Fang's Bites

Late Monday Afternoon Links

This week is going to be busy for me. I was cleaning out an office for most of the day and it looks like that will be on the agenda for the rest of the month. I’ll do my best to post what I can here. But just know that I may be scarce. I’ll do what I can to post breaking news when I can.

Let’s do some linkage.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today says the NBA on ESPN/ABC crew did not go overboard in covering Sunday’s Dallas-New York Knicks game.

Irving DeJohn and Helen Kennedy of the New York Daily News speak with the ESPN editor who lost his job over the Jeremy Lin headline slur that was seen on the network’s mobile site.

Ole Skaar and Helen Kennedy of the Daily News have Jeremy Lin forgiving and forgetting about the ESPN.com headline.

Ty Duffy from The Big Lead feels ESPNews anchor Max Bretos who was suspended for a month by the Alleged Worldwide Leader in reference to Jeremy Lin, got too harsh a punishment.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times also writes about ESPN’s actions in the wake of the Jeremy Lin headline.

Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo has Lin appealing to the Taiwanese media to leave his relatives alone.

Patrick Burns at Deadspin has ESPN SportsCenter going way overboard in Jeremy Lin mentions last week. That’s not good at all.

Paul Bond of the Hollywood Reporter has Glen Beck going after ESPN and ABC for the Max Bretos suspension.

Mike Silva at Sports Media Watchdog feels ESPN overreacted.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch interviews Yahoo’s Dan Wetzel and ESPN’s Michelle Beadle in the latest edition of his podcast.

Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand has the full joint statement from MSG Network and Time Warner Cable in regards to their agreement.

In this week’s SBJ issue, John writes that NBC Sports Network’s ratings are off to a slow start.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says MSG Network will take viewers inside the World’s Most Famous Arena’s Phase I renovation.

Tim Nudd of Adweek writes that M&M’s won the YouTube 2012  Super Bowl Ad Blitz.

Rich Thomaselli of Advertising Age writes that sponsors are knocking on Jeremy Lin’s door, hoping he will endorse their products.

Ryan Berenz from Channel Guide magazine talks with CBS/Golf Channel’s David Feherty.

It’s no secret that the New York Post’s Phil Mushnick hates the WWE.

The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman speculates that ESPN jettisoned Ron Jaworski from Monday Night Football in case Peyton Manning becomes available.

Jaworski speaks with Philadelphia sports radio host Mike Missanelli about being taken off Monday Night Football.

Thanks to Sports Radio Interviews for the link.

The Washington Examiner’s Jim Williams talks with TNT’s Shaquille O’Neal and ESPN’s Jon Barry about the Wizards.

Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times reviews the weekend in sports television.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel speaks with Frank Deford about his new memoir.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post notes the rise of Linsanity.

Tom Hoffarth at the Los Angeles Daily News has the sports schedule for this week.

Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail explores the policy of NHL teams that allow reporters to fly on their private planes with the players.

Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star looks at the ugly side of Linsanity.

Sports Media Watch notes the overnight ratings for the NASCAR Budweiser Shooting on Fox were up from last year.

SMW says the first half of NBC’s Hockey Day in America did well.

And that will do it.

A Few Sunday Links

Looks like I’ll be out for most of the day today. Avoided my day being planned for me on Saturday, but not on Sunday.

Multichannel News looks at NBC Sports Group’s Hockey Day in America coverage.

Kent Gibbons of Multichannel writes that Fuse which was dropped by Time Warner Cable ahead of its dispute with MSG Network, has been restored.

Aaron Couch at the Hollywood Reporter says ESPN has had to apologize for an Asian slur on its mobile site.

The Asian American Journalists Association is glad ESPN apologized, but is disappointed the slur was put up in the first place.

Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes couldn’t believe ESPN went there with Jeremy Lin.

Glenn Davis of SportsGrid says Saturday Night Live tackled the Jeremy Lin issue with some inappropriate Asian humor.

Kansas City sportscaster Herbie Teope provides his reaction to the Jeremy Lin slur on ESPN.com.

Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times writes in the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center that Super Bowl XLVI set a new standard in broadcasting.

Joe Favorito says Hockey Weekend in America is gathering momentum.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes that ESPN apologized twice in regard to Jeremy Lin.

Phil Mushnick at the New York Post wants Nicki Manaj nowhere near the NBA.

That’s it for now. Time for me to head out. Day’s planned for me behind my back again.

Some Quick Thursday Links

Ok, going to attempt some linkage here. Quite busy, but I’ll try to sneak some stuff for you.

Eric Fisher of Sports Business Daily looks at the new $3.99 charge for the new March Madness Live app for the NCAA Tournament.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News/Broadcasting & Cable also writes about the new March Madness Live app.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch talks with ESPN’s Ron Jaworski about being removed from the Monday Night Football booth.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has the impression that ESPN’s Jon Gruden didn’t agree with the decision to take Jaws out of the MNF booth.

Former New York Times columnist George Vecsey is now on Twitter and he’s a bit apprehensive about it.

Glenn Davis at SportsGrid is confused about yesterday’s Colin Cowherd interview with Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit cover girl Kate Upton.

Timothy Burke at Deadspin has audio of CNBC’s Darren Rovell explaining his Valentine Day’s proposal to Kate Upton.

Maury Brown at the Biz of Baseball says not every local MLB deal is equal and fair.

Anthony Crupi from Adweek notes that CBS El Capo di Tutti Capi Les Moonves predicts record ad rates for Super Bowl XLVII which will be aired on the Tiffany Network next year.

Adweek has a video with NASCAR CEO Brian France on the upcoming Sprint Cup season.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says thanks to the Super Bowl, NBC leads the February sweeps by a 2-1 margin over CBS.

Sam Eifling of The Big Lead talks with a Memphis sports radio host who kept grinding and has been rewarded with national recognition.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Ronnie Ramos talks about how to maximize your Facebook and Twitter strategies.

Also at the National Sports Journalism Center, Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times cautions traditional media about falling into prejudicial traps when writing about Jeremy Lin.

Karen Hogan of Sports Video Group explains the logistics for CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says one sporting goods chain is going all in for Jeremy Lin.

Kevin Lincoln at the Business Insider’s Sports Page notes that Time Warner Cable is sending out small refund checks for those missing MSG Network.

WEEI’s Kirk Minihane lists the best and worst Boston TV announcers.

The Boston Herald’s Inside Track found Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez going through the ESPN “Car Wash” yesterday.

To the Worcester Telegram & Gazette where Bill Doyle gets Comcast SportsNet Celtics sideline reporter Greg Dickerson to talk about epilepsy and Tourette syndrome which have plagued him.

Over to the New York Times’ Richard Sandomir who looks into ESPN’s Monday Night Football personnel move.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has the New York Mets Spring Training TV schedule.

Ken McMillan of the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record posts the Yankees Spring Training TV and Radio schedules.

Ed Barkowitz at the Philadelphia Daily News says Jaws being taken off Monday Night Football doesn’t mean the end for him at ESPN.

From the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg says DirecTV has added Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic’s overflow channel in HD, finally.

Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner says a two man booth will benefit Monday Night Football.

Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times writes that local sports radio talk show host is out of a job today.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says Astros voice Milo Hamilton may be retiring after this season, but the team won’t be losing him altogether.

The Houston Astros website has an entire section devoted to Hamilton’s career including some of his most famous radio calls.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Brewers will be featured at least six times on Fox’s Saturday baseball package.

Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times says the NHL finally has a TV partner which is fully promoting the league.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has reaction to Bob Ryan’s announced retirement from the Boston Globe.

Barry Wilner at the San Jose Mercury News gets some details of the new Pac-12 Network from league commissioner Larry Scott.

Blogs and reporters are constantly receiving public relations pitches. Here’s one regarding Jeremy Lin and it’s a bit over the top.

Sports Media Watch notes that the 2012 MLB on Fox schedule is reduced from last year due to the 2012 Olympics.

SMW says Golf Channel set a ratings record last Sunday.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog has the sports TV viewership numbers for last week.

