It’s a go … or, more precisely, a FOX Sports GO, for local ads in a live stream of the NFL’s penultimate match of the 2016-17 season.
For the first time ever, a live stream of the Super Bowl will feature local advertisement integration.
A live, non-authenticated stream of Super Bowl LI will be made available to users of the FOX Sports GO streaming platform, which can be accessed from iOS and Android-powered devices, Windows, and Amazon tablets or through such connected devices as Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire and XBOX One.
Not a paid subscriber? No worries: For the Super Bowl broadcast, users will not need to enter their pay TV credentials for viewing.
More than 170 FOX affiliates around the country are partnering with FOX Sports to program local digital ads.
Participating affiliates will have access to same ad inventory for both the linear and digital broadcasts of the Feb. 5 game.
FOX Sports President/COO and Executive Producer Eric Shanks said, “As part of the buildup to this year’s Super Bowl, we’re committed to creating the best possible experience for fans by dramatically expanding the ways and places in which they can watch the game. Our pioneering collaboration with our affiliates to allow streaming local ad insertions will make commercials even more relevant for viewers and help make this year’s game even more of a personal experience for every fan.”
Brian Jones, EVP/COO of Nexstar Broadcasting Group and Chairman of the FOX Affiliates Board of Governors, added, “We’re excited that this year’s Super Bowl will showcase the unique relationship of FOX and its local affiliates, which allows us to collaborate on innovations such as this. An incredible 170 affiliates from all around the U.S., including 22 stations that Nexstar owns or provides services to, opted to participate in this first-of-its-kind digital ad insertion for the Super Bowl, allowing us to promote our local affiliate brands and reach viewers on a national scale. We look forward to more groundbreaking collaborations with FOX in the future.”
Earlier this year, as part of its leadership in TV Everywhere, FOX became the first network to launch live streaming of its prime-time entertainment programming on a national basis with the relaunch of FOX NOW Live in all 210 national markets.
FOX NOW Live also features digital ad insertion by local affiliates nationwide.
