strength and recovery as he fought his way back onto the football field.

Rachel Ray (2:50 PM)

O.J. BRIGANCE (3:00 PM)
Producer: Deb Gelman
The Baltimore Ravens beat the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV to win their first Lombardi Trophy. O.J. Brigance was the Special Teams Captain for the Ravens and was credited with the first tackle of the game. In 2007, he was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and given a prognosis of less than five years to live. O.J. currently serves as Senior Advisor to Player Development for the team he once played for. Undaunted, O.J. is an emotional inspiration to this current Ravens’ team and was selected honorary team captain for the AFC Championship Game. In a very poignant moment he presented the Ravens with the Lamar Hunt Trophy following their victory over New England. O.J. has lost the ability to walk and talk, but he is able to still communicate via computer. He will tell his story of determination and courage in his own words.

MUSICIANS’ VILLAGE (3:20 PM)
Producer: Joseph E. Zappulla
Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of New Orleans when it hit the Gulf in late August of 2005. Crescent City natives Harry Connick, Jr., and Branford Marsalis developed an idea to save part of the city’s soul – its music. They combined with Habitat for Humanity to create the “New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village,” making sure the sound that makes this city special, survives and thrives.

PLAYER SAFETY AND THE FUTURE OF THE GAME (3:40 PM)
Producer: Charlie Bloom
The topic of player safety and concussions has re-emerged in the news again with Junior Seau’s family announcing a lawsuit over the concussions he sustained during his football career. President Obama said this week, “I’m a big football fan, but I have to tell you, if I had a son, I’d have to think long and hard before I let him play football.” Millions of youth football players and their parents will be watching Super Sunday. Some are debating their children’s future participation as they wonder what is being done to make the game safer?What medical treatments are being developed to prevent, heal, and even reverse the effects of severe injuries from the game?

Jim Rome (3:50 PM)

CHUCK PAGANO (4:00 PM)
Producer: Charlie Bloom
Whether you followed football or not, the phrase “ChuckStrong” captured the nation. Indianapolis Head Coach Chuck Pagano was hospitalized with leukemia just weeks into the season. As Pagano underwent chemotherapy, the city and the nation embraced his battle against the disease. Along the way, he inspired other patients in their fight against cancer. The real-life drama took on a storybook feel when the Colts magical run into the playoffs with Pagano’s remission, allowed him to return to the sidelines by season’s end. This powerful journey is told for the first time by his family, wife Tina and daughters Tara, Taylor and Tori.

JOE FLACCO (4:10 PM)
Producer: Alanna Campbell
Including postseason play, Joe Flacco is the winningest quarterback in the NFL over the last five seasons. Despite such lofty achievements, he is not widely considered to be one of the league’s top quarterbacks. Boomer Esiason talks with Flacco about the Ravens’ season of adversity, the team’s late-season switch at offensive coordinator, the Ravens’ playoff run, and whether he has what it takes to lead Baltimore to victory in Super Bowl XLVII.

CBS News’ Scott Pelley’s interview with President Obama (4:30 PM)

VERNON DAVIS (4:50 PM)
Producer: Jeff St. Arromand
Vernon Davis, the 49ers’ star tight end, opens up to THE SUPER BOWL TODAY’s Bill Cowher about his maturation process in the NFL. No one has ever questioned Davis’ enormous physical gifts, but his attitude, early in his NFL career, was quite a different story. It so infuriated then-Head Coach Mike Singletary during a 2008 game, that he sent Davis back to the locker room for the remainder of the contest. In interviews for this piece, Davis and Singletary share an emotional message with each other.

RAY LEWIS (5:20 PM)
Producer: Deb Gelman
When Ray Lewis announced his retirement, little did he know that the emotional momentum would carry him and the Ravens all the way to the Super Bowl. Lewis’ former teammate, Shannon Sharpe, sits down with the future Hall of Famer to discuss his career, his final season and this Super Bowl ride.