Mike Silva of the Sports Media Watchdog has a review of the new CBS Radio Mike Francesa Show app.

Joe Favorito says the Phoenix Suns are using the Samsung Galaxy tablet on the sidelines.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media has the numbers for the NHL on NBC Sports Network from early this week.

Ben Koo at Awful Announcing notes that ESPN is not tiring of the Jeremy Lin overkill.

Lou Clinton at 38 Cliches is rooting for former Red Sox announcer Jerry Trupiano.

And that’s where we’ll end it. Enjoy your Thursday.

Tuesday Night Linkage

I owe you linkage. I’m in a bad stretch so linkage is scarce. I try to give you breaking news when I can.

Let’s start with Michael Hiestand of USA Today who reports that MLB on Fox will go eight straight weeks in primetime during the upcoming 2012 season.

Sports Illustrated’s Peter King says it’s time for him to step down as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Matt Pepin of Boston.com announces that legendary writer Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe plans to retire after the London Summer Olympics. Ryan will be missed, but I have a feeling we’ll still be seeing him around.

At Sports Business Journal, John Ourand looks at how sports talk radio is thriving while other formats  in the medium are failing.

John talks with a DC-based sports radio show on how it focuses on doing its program the old fashioned way.

SBJ lists some of the markets where sports radio wars are hot and heavy.

And SBJ has a look at sports talk radio by the numbers.

Dave Kindred at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center has hope for the future of sports journalism.

Joe Lucia of Awful Announcing has the MSG Network and TSN calls of the Jeremy Lin three pointer to beat Toronto to guide the New York Knicks to their 6th straight win.

Kelly Dwyer at Yahoo’s Ball Don’t Lie blog says Jason Whitlock is backtracking after his racist Jeremy Lin tweet from last Friday.

Edmund Lee of Capital New York goes inside the “hard-working” descriptions for Jeremy Lin.

Advertising Age notes that NBC is utilizing Google and ComScore to measure how people watch this year’s London Olympics.

Todd Spangler of Multichannel News looks at a new internet streaming TV service that will challenge copyright laws, but has the support of rich investors and one particular media mogul.

Tim Nudd of Adweek talks about Ford creating a fake Sports Illustrated swimsuit model for an ad in this year’s issue.

Tim looks at Samsung’s Super Bowl ad which poked fun Apple groupies.

Timothy Burke at Deadspin has the awkward video of CNBC’s Darren Rovell asking SI Swimsuit Issue Cover Girl Kate Upton to be his Valentine.

Darren says SI had to put Kate Upton on the cover or suffer the consequences.

Jason Brough at Pro Hockey Talk has New York Rangers fans angry over the MSG/Time Warner Cable dispute.

Tom Lorenzo at SportsGrid says Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton will grant his first post-relapse interview to … Glenn Beck TV?

Larry Mahoney of the Bangor (ME) Daily News says Maine native Ricky Craven will be a NASCAR analyst for ESPN this season.

NESN has a behind-the-scenes video with its Boston Bruins rinkside reporter Naoko Funayama on her gameday preparation.

NESN also has Friends of Fang’s Bites Jen Royle and ABC6′s Courtney Fallon talking about their dream dates as they attended a charity event in Boston last weekend. Former NESN Red Sox reporter Heidi Watney was also there.

Over to Richard Sandomir of the New York Times who says NBC is hoping the London Olympics will outpace the ad sales for the Vancouver Winter Games which ended up at a loss for the network.

Jerry Barmash at Fishbowl NY says WFAN has made it official that Josh Lewin replaces Wayne Hagin on Mets broadcasts this year.

Bob’s Blitz looks at the overhyped CBS Radio mobile app for WFAN’s Mike Francesa who once proclaimed it to be a “Twitta Killa.”

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union writes that despite not having Time Warner Cable subscribers watching, MSG Network’s ratings for Knicks games featuring Jeremy Lin are red hot.

Ken McMillan at the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record states that MSG will simulcast Knicks games in Spanish.

Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer says the Phillies are hoping to cash in when their TV rights go up for bid after this season.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has samples of Washington Wizards and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis’ takes on the print media.

Jose Lambiet of the Miami Herald notes that local sports radio talk host Sid Rosenberg owes a lot of money to an illegal offshore gambling site.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says Hall of Fame Astros announcer Milo Hamilton is expected to announce his retirement on Wednesday.

David speculates on who could replace Hamilton in 2013.

Steve Campbell of the Chronicle writes that Hamilton’s retirement is just one of the many changes expected for the ‘Stros.

Mel Bracht at the Daily Oklahoman looks at the local ratings.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says local viewers watched golf over the weekend.

Tom Hoffarth at the Los Angeles Daily News notes one of the finalists for this year’s MLB Fan Cave inhabitants.

John Daly at The Daly Planet feels NBC SportsTalk should bring NASCAR into the mix.

John also looks at ESPN’s NASCAR announcing lineup.

Sports Media Watch gives us last week’s sports television ratings.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says the NHL on NBC Sports Network drew decently last Sunday.

Steve looks inside the numbers of Sunday’s NHL on NBC Sports Network game.

Dave Kohl of the Broadcast Booth looks at Sid Rosenberg’s alleged gambling debts.

And we’ll end it there for now.

Bringing Out Some Saturday Links

Been battling the stomach flu over the last 24 hours which is why you haven’t seen new posts since the Weekend Viewing Picks. My apologies for that. Still feeling a bit blue over the flu and running to the bathroom every 15 minutes, but I’m getting better now. Been a tough winter for me getting sick, but hopefully, the spring will bring better health.

Let’s bring you some overdue linkage.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today says lucrative TV deals have emboldened the Anaheim Angels and Texas Rangers in the free agent market.

Brian Lowry at FoxSports.com rates the Super Bowl ads.

The Nielsen Wire blog says one particular Doritos Super Bowl ad is the Most-Liked.

Fred Frommer of the Associated Press has a feature story on how President Richard Nixon offered to keep the old NFL blackout rule in place if it lifted the local blackout on a home DC NFL team.

Alec Banks of Complex has the “20 Hottest Women in the History of ESPN” and I totally disagree with the list. If you’re going history, no Karie Ross? No Melissa Stark? This list is faulty.

The new radio voice of the Pawtucket Red Sox, Aaron Goldsmith goes behind-the-scenes of taping a new radio spot.

Multichannel News says NBC Sports Network has hired an ESPN executive to head up its original programming department.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Michael Bradley feels the media coverage of Gisele Bündchen’s comments after the Super Bowl were much ado about nothing, but he feels it could be the future of sports media.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid has video of Jeremy Lin’s insane spin move on Derek Fisher during last night’s Lakers-Knicks game.

Dan notes that Fox Sports Jason Whitlock made a racist penis joke about Jeremy Lin and Twitter responded.

Boston Sports Media Watch’s Bruce Allen writes in SB Nation Boston that sports can be fun, except with the Boston Sports Media.

The Connecticut Post reports that YES Network Nets and Yankees studio host Bob Lorenz was arrested this week on DUI charges.

The New York Times’ Melissa Hoppert spends 30 seconds with NHL Network host Kathryn Tappen.

Richard Sandomir of the Times says not even Linsanity can get the Knicks back on Time Warner Cable.

Richard says the Mets have hired a replacement for radio announcer Wayne Hagin.

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union talks with CBS college basketball analyst Clark Kellogg.

Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times writes that Nanci Donnellan, a.k.a. The Fabulous Sports Babe, is in very bad health.

Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union-Tribune talks with a former local sports talk show host who was fired from his job for making several derogatory remarks about a women’s college basketball analyst.

NBC San Diego also has an interview with the host who originally did not apologize for his remarks.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News laments the shrinking number of sports media reporters in Southern California.

Tom has a couple of notes that didn’t make his column.

Ben Koo at Awful Announcing is fascinated by ESPN’s extensive film library.

Sports Media Watch says the audience for Fox’s second live English Premier League broadcast grew slightly, but had the same rating.

SMW says this week’s Duke-North Carolina game had higher ratings from last year.