THE HARBAUGH BROTHERS (5:30 PM)
Producer: Deb Gelman
It’s the overriding storyline of Super Bowl XLVII – the first time that a coaching rivalry is also a sibling rivalry. How did the Harbaugh brothers, Jim and John, get to this grand stage? They attribute it to their father Jack, who was the greatest influence on their lives and coaching careers. THE SUPER BOWL TODAY’s James Brown talks to both coaches about the influence of their father, growing up together and what it means to face your brother in the Super Bowl.

COLIN KAEPERNICK (5:40 PM)
Producer: Jeff St. Arromand
San Francisco’s multi-dimensional quarterback Colin Kaepernick has taken the NFL by storm. Thrust into the spotlight after starter Alex Smith suffered a concussion in Week 10, Kaepernick has taken control, going 7-2 in leading the 49ers to their first Super Bowl since the 1994 season. THE SUPER BOWL TODAY’s Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino visits with the young quarterback to discuss his newfound fame, the pressures and expectations that go along with starting in the NFL biggest game.

That will do it.

ESPN Previews Its Super Bowl XLVII Edition of Sunday NFL Countdown

We have the features and the approximate runtimes for the features ESPN will run in a four-hour edition of Sunday NFL Countdown. It will start airing as usual at 10 a.m. ET. Chris Berman will host and be joined by the usual cast of characters, Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson from ESPN’s Super Bowl headquarters at the Jax Brewery site in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Suzy Kolber will appear on a second set with Tedy Bruschi, Trent Dilfer, Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski. And the Monday Night Football team of Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden will originate from the Louisiana Superdome.

Here’s the press release from ESPN.

ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown Features for Super Bowl XLVII

Chris Berman and Countdown Analysts Live at Jax Brewery in New Orleans for Special Four-Hour Show;
Monday Night Football’s Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden at Louisiana Superdome;
Reporters Sal Paolantonio (Ravens) and Ed Werder (49ers) will cover the Super Bowl XLVII teams

ESPN will present a special four-hour Super Bowl XLVII edition of Sunday NFL Countdown live from New Orleans, beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Feb. 3. Host Chris Berman will be joined by analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson on the main set at Jax Brewery in the heart of the French Quarter. Suzy Kolber and analysts Tedy Bruschi, Trent Dilfer, Merril Hoge, Ron Jaworski and Steve Young will appear from a second set, while Monday Night Football’s Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden will be at the Louisiana Superdome, site of the Baltimore Ravens-San Francisco 49ers game.

The roster of Countdown analysts – with a combined 12 Super Bowl rings in 19 appearances in the NFL’s biggest game – will preview the Super Bowl XLVII matchup, analyzing the matchup and drawing upon their own experiences of playing and winning in the league’s biggest game.

Additionally, NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will report on the latest league and Super Bowl news, while reporters Sal Paolantonio (covering the Ravens) and Ed Werder (49ers) will provide updates throughout the program from the team hotels.

Planned Countdown features, in order of timing by quarter-hour (all times subject to change):

Steve Young and Trent Dilfer on the Super Bowl XLVII Quarterbacks (10:15 a.m. ET)

Steve Young is the last 49ers quarterback to win a Super Bowl while Trent Dilfer is the last, and only, Ravens Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Together, they will look beyond the playbook and provide insight on how the two quarterbacks – Colin Kaepernick (49ers) and Joe Flacco (Ravens) – are getting ready for the biggest game of their lives. In addition, Young and Dilfer will share their own Super Bowl day experiences.

Running Away (11:00 a.m.)

49ers linebacker and fearless pass rusher Aldon Smith sprints off after he sacks a quarterback – reminiscent of a warrior running away from the scene of his conquest. ESPN’s Rick Reilly reveals that Smith, who led the NFC in sacks this season, is not running away from anything.

Mayne Event: The Missing Harbaugh Brother (11:15 a.m.)

In a special Super Bowl XLVII edition of his self-titled and humorous “Mayne Event” segment, Kenny Mayne embarks on a mission to discover the man he thinks is the missing Harbaugh brother.
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In celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the Redskins’ 42-10 Super Bowl victory over the Denver Broncos, where Doug Williams became the first African American quarterback to start, and win, a Super Bowl, the pioneering signal-caller returns to San Diego to reminisce about that victory and how that Super Bowl continues to impact his life today.

Current Redskins quarterback and rookie sensation Robert Griffin III also narrates a tribute feature that includes prominent African Americans discussing how Williams’ performance in the Super Bowl transcended the game itself. Robert Griffin III narrates.

Steve Young and Jerry Rice with Chris Berman (11:45 a.m.)

Young and Jerry Rice were both on the field 18 years ago in the New Orleans Superdome when the 49ers last won the Super Bowl. Young threw the passes, while Rice led the receiving corps. The former teammates and Hall of Famers join Chris Berman on the set to re-live their 49ers’ Super Bowl XXIV memories.

Joe Flacco One-on-One with Ron Jaworski (12:00 p.m.)

After surviving a mid-season slump that cost the job of his offensive coordinator, Joe Flacco led the Ravens through the AFC playoffs with victories over the Broncos and Patriots, outperforming revered quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in the process. This week, Flacco is one victory away from a Super Bowl title. In a one-on-one interview with Ron Jaworski, ESPN’s respected guru of quarterbacking, Flacco discusses how he silenced his critics en-route to the biggest game in American sport.

Torrey Smith – Overcoming Tragedy (12:30 p.m.)

In September, Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith’s younger brother, Tevin, died in a motorcycle accident the day before Baltimore’s regular season game against New England. Fighting off the emotions, Smith caught six passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Ravens to a 31-30 win over their AFC rival. In her Countdown debut, SportsCenter anchor Lindsay Czarniak tells Smith’s story of overcoming grief and loss to help the Ravens reach Super Bowl XLVII.

Colin Kaepernick Interview with Steve Young (1:00 p.m)

At the beginning of the season, Colin Kaepernick was the backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.  Week 10, he replaced an injured Alex Smith in a game against the St. Louis Rams. This week, he is on the verge of perhaps a Super Bowl victory. The second-year quarterback sits down for a conversation with 49ers Hall of Fame quarterback and Countdown analyst Steve Young to discuss the team’s Super Bowl run and the magical season it has become for him.

Frank Caliendo’s Big Easy Adventure (1:10 p.m.)

In Super Bowl XLVII, comedian Frank Caliendo toured the New Orleans French Quarter impersonating Monday Night Football’s Jon Gruden, roaming Bourbon Street and looking for answers to which team will win the game and asking “person in the street” fans to solve the “Spider 2 Y Banana” mystery.

Gruden’s Grinders (1:15 p.m.)

MNF’s Jon Gruden presents the Super Bowl edition of his weekly Monday Night Countdown segment, highlighting players who are currently under-the-radar but will deliver performances in the game that are worthy of being called a “Gruden Grinder.”

Super Bowl Edition of C’Mon Man! (1:35 p.m.)

The Countdown crew offers a special edition of its popular weekly Monday Night Countdown segment C’Mon Man, focusing primarily on the head-scratching plays in the NFL playoffs.

In addition, the program will feature Jazz musician Branford Marsalis in a series of New Orleans Super Bowl essays penned by award-winning writer Rick Reilly, an “Eye in the Sky” segment where Hoge and Jaworski offer a Xs and Os preview of key matchups in the game, and the Super Bowl XLVII picks.

That will do it. CBS’ rundown with runtimes are next

NFL Network’s 10.5 Hour Super Bowl Pregame Extravaganza

Well, NFL Network keeps expanding its Super Bowl Sunday pregame fare. It’s gone from four hours to 6½ to 8½ to a whopping 10½ hours this year.

It all begins with the two hour First on the Field which hits the air at 7 a.m. ET/4 a.m. PT live from New Orleans with Melissa Stark and Sterling Sharpe. They’ll be joined by LaDanian Tomlinson, Heath Evans and Darren Sharper. They’ll be the first live pregame show on Super Bowl Sunday.