Lorenzo Arguello has video of ESPN’s Erin Andrews getting chatty with Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Brooklyn Decker at last week’s GQ Super Bowl party.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says NBCSports.com will stream all of the out-of-market early games from next weekend’s Hockey Day in America.

Dave Kohl of The Broadcast Booth says sports radio hosts getting personal is when they cross over the line.

We’ll end the linkage there.

Our Mid-Week Linkage

Time for some sports media links for today. Let’s get to them without further delay.

Let’s start with USA Today and Michael Hiestand who looks at the record online numbers for the first live legal stream of the Super Bowl.

Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated lists the best and worst NFL announcing teams.

Over to Mike Farrell of Multichannel News who writes that the MSG Network/Time Warner Cable dispute could last a long time and there’s no end in sight.

Eriq Gardner of the Hollywood Reporter says a magistrate judge has blocked an attempt by several former athletes wanting access to NCAA TV contracts in a dispute over EA Sports using their likenesses for video games.

Lacy Rose of the Reporter writes that actor/director Clint Eastwood is spearheading the launch of a new golf TV network.

John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable reports that the FCC has refused to reverse a decision against Comcast requiring it to carry Tennis Channel.

Tim Baysinger of B&C notes that Animal Planet’s annual Puppy Bowl received a lower viewership than last year.

Adweek has all of your Super Bowl ads in 2 minutes.

Andrew Gauthier of TVSpy says an Old Milwaukee Beer spot with Will Ferrell that ran on Super Bowl Sunday in the 2nd smallest market of the country, is getting some of the biggest buzz this week.

Erin Gloria Ryan at Jezebel notes that ESPN had a section for commentors to complain about female announcers. ESPN has taken it down and issued a statement.

Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group says NBC missed obscuring the now-infamous M.I.A. middle finger in the Madonna Super Bowl halftime show by less than on second.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says USA Network will air an inspirational NFL Films documentary on Friday.

TVNews Check has WCBS-TV claiming an NYC ratings victory for its coverage of Tuesday’s New York Giants Super Bowl parade.

Jerry Barmash at Fishbowl NY says WNBC-TV won the New York ratings for last week thanks to the Giants playing in Super Bowl XLVI.

Laura Nachman says the Philadelphia 76ers’ ratings on Comcast SportsNet are way up over last year.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle notes that Doritos and M&M’s were TiVO’s most watched Super Bowl ads for this year.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman writes about NBC’s ratings for Super Bowl XLVI.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says a Great American Ballpark scoreboard operator will represent the Reds in MLB Network’s Baseball IQ game show.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers pleased with his guest analyst stint on NBC Sunday.

Robert Feder from Time Out Chicago notes a local sportscaster who has a side gig with a podcast on science fiction and pop culture.

To Crain’s Chicago Business and Ed Sherman who says this year’s Super Bowl ratings in the Windy City were down significantly from last year.

Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union-Tribune says a local sports radio talk show host was fired after calling a women’s college basketball analyst for the mtn. not just one but several derogatory terms.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Hall of Fame Dodgers voice Vin Scully won’t be calling Spring Training games until the team returns from Arizona.

Michael Passanisi of Fenway West is not a fan of the Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy. Not many of us are.

Sports Media Watch has some ratings news and notes here and here.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog compares NFL to CFL ratings in the Great White North.

Mike Silva in Sports Media Watchdog looks at Mad Dog Radio’s Dino Costa ranting about teams removing media credentials.

Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing has video of MSG Network host Al Trautwig pounding the table after the New York Rangers lost to the New Jersey Devils after a no goal call on Tuesday.

And Tim Ryan has a photo of NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar posing with the dainty Zooey Deschanel? It’s not sports media, but I’ll take any excuse to post a link to a Zooey Deschanel pic.

Ok, we’re done. Enjoy your Wednesday and the college basketball games tonight.

Dial Global Says 23 Million People Listened to Super Bowl XLVI

This from our friends at Dial Global Radio, the official radio partner of the NFL. Through phone surveys, Dial Global was able to determine from interviews conducted by Edison Research that 23.1 million people listened to Super Bowl XLVI either at home, at work, in the car or in other locations. This follows the 22.9 million who listened to the NFL Conference Championship Games through Dial Global stations the two weeks previous.

Not sure how Edison Research was able to determine 23 million people listened to Super Bowl XLVI, but I’m sure they have a formula which it says works.

We have the Dial Global press release for you.

Study highlights demand for radio broadcast coverage of NFL games

NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2012  – Dial Global announced today that 23.1 million people tuned in to hear the radio broadcast of Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, February 5, 2012 featuring the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Dial Global commissioned the study from  Edison Research, designed to accurately measure the number of people that tuned in to hear Super Bowl XLVI broadcasts and make this information available within two days of the event’s conclusion.

The survey found that listeners accessed the live broadcast in multiple listening environments, including the home, while driving, at work and other locations, on over 680 stations nationwide.

The national survey was conducted via live telephone interviews on February 6, 2012, following the Giants 21-17 victory over the Patriots. The game, which wasn’t decided until the final play, marked the second time in four years that the Giants topped the Patriots in the Super Bowl. For exclusive player interviews, radio broadcast highlights and photos from the field after the final whistle, visit www.dialglobalsports.com.

“We are again excited, but not surprised, to see that our research findings highlight the strength of the Dial Global brand and the ongoing demand for radio broadcast coverage of live sporting events,” said David Landau, Co-President CEO of Dial Global. “Dial Global is committed to showcasing the value of our content and exemplifying our commitment to being the most innovative, service focused company in the industry while supporting our affiliates and advertisers.”

Broadcasting nearly 100 NFL games, exclusive NFL primetime games, the Playoffs and the Super Bowl, Dial Global commissioned the Super Bowl study following the results of their initial research during the Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots (AFC Championship) and New York Giants vs. San Francisco Forty-Niners (NFC Championship) games on Sunday, January 22, 2012, which found that 22.9 million Americans listened to radio broadcast coverage of these two live NFL events.

“Given the popularity of The Super Bowl as ‘television’s ultimate event’ where people actually look forward to the commercials and the halftime show, the number of radio listeners may come as a surprise to those who are not familiar with the significant reach of broadcast radio. We are excited that our ongoing research continues to highlight the power of radio,” said Larry Rosin, Edison President.

Dial Global’s NFL listener research highlights the continued demand for radio broadcast coverage of live events, including live sporting events. Dial Global is the network radio home to some of the biggest, most widely-followed sports in America including: NFL Football, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball and The Final Four, The Masters Tournament, MRN/NASCAR Radio and the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London.

There you have it.

More Than 2 Million Watched Super Bowl XLVI Online

NBC and the National Football League have announced that 2.1 million people watched the very first legal online stream of the Super Bowl this past Sunday. It marks the largest online audience for a sporting event. In 2011, the NFL announced it would allow NBC to stream Super Bowl XLVI. CBS had requested to stream Super Bowl XLIV two years ago, but the NFL turned it down.

NBC promoted the Super Bowl online as a companion to its over the air broadcast giving online viewers four extra camera angles.

Those watching on their computers noticed that the TV ads nor the Madonna halftime show were part of the online stream. And there were buffering issues as well as delays of up to 30 seconds compared to the TV broadcast. Even with those problems, both NBC and the NFL are declaring Sunday’s stream as asuccess.

We have the NBC press release.

SUPER BOWL XLVI LIVE STREAM SETS TRAFFIC RECORDS

Over Two Million Streamed Super Bowl XLVI
More than 78 Million Minutes Streamed

NEW YORK -– Feb. 7, 2012 –- The first-ever live stream of a Super Bowl in the United States attracted 2,105,441 users, making it the most-watched, single-game sports event ever online, according to data provided by Omniture and mDialog, surpassing any previously reported record. The live game stream was available on both NBCSports.com as well asNFL.com. NBC Sports’ live stream was also available on NFL Mobile only from Verizon. Yesterday, NBC Sports announced its broadcast coverage of Super Bowl XLVI was the most-watched television program in U.S. history (111.3 million viewers) and the highest-rated Super Bowl in 26 years (47.0 household rating)

“The Super Bowl XLVI live stream exceeded our expectations in every way. Increasingly, sports fans are looking to digital coverage as a complementary ‘second screen’ experience, and we delivered on that promise with unprecedented robust coverage,” said Kevin Monaghan, SVP, Business Development & Managing Director Digital Media, NBC Sports Group. “The record traffic that grew throughout the event, as well as the record high engagement numbers, underscores the complementary aspect of digital as an enhancement to our exceptional television coverage.”

“It was exciting to work with NBC Sports to offer fans the Super Bowl in more ways than ever before,” said Hans Schroeder, NFL, SVP, Media Strategy and Development. “The Super Bowl live stream was a tremendous success in its first year. We will continue to look for more ways to reach our fans.”

NBCSports.com‘s online streaming of Super Bowl XLVI featured HD-quality video, DVR controls and multiple camera angles along with social interactivity, including a live chat with Mike Florio from NBC’s ProFootballTalk, and tweets from Michele Tafoya, NBC Sports’ sideline reporter, and Jimmy Fallon, the host of NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Florio and commentator Randy Moss also supplied the halftime content for the live stream with a live video report and game analysis from just outside the team locker rooms. In addition to game highlights, viewers were also able to watch replays of popular Super Bowl TV commercials.

Online Traffic Data

Unique Users - 2,105,441 (live stream online)
Live Video Streams - 4,589,593 (live stream online)
Total Minutes Streamed - 78,624,422
On-Demand Clips - 1,838,812 VOD clips viewed
User-Generated Camera Switches - 1,835,676
Engagement - More than 39 minutes per visit.

That’s going to do it.

Tuesday Links with Some Overdue Monday Linkage

I was hoping to do links on Monday featuring reviews of the Super Bowl and the ads, but real life got in the way. Plus, a link from SI.com to my Biff Henderson post temporarily knocked my site down. Much appreciated to Jimmy Traina and Hot Clicks for the link.

The links begin with Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch who doles out his grades for the Super Bowl production.

Michael Hiestand from USA Today says Al Michaels was on top of his game on Sunday.

Bruce Horovitz of USA Today has the results of the paper’s Super Bowl Ad Meter. The results may or may not surprise you.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek notes that Super Bowl XLVI on NBC set a viewership record.

Tim Nudd of Adweek lists the five best Super Bowl commercials according to the publication.

Adweek’s David Griner has the five most debated Super Bowl adverts.

Todd Cunningham at The Wrap says NBC has apologized for the now-infamous middle finger from M.I.A. during the Madonna halftime performance.

Kristi Dosh at ESPN.com has some off-the-field winners for Super Bowl XLVI.

Sports Business Daily notes that dogs were a favorite of the Super Bowl ads.

SBD notes that NBC’s Super Bowl pregame show was mostly praised.

Michael Smith and John Ourand of Sports Business Journal say the ACC is looking for a big payday from ESPN with two new members entering the conference.

Eriq Gardner of the Hollywood Reporter says the FCC likely won’t fine NBC for M.I.A’s middle appendage.

The Hollywood Reporter says Super Bowl XLVI set a Twitter record.

George Winslow of Broadcasting & Cable says the Super Bowl was the biggest event ever on social media.

John Eggerton of B&C writes that the FCC has ruled a Chicago NBC affiliate was within its rights to reject an anti-abortion Super Bowl ad.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News writes about the ratings and viewership standards set by Super Bowl XLVI.

Mike writes that MSG Network will air the February 11 Buffalo Sabres-Tampa Bay Lightning game on NBC affiliates in Buffalo and Rochester as an end run around Time Warner Cable.

Simon Dumenco of Advertising Age has the 10 Super Bowl ads that set social media afire.

Ad Age’s Rich Thomaselli notes that Giants Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning is now expected to equal or surpass his brother Peyton as a commercial endorser.

Ad Age’s experts break down the Super Bowl ads.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid has video of ESPN’s Rick Reilly making a preposterous statement following Super Bowl XLVI.

Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group says Super Bowl XLVI lived up to the ratings hype.

SVG notes that Super Bowl XLVI garnered its highest audience ever in Canada even beating the CFL Grey Cup.

The With Leather blog has some pictures from the infamous Playboy Super Bowl party where CNBC’s Darren Rovell got into trouble with women.

Stephen Douglas at The Big Lead notes that Extra host and Massachusetts Maria Menounos native paid up on a Super Bowl bet and hosted yesterday’s show in a Giants bikini in the middle of Times Square.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says NBC’s Cris Collinsworth stepped up in the biggest moment of the Super Bowl.

The Times’ Brian Stelter has NBC calling its online stream of Super Bowl XLVI a success.

Stuart Elliot of the Times says the Super Bowl ads were meh.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post feels NBC covered up Rob Gronkowski’s ankle injury when the game began. You’re reaching, Phil.

Jerry Barmash of Fishbowl NY says WCBS-TV scored impressive numbers for its post-Super Bowl coverage.

Howard Megdal of the Journal News’ LoHud Mets Blog says the team, invoking memories of the Soviet Union, has revoked his media credential for the 2012 season.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union feels Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth weren’t up to par on Sunday.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call notes that the Philadelphia Phillies will be heard on the FM dial starting this season.

Laura Nachman has her Super Bowl XLVI highlights.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun says NBC’s Super Bowl telecast rose above the ads and the halftime show.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says a local sports radio producer is getting out of the business to become a restauranteur.

Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald praises NBC for its coverage of the Big Game.

Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times feels NBC got the job done on Super Bowl Sunday.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says the Super Bowl got another huge rating.

David provides his thoughts on the NBC Super Bowl production.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer lists his best and worst Super Bowl ads.

Robert King of the Indianapolis Star has the national media heaping praise on the city for hosting the Super Bowl.

King writes that the earliest Indy could host the Super Bowl again would be in 2017.

Lou Harry and Anthony Schoette of the Indianapolis Business Journal review Madonna’s Super Bowl halftime performance.

Anthony and Cory Schouten say Lucas Oil Stadium passed the test of holding its first Super Bowl.

Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel feels Aaron Rodgers did well in his guest stint on NBC.

Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business has his wrap of the Super Bowl.

Dan Caesar from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Gateway City lagged behind the national average ratings for the Super Bowl.

Dusty Saunders at the Denver Post writes NBC did yeoman’s work and then some on Super Bowl Sunday.

Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune lists his favorite Super Bowls XLVI ads.

Jay Posner in the San Diego Union-Tribune feels NBC was good, but not Super on Sunday.

John Maffei of the North County Times for the most part enjoyed NBC’s Super Bowl coverage.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News also liked NBC’s broadcast.

Tom has a longer review on his blog.

Bruce Dowbiggin in the Toronto Globe and Mail wonders why the Super Bowl has so many prop bets.

Slate’s Matthew Black was stuck watching the lackluster Canadian Super Bowl ads.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog notes the Super Bowl did really well in Canada.

Leah Goldman at the Business Insider Sports Page keeps an eye out for ESPN’s Erin Andrews and Fox’s Troy Aikman as a potential sports media power couple.

Sports Media Watch has some other Super Bowl ratings news.

Mike Silva of the Sports Media Watchdog has suggestions on how to handle fan taunts unlike Gisele Bündchen.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that NBC Sports Network will have a hockey doubleheader on Wednesday.

Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing gives his bests and worsts of Super Bowl XLVI.

Matt also looks at the running feud between ESPN Radio’s Ryen Russillo and WEEI’s John Dennis.

Surviving Grady speaks with Friend of Fang’s Bites Jen Royle.

And those are your links. Got them done before noon. I’m happy.

Sports Media Weekly Podcast, Super Bowl XLVI Edition

Keith Thibault of Sports Media Journal and yours truly are in for a special edition of the Sports Media Weekly podcast. We talk about the record ratings and viewership for Super Bowl XLVI.

We go from discussing NBC’s production to the inaugural online streaming of the Big Game. Keith and I talked about the announcing of Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth. We reviewed NBC’s pregame show and we also opined on the Super Bowl ads.

Take a listen. It’s a quick 25 minutes. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by searching for Sports Media Journal or listen right here.

Super Bowl XLVI Breaks Total Viewership Record

One more record broken by Super Bowl XLVI. Nielsen says the Big Game between the New England Patriots and New York Giants broke the record for total viewership. A whopping 166.8 million viewers watched part or all of yesterday’s game shattering last year’s record of 162.9 million set in Super Bowl XLV.

The NFL says this marks the 5th straight year the Super Bowl has set a viewership record.

SUPER BOWL XLVI MOST-WATCHED TV SHOW OF ALL TIME

166.8 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS
SUPER BOWLS RANK AS TV’S TOP 21 SHOWS

The 2011 NFL season concluded with another television milestone as Super Bowl XLVI on NBC reached a total audience of 166.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched show in U.S. television history according to The Nielsen Company.

The Giants-Patriots championship game topped the previous record of 162.9 million total viewers set last year (Packers-Steelers in Super Bowl XLV) and marks the fifth consecutive record-setting total audience for the Super Bowl. Super Bowls account for the 21 most-watched programs in history in terms of total audience.

Most-Watched TV Programs, Total Viewers

Game	Total Viewers
Super Bowl XLVI (Giants-Patriots), 2/5/12	166.8 million
Super Bowl XLV (Packers-Steelers), 2/6/11	162.9 million
Super Bowl XLIV (Colts-Saints), 2/7/10	153.4 million
Super Bowl XLIII (Cardinals-Steelers), 2/1/09	151.6 million
Super Bowl XLII (Giants-Patriots), 2/3/08	148.3 million

Source: NFL, The Nielsen Company

In addition, a record average of 111.3 million viewers watched Super Bowl XLVI – topping the previous mark of 111 million for Super Bowl XLV.

That will do it.

Super Bowl XLVI Becomes Most Watched TV Program of All-Time

From NBC Sports, we knew that Super Bowl XLVI had the potential to set a viewership record and it did just that, but just barely. The previous record of an average 111 million viewers was set last year with Super Bowl XLV on Fox between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. This year for Super Bowl XLVI on NBC, the average viewership was 111.3 million. So 300,000 more people watched Super Bowl XLVI than Super Bowl XLV.

The rating for the game was 47.0 with a whopping 71 share. That’s up 2% from last year’s 46.0/69 and it’s the highest rated Super Bowl since Super Bowl XX in 1986 which received a 48.3/70.

Boston had the highest rating of all markets with a 56.7/81 and that was a local ratings record breaking the previous standard set for Super Bowl XXXVI ten years ago. Host city Indianapolis was next with a 56.4/79.

For halftime, the performance by Madonna was seen by 114 million people, outpacing the Super Bowl by 2.8 million viewers. That received a 47.4 rating, beating last year’s halftime with the Black Eyed Peas which received a 44.7.

And the lead-in from the Super Bowl gave NBC’s The Voice a big rating as well.

We have the press release from NBC Sports.

SUPER BOWL XLVI IS MOST-WATCHED SHOW IN U.S. TELEVISION HISTORY

111.3 Million Watch Super Bowl XLVI, Tops Last Year’s Super Bowl (111.0 Million)
47.0 Household Rating is Best in 26 Years, Since 48.3 for Super Bowl XX
40.5 Adult 18-49 Rating is Best for a Super Bowl in 16 Years
14% Higher Than Last Giants-Patriots Super Bowl in 2008
12% Higher Than Last NBC Super Bowl in 2009
7^th Straight Year Super Bowl Audience Increases

INDIANAPOLIS – Feb. 6, 2012 – Super Bowl XLVI is the most-watched television program in U.S. history and the highest-rated Super Bowl in 26 years, according to fast national data released today by The Nielsen Company.

The game, in which the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots, 21-17, was seen by a record 111.3 million viewers (6:31-9:58 p.m. ET), topping last year’s 111.0 for Super Bowl XLV on Fox and is the biggest audience to watch a television program in U.S. history.

MOST-WATCHED PROGRAMS IN U.S. TELEVISION HISTORY

1. 111.3 Million – Super Bowl XLVI, NBC (Last Night’s Game)
2. 111.0 Million – Super Bowl XLV, Fox
3. 106.5 Million – Super Bowl XLIV, CBS
4. 106.0 Million – M.A.S.H. Finale, CBS
5. 98.7 Million – Super Bowl XLIII, NBC

HIGHEST-RATED SUPER BOWL IN 26 YEARS: The game earned a 47.0 rating and a 71 share, a gain of two percent from last year’s 46.0/69 for Super Bowl XLV and is the highest-rated Super Bowl since 1986 (Bears-Patriots, Super Bowl XX, 48.3/70). The 47.0 rating is the 6^th highest in Super Bowl history.

• The game drew a 40.5 rating in the advertiser-coveted Adult 18-49 demographic, the highest for a Super Bowl in 16 years (41.2 for Super Bowl XXX on Jan. 28, 1996)

HIGEST-RATED SUPER BOWLS:

1. 49.1/73 – Super Bowl XVI, CBS
2. 48.6/69 – Super Bowl XVII, NBC
3. 48.3/70 – Super Bowl XX, NBC
4. 47.2/67 – Super Bowl XII, CBS
5. 47.1/74 – Super Bowl XIII, NBC
6. 47.0/71 – Super Bowl XLVI, NBC (Last Night’s Game)
T7. 46.4/71 – Super Bowl XVIII, CBS
T7. 46.4/63 – Super Bowl XIX, ABC
9. 46.3/67 – Super Bowl XIV, CBS
10. 46.0/69 – Super Bowl XLV, Fox

VIEWERSHIP GROWS THROUGHOUT THE GAME: The viewership and rating grew throughout the game and peaked at a 117.7 million viewers and a 50.7/72, respectively, from 9:30-9:58 p.m. ET in the fourth quarter when Eli Manning led the Giants on a game-winning drive.

HALF HOUR VIEWERSHIP (Times ET):

6:31-7, 99.2 million
7-7:30, 107.9 million
7:30-8, 110.9 million
8-8:30, 114.0 million
8:30-9, 114.3 million
9-9:30, 115.4 million
9:30-9:58, 117.7 million

HALF HOUR RATINGS (Times ET):

6:31-7, 42.5/69
7-7:30, 45.5/71
7:30-8, 46.4/71
8-8:30, 47.4/70
8:30-9, 47.7/70
9-9:30, 48.9/70
9:30-9:58, 50.7/72

HALFTIME SHOW FEATURING MADONNA IS MOST-WATCHED EVER: The halftime performance by Madonna (8-8:30), was seen by 114.0 million viewers, nearly four million more than last year’s performance featuring the Black Eyed Peas (110.3 million), and is the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show featuring entertainment ever (dating back to 1991).

• The halftime viewership 18.3 million more than NBC’s last Super Bowl with Bruce Springsteen (95.7 million).
• The halftime show earned a 47.4 household rating, six percent higher than last year (44.7/68) and is the highest-rated halftime show featuring entertainment ever.

“THE VOICE” DELIVERS HUGE NUMBERS: The season two premiere of “The Voice” that followed the Super Bowl averaged a 16.3 rating in adults 18-49 and 37.6 million viewers overall, making it the highest-rated entertainment program in 18-49 in six years, since ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” post-Super Bowl telecast on February 5, 2006 (16.5). “The Voice” is up versus last year’s post-Super Bowl telecast of “Glee” by 47 percent in 18-49 (16.3 vs. 11.1) and up one percent versus the 2010 post-Super Bowl telecast of “Undercover Boss” (16.3 vs. 16.2).

BOSTON SETS LOCAL MARKET RECORD: The rating in Boston was the best ever for an NFL game in that market (56.7/81) topping the previous high of 56.1/78 for Super Bowl XXXVI (56.1/78 on Fox).

• The New York market registered a 49.7/74, the second-highest overnight for an NFL game in that market, trailing only the 53.4/72 for Super Bowl XXI, the Giants first-ever Super Bowl. By comparison, New York registered a 44.9/67 for Super Bowl XLII, the last time they were in the big game.

· The host market of Indianapolis registered a 56.4/79 overnight rating, the second-best overnight for a host market only trailing Jacksonville (58.9/77) for Super Bowl XXXIX).

TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR SUPER BOWL XLVI:

1. Boston, 56.7/81
2. Indianapolis, 56.4/79
3. Norfolk, 54.2/73
4. Columbus, 54.1/72
5. New Orleans, 54.0/72
T6. Nashville, 53.5/74
T6. Jacksonville, 53.5/70
8. Buffalo, 52.9/72
9. Kansas City, 52.1/73
10. Milwaukee, 52.0/73

*New York ranked 18^th with a 49.7/74

And that is a wrap on the 2011-12 NFL season.

Super Bowl Overnight Rating Down From Last Year

Super Bowl XLVI on NBC received a 47.8 rating, one-tenth of a point below the record of 47.9 set by Super Bowl XLV on Fox last year. It’s the 3rd highest overnight in history.

Locally, Boston set a local overnight rating record with a 56.7 while New York was off the record set in 2008 for Super Bowl XLII. NYC had a 49.7 last night, off from the 53.4 set four years ago.

Interestingly, the Madonna Super Bowl halftime show received a 48.1 overnight, higher than the actual game.

No official press release yet, when it comes, I’ll pass it along.

UPDATE, 11:10 a.m.: As soon as I post this, the NBC press release arrives in the Fang’s Bites inbox.

SUPER BOWL XLVI EARNS 47.8 OVERNIGHT RATING

3rd Highest Super Bowl Overnight Ever, Less Than One Percent Behind Super Bowls XLV and XXI (47.9)
14% Higher Than Last NBC Super Bowl
7% Higher Than Last Time Giants and Patriots Met in Super Bowl XLII
Boston Registered a 56.7/81, Best Overnight Rating Ever for an NFL game in Boston
New York Registered a 49.7/74, Second-Best Overnight Ever for an NFL game in New York
Final Half-Hour of Pre-Game Show Best Since 2003

INDIANAPOLIS – Feb. 6, 2012 – Super Bowl XLVI in which the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21-17, earned a 47.8/71 overnight rating/share last night on NBC, the third-highest overnight rating in Super Bowl history and less than one percent off the highest (47.9 for both Super Bowl XLV and Super Bowl XXI), according to overnight data released today by The Nielsen Company.

• 47.8/71 is seven percent higher than Super Bowl XLII on Fox when the Giants defeated the Patriots 17-14.
• The overnight rating is 14 percent higher than the last Super Bowl on NBC (Super Bowl XLIII, Steelers 27, Cardinals 23) and higher than any of NBC’s previous 11 Super Bowls in which there were metered markets.
• Tops all other Super Bowls involving the Giants and Patriots in Nielsen People Meter History (Since 1988).

“This confirms that the Super Bowl is the most dominant and consistent property on television,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group. “We are fortunate, in our new agreement with the NFL, to be able to broadcast three more Super Bowls over the next nine years.”

TOP 5 SUPER BOWL OVERNIGHTS OF ALL TIME:

T1. 47.9/71 – Super Bowl XLV, Packers 31-Steelers 25, Fox
T1. 47.9/68 – Super Bowl XXI, Giants 39-Broncos 20, CBS
3. 47.8/71 – Super Bowl XLVI, Giants 21-Patriots 17, NBC
4. 47.4/NA – Super Bowl XIV, Steelers 31-Rams 19, CBS
5. 46.9/70 – Super Bowl XX, Bears 46-Patriots 10, NBC

RATING GROWS THROUGHOUT THE GAME: The rating grew throughout the game and peaked at a 51.8/73 from 9:30-10 p.m. ET in the fourth quarter when Eli Manning led the Giants on a game-winning drive.

HALF HOURS (Times ET):
6:30-7, 43.3/69
7-7:30, 45.9/71
7:30-8, 47.7/72
8-8:30, 48.1/72
8:30-9, 48.3/71
9-9:30, 49.3/70
9:30-10, 51.8/73

FINAL HALF HOUR OF PRE-GAME SHOW BEST SINCE ’03: From 6-6:30, the Super Bowl XLVI Pre-Game show drew a 34.5 overnight rating, two percent higher than last year and the best for the final half-hour of the pre-game show since Super Bowl XXXVII (35.3 on ABC). Total pre-game (2-6:30) registered a 12.0/23 just two percent off from last year’s (12.2/23) and two percent higher than the last NBC Super Bowl (11.8/23 for Super Bowl XLIII).

• The halftime performance by Madonna (8-8:30), earned a 48.1/72 overnight, one percent ahead of last year’s 8-8:30 time period featuring the Black Eyed Peas (47.4/70) and 20 percent higher than NBC’s last Super Bowl with Bruce Springsteen (40.2/62).
• The post-game (10-10:15) registered a 35.3/54, 17 percent higher than last year’s 30.3 for Super Bowl XLV in Fox.

BOSTON SETS LOCAL MARKET RECORD: The rating in Boston was the best ever for an NFL game in that market (56.7/81) topping the previous high of 56.1/78 for Super Bowl XXXVI (56.1/78 on Fox).

• The New York market registered a 49.7/74, the second-highest overnight for an NFL game in that market, trailing only the 53.4/72 for Super Bowl XXI, the Giants first-ever Super Bowl. By comparison, New York registered a 44.9/67 for Super Bowl XLII, the last time they were in the big game.
• The host market of Indianapolis registered a 56.4/79 overnight rating, the second-best overnight for a host market only trailing Jacksonville (58.9/77) for Super Bowl XXXIX).

TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR SUPER BOWL XLVI:

1. Boston, 56.7/81
2. Indianapolis, 56.4/79
3. Norfolk, 54.2/73
4. Columbus, 54.1/72
5. New Orleans, 54.0/72
T6. Nashville, 53.5/74
T6. Jacksonville, 53.5/70
8. Buffalo, 52.9/72
9. Kansas City, 52.1/73
10. Milwaukee, 52.0/73

*New York ranked 18th with a 49.7/74

When Fast National data is available from Nielsen this afternoon, the viewership could approach last year’s 111.0 million that watched Super Bowl XLV, the most-watched Super Bowl ever, and the most-watched television audience in U.S. history.

*Note, the “fast affiliate” data that is available later this morning does NOT reflect live audience for the Super Bowl across the country.

*Overnight ratings measure the top 56 U.S. metered markets.

Viewership numbers are expected later today. We’ll see if Super Bowl XLVI has set a record. Remember the record set last year is 111 million.

Super Bowl XLVI Was A Thriller; NBC Up To The Task

Super Bowl XLVI gave viewers a thrill down to the last play, giving the New York Football Giants a 21-17 win over the New England Patriots, and the G-Men’s 4th Championship. In a telecast that should shatter an average and total viewership record, NBC did a fantastic job keeping the game as its focus, and didn’t stray from the formula. Thanks to the game remaining close throughout, NBC did not have to rely on cutaways of celebrities, NFL dignitaries, random fans and cheerleaders.

Instead, producer Fred Gaudelli, director Drew Esocoff and the announcing crew of Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya were able to concentrate on the game action. In his 8th Super Bowl, Michaels again rose to the occasion, spotting trends, explaining key calls as was the case with the extremely rare safety called against Tom Brady for intentional grounding, and rising for the big moments such as the soon-to-be legendary Mario Manningham catch on the sidelines that kept the Giants winning drive alive.

The Manningham catch was captured perfectly by NBC’s cameras and replayed to show not only did the Giants wide receiver keep both of his feet in-bounds, but that he maintained possession of the ball. The NBCee It feature blowing up a clear and resolute picture of Manningham’s shoes on the sidelines enabled the viewers at home and at Lucas Oil Stadium to confirm the catch and also assisted the official review. Collinsworth’s analysis of the play was tops as well.

For the entire game, Collinsworth did a bang up job and showed why he continues to be among the upper echelon of NFL analysts on TV.

NBC’s graphics showed the tackle box to show why an intentional grounding penalty and safety were called on Tom Brady. It was used again to demonstrate why Manningham gave Giants quarterback Eli Manning little room to throw him a pass on the sidelines in the 4th quarter.

The network did a fantastic job for Super Bowl XLVI and should still be on top of its game when it airs Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.

For the first time in a long time, I was able to view all of NBC’s Super Bowl pregame show. There were pros and cons.

PROS

• Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward both did very well in their guest analyst roles. Rodgers and Ward were relaxed and expressed their viewpoints clearly and concisely. In particular, Rodgers made some good points on the Giants defense and why they able to cause turnovers. Rodgers was better than many current analysts.
• A feature on former New Orleans Saints special teams player Steve Gleason narrated by Peter King was well produced. Gleason blocked a punt against the Atlanta Falcons in the Saints’ first game at the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina and now suffers from ALS. NBC’s piece on his struggles was one of the best I’ve seen.
• A segment focusing on NBC’s Rodney Harrison and former New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree in which Harrison said the catch Tyree made against him in Super Bowl XLII still affects him and standing next to Tyree was affecting him at that moment.
• An on-field segment with Cris Collinsworth, Harrison and Doug Flutie demonstrating how Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski’s injured ankle would come into play in the Giants coverage.
• A profile of Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wolfork and his wife. We need a reality show featuring this couple.

CONS

• Nick Cannon interviewing celebrities. Cannon was a disaster, yelling, screaming and making no sense. Awful.
• A cooking segment with Bravo’s Top Chef personalities giving a client stroke to a cracker company. A waste of time.

As for the Super Bowls, it was another weak crop. I’ve graded the entire batch and many were average. The best of the ads was the Chrysler commercial narrated by Clint Eastwood on Detroit’s comeback. I also loved Samsung’s ad featuring The Darkness’ “I Believe in A Thing Called Love”. Volkswagen’s follow-up to its mini-Darth Vader ad garnered a B. Many ads lost their luster having been released early. It might behoove the advertisers to return to the old school way of showing them during the game first and then worry about social media buzz later.

And halftime by Madonna was a fun time, but she should not have lip synced. NBC has apologized for not catching M.I.A. flipping the bird during the performance, however, NFL Network was responsible for this halftime as it produced the show.

Overall, NBC gets an A for its production of the game and a B for the pregame The ads were mostly average. Halftime gets a B minus. A fun Super Bowl Sunday. Now let’s get back to work.

NBC’s Super Bowl XLVI Postgame Quotage

NBC has provided the postgame quotes from its NFL crew for Super Bowl XLVI. This will end the NFL season until we kick back in with the preseason in August and then the regular season opening game at the new Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey on Thursday, September 6 with the Super Bowl Champions New York Giants raising their banner against either the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers or Pittsburgh Steelers.

Nice of NBC to send this over. I wasn’t expecting this and it’s nice to have to wrap up the NFL quotage.

I do expect Super Bowl XLVI to set a viewership record as the game was close heading into the 4th quarter. We’ll have details of that later.

The quotage.

POST-GAME COMMENTS FROM NBC SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF SUPER BOWL XLVI

“One of the greatest catches in Super Bowl history.” – Cris Collinsworth on Mario Manningham’s 38-yard catch in fourth quarter
“He won this football game.” – Rodney Harrison on Eli Manning
“It’s (Tom) Coughlin and Eli Manning who put themselves in the discussion for the Hall of Fame.” – Bob Costas

INDIANAPOLIS – Feb. 5, 2012 – The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21-17 to win Super Bowl XLVI, the 17^th Super Bowl broadcast by NBC. Following are post-game highlights from the broadcast:

CRIS COLLINSWORTH ON MARIO MANNINGHAM’S CATCH: “Absolutely unbelievable. Will go down as one of the greatest catches in Super Bowl history. And it reminds you just a bit of David Tyree and the last time Eli Manning had the unbelievable drive. The Velcro on the helmet as Al Michaels described it.

COLLINSWORTH ON MANNING: “How brilliant can Easy-Eli be? And he will never again have to answer questions, ‘Do you consider yourself and elite quarterback and in Tom Brady’s class?’”
AL MICHAELS ON MANNING: “And he wins it in the house that his brother built.”
MICHAELS ON PATRIOTS: “The New England Patriots will have another Super Bowl tape that they won’t want to look at.”

TONY DUNGY AND RODNEY HARRISON POST-GAME COMMENTS

Harrison: “We knew this game was going to come down to the fourth quarter, and everyone thought I was crazy a week ago when I said I trust Eli Manning more in the fourth quarter than I did Tom Brady. I think you saw tonight why I said that. Tom Brady had a couple opportunities, missed some opportunities down the field. Eli didn’t. He won this football game.”
Dungy: “I was in New York with the Giants last week and every defensive player told me how much confidence they had in Eli Manning. Justin Tuck said, ‘We know if we can just get that stop in the fourth quarter Eli will win it for us.’ And he proved them right tonight.”

BOB COSTAS’ FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE GAME: “Had it turned out the other way, with a victory tonight Belichick and Brady would have put themselves at or near the top of the discussion of the greatest coach and quarterback of the Super Bowl era. Instead it turns out that it’s Coughlin and Eli Manning who put themselves in the discussion for the Hall of Fame. Because quite simply, in dramatic fashion they have now twice bested the team considered to be the best of it’s era in the game that matters most.”

Thats’s going to do it.

Final Grades of Super Bowl XLVI Ads

A+

Chrysler, Halftime Clint Eastwood

A

Act of Valor
Budweiser, Prohibition
Budweiser Through Time
Coca-Cola Polar Bears, Settling In
Coca-Cola, Polar Bears Ice Stumble
Chevy Trucks Apocalypse
Doritos, Dead Kitty
Honda, Ferris Bueller
Lucasfilm, Star Wars in 3-D
MetLife, Cartoon Characters
NFL Evolution
Samsung, Galaxy

B

Acura, Jerry Seinfeld (would have been an A without Jay Leno)
Audi Headlights: Vampire Killer
Bridgestone Technology (1st quarter)
Bridgestone Technology, Sleeping Baby
Bud Light, HereWeGo
Cadillac ATS
Career Builder, Jokes
Doritos, Angry Grandma
Fiat Abarth
History Channel, Swamp People
Hyundai Genesis
Hyundai Turbo Cheetah
Kia Optima, Mr. Sandman
Marvel Films: The Avengers
NFL, Fantasy
Oikos Greek Yogurt, Head Butt
TaxAct, peeing in the pool
Teleflora, Valentine’s Night
Volkswagen: Dog Strikes Back
Universal Pictures: Battleship

B-

Chevy Sonic, Firsts

C

Best Buy Tech Rock Stars
Bud Light Platinum
Century 21
Coca-Cola Polar Bears, Taking A Leak
General Electric, Refrigerator
General Electric, Turbines for Budweiser
Illumination Entertainment: Lorax
Lexus GS
M&M’s Brown
MGM: GI-Joe
NFL Players Association, Play 60

C-

Bud Light Platinum

D

E*Trade Baby, Advice
Go Daddy.com Body Paint
H&M David Beckham Body Wear
Pepsi Max
Pepsi with Elton John
Toyota Camry, Reinvention

F

Cars.com, Confidence
Chevy, Graduation Present
Disney Pictures, John Carter
Go Daddy

Biff Henderson Kisses The Super Bowl Trophy

If you’re a regular viewer of Late Show with David Letterman, you’ll know that Dave sends out stage manager Biff Henderson to do interview segments from various events including Super Bowl XLVI. As the Vince Lombardi Trophy was being carried by Hall of Famer Raymond Berry to the podium where the New York Giants were waiting, you may have seen Biff touching then kissing the trophy. It was a very fleeting moment, but if you were sharp-eyed, you caught it.

Just to help you out, Biff is standing next to Giants tight end Bear Pascoe, #86. It was so funny and I’m sure it will be featured on Late Show with David Letterman on CBS on Monday night. Classic.

Great stuff. I’m sure the NFL will make sure another late night personality doesn’t get that close again.

Grades For Super Bowl XLVI Ads, 4th Quarter

Honda, Ferris Bueller — A
Act of Valor — A
MetLife, Cartoon Characters — A
Hyundai Genesis — C
Bud Light, HereWeGo — B
Kia Optima, Mr. Sandman — B
Career Builder, Jokes — B
Samsung, Galaxy — A
Cadillac ATS — C
History Channel, Swamp People — B
Go Daddy — F (Go the Eff Away, Go Daddy)

Grades For Super Bowl XLVI Ads, 3rd Quarter

Chrysler, Halftime Clint Eastwood — A+
Fiat Abarth — B
Pepsi Max — D
Toyota Camry, Reinvention — D
Coca-Cola Polar Bears, Taking A Leak? — C
Oikos Greek Yogurt, Head Butt — B
Century 21 — C
Acura, Jerry Seinfeld — B (would have been an A without Jay Leno)
General Electric, Refrigerator — C
Budweiser Through Time — A
Bridgestone Technology, Sleeping Baby — B
NFL Fantasy — C
NFL Evolution — A

Grades For Super Bowl XLVI Ads, 2nd Quarter

Budweiser, Prohibition — A
Doritos, Dead Kitty — A
Chevy, Graduation Present — F
GE, Turbines for Budweiser — C
Disney Pictures, John Carter — F
TaxAct, peeing in the pool — B
Illumination Entertainment: Lorax — C
Volkswagen: Dog Strikes Back — B
H&M David Beckham Body Wear — D
Coca-Cola, Polar Bears Ice Stumble — A
Chevy Sonic, Firsts — B minus
Lucasfilm, Star Wars in 3-D — A
Marvel Films: The Avengers — B
Teleflora, Valentine’s Night — B
Sketchers, Mr. Quiggly — A
NFL Players Association, Play 60 — C
Cars.com, Confidence — F
Doritos, Angry Grandma — B
E*Trade Baby, Advice — D
MGM: GI-Joe — C
NFL, Fantasy — B

Grades For Super Bowl XLVI Ads, 1st Quarter

Bud Light Platinum — C
Audi Headlights: Vampire Killer — B
Pepsi with Elton John — D
Hyundai Turbo Cheetah — B
Bud Light Platinum — C minus
M&M’s Brown — C
Best Buy Tech Rock Stars — C
Coca-Cola Polar Bears — A
Chevy Trucks Apocalypse — A
Bridgestone Technology — B
Go Daddy.com Body Paint — D
Lexus GS — C
Universal Pictures: Battleship — B

Quotage From the Super Bowl Edition of NFL GameDay Morning

NFL GameDay Morning went 8½ hours and as of this writing, is still going strong. We do have some quotage from earlier today and let’s get to it.

News, Sound Bites & Video Clips From Super Bowl XLVI Edition of NFL GAMEDAY MORNING

“If Tom Brady wins this game, it’s simple: he’s the greatest of all time.” – Warren Sapp
“If he wins this game, that ‘E’ in his name will stand for ‘Elite.’” – Charles Woodson on Giants QB Eli Manning
“This game is going to be determined by how New England protects.” – Michael Lombardi on the Patriots offensive line
“This guy is supernatural.” – Steve Mariucci on Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski
“Julian Edelman will be the most versatile player in Super Bowl history.” – Steve Mariucci

With 21 on-air personalities and a combined 14 Super Bowl rings, NFL GameDay Morning on NFL Network provided expert analysis, the latest news and reports, Super Bowl-related features and sitdown interviews today on a special 8 ½ hour edition on NFL Network live from Lucas Oil Stadium.

Host Rich Eisen was joined by analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin on the main set at Lucas Oil Stadium, while host Melissa Stark and Super Bowl winners Deion Sanders, Brian Billick and special guest analyst Charles Woodson of the Green Bay Packers provided additional analysis from the field.

Three-time Super Bowl champion linebacker Willie McGinest offered his insight into playing in the Super Bowl from the Super Bowl Village in downtown Indianapolis, while Michael Lombardi and Jason La Canfora provided the latest inside reports.

Host Fran Charles and analysts McGinest and Heath Evans provided additional analysis from the pregame tailgate leading up to Lucas Oil Stadium.

NFL Network reporters Albert Breer and Stacey Dales were live from outside each team’s hotel.

‘Sunday Sitdown’ — Patriots QB Tom Brady 1-on-1 Interview with Willie McGinest

Three-time Super Bowl champion linebacker with the New England Patriots Willie McGinest sits down with his former teammate Tom Brady for a 1-on-1 interview:

On New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick:
“He coaches us hard, he coaches me hard. He is relentless; ‘Brady can’t complete a hitch, wide open and you throw it in the dirt.’ Part of me wants to strangle him and say, ‘Don’t you know?’ But he doesn’t care. He wants us to be at our best every single day. That’s why we’re in this position.”

On playing against Peyton Manning and Eli Manning:
“These guys bring the best out of you. They have a great football family, their dad obviously was a great quarterback and you know they’re going to play their best. Eli always does; every time we play Eli, I sit on the sideline and watch him go up and down the field and I go, ‘Can we slow this guy down?’”

To view the entire interview with Brady, visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d826a6766/Super-Sunday-Sitdown-Tom-Brady

‘Sunday Sitdown’ — Giants QB Eli Manning 1-on-1 Interview with Kurt Warner

Super Bowl XXXIV MVP Kurt Warner sits down with Super Bowl XLII MVP and former teammate Eli Manning for a 1-on-1 interview:

On if he can imagine his brother Peyton Manning playing with any team other than the Indianapolis Colts:
“It’d be tough. He’s been so important to this town. When he came to Indianapolis, they were not known for their football – it was truly a basketball town. What he’s built and done here in his 13 years of playing, it would be hard to imagine him playing somewhere else. We’ll have to see what happens.”

On the rivalry with his brother:
“There is always a rivalry with your brother. Playing in high school football, who can have more touchdowns – those things are fun. Once you get to this level, this is our job, this is what we do for our career. It’s not something that you joke around a whole lot [about]. I know Peyton is proud of me. He’s proud that I’m in this situation; he’s rooting me on like I’m proud of him of what he’s done in his career and rooted him on when he was playing in his second Super Bowl and first Super Bowl. I want to win for all of the right reasons – it’s about the Giants, about our coaches, about just winning a championship. Not for bragging rights.”

To view the entire interview with Manning, visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a6c3b/Super-Sunday-Sitdown-Eli-Manning

‘Sunday Sitdown’ — Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick 1-on-1 Interview with Michael Lombardi

NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi sits down with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for a 1-on-1 interview:

On Patriots quarterback Tom Brady:
“It is an honor as a coach to be able to work with a player as skilled as he is to mentally and physically be able to perform at the highest level.”

On special teams:
“A big key for us is the kicking game…Hopefully we can make a couple of plays in that area that will help us win.”

To view the entire interview with Belichick, visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a6985/Super-Sunday-Sitdown-Bill-Belichick

‘Sunday Sitdown’ — Giants WRs Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks & Mario Manningham with Michael Irvin

Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver Michael Irvin sits down with New York Giants wide receivers Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham:

On if the Patriots’ Julian Edelman is covering him in the game:
Mario Manningham: “I’d probably get Eli’s attention after I’m done pointing telling him look who’s out here. Not to put anything past him, but that’s not your real position. I want him to be out there. I take it as an insult. Me, Cruz and Hakeem, not saying we’re better than everyone else, but we can’t let that go down.”

On the meetings Eli Manning holds with wide receivers and tight ends each week:
Victor Cruz: “It usually happens two or three days before the game. It’s just a complete rundown of everything that he’s been looking at throughout the week, everything that he feels is important for us to know so when game time comes and we see those coverages, we can just adjust on the fly.”

To view the entire interview with Cruz, Nicks and Manningham