Then two hours later, it’s the extremely long, super-sized 8½ hours-long NFL GameDay Morning at 9 a.m. ET with Rich Eisen and a cast of 10,000 analysts.

We have the features you’ll see in the 10½ hours of coverage NFL Network will provide. Check it out, Winston.

NFL NETWORK LOOK AHEAD – SUPER BOWL SUNDAY 

‘First on the Field’ Kicks off NFL Network’s 10.5 Hours of Super Bowl Sunday Coverage at 7:00 AM ET
Super Bowl Champions Brett Favre & Jerome Bettis Joins Special 8.5-Hour Edition of ‘NFL GameDay Morning’ at 9:00 AM ET
Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh Sits Down with Former Baltimore Head Coach Brian Billick

On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL Network is First on the Field at 7:00 AM ET, with host Melissa Stark and analysts Sterling Sharpe, LaDainian Tomlinson, Heath Evans and Darren Sharper providing the day’s first analysis of Super Bowl XLVII. Additionally, Albert Breer and Aditi Kinkhabwala report from the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens’ team hotels, while Steve Wyche reports from inside the Louisiana Superdome.

At 9:00 AM ET, a special 8.5-hour edition of NFL GameDay Morning airs, with host Rich Eisen and analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. On the field, host Melissa Stark joins analysts Deion Sanders and Brian Billick to provide additional analysis.

Host Amber Theoharis and analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara are live from inside the NFL Experience, while host Chris Rose and analysts Heath Evans and Darren Sharper join the show from the Fan Plaza.

Provided below is an hour-by-hour breakdown of the Super Bowl Sunday edition of NFL GameDay Morning:

9:00 AM ET

• Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin break down the key matchups to watch in Super Bowl XLVII

10:00 AM ET

• Which quarterback would you rather have: Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers or Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens?

• Deion Sanders, Brian Billick, Melissa Stark and Super Bowl champion Jerome Bettis discuss if the Ravens are still defined by their defense

• NFL Network’s Andrea Kremer sits down with Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Laurent Robinson to discuss the impact of concussions

11:00 AM ET

• Faulk examines if stopping 49ers running back Frank Gore is the key to stopping Kaepernick

• Warner discusses how the playmaking ability of quarterbacks Flacco and Kaepernick is the key to deciding Super Bowl XLVII

• A look at the 25th anniversary of Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams’ performance in Super Bowl XXII and its lasting impact on the quarterback position

12 NOON ET

• Super Bowl champion quarterback Brett Favre joins the show

• Interview with former University of Nevada-Reno head coach Chris Ault to discuss the origin of the “Pistol” offense 

• Favre joins Faulk, Warner, Sapp, Irvin and Sanders to discuss their memories from playing in the Super Bowl

1:00 PM ET

• Stark sits down with the parents of the two head coaches in Super Bowl XLVII, Jack and Jackie Harbaugh

• Favre, Warner, Mariucci, Sanders and Faulk discuss the evolution of the quarterback position

• A look back at what drives Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and what his presence and motivation has meant to the team in their playoff run

2:00 PM ET

• Sitdown interview with Kaepernick’s adoptive family, Rick (father), Teresa (mother), Devon (sister) and Kyle (brother)

• Irvin and Faulk debate which Harbaugh brother they would like to play for in a Super Bowl edition of M&M

• Sanders and Billick give us their most overlooked Super Bowl XLVII storyline

3:00 PM ET

• NFL GameDay Morning analyzes the lasting impact of Ray Lewis

• Former Ravens head coach Billick sits down with the current head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, John Harbaugh

4:00 PM ET

• The NFL GameDay Morning crew gives their Super Bowl XLVII predictions

• Super Bowl champions Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara discuss if offense or defense will dictate in Super Bowl XLVII from the NFL Experience

We’ll have more rundowns coming up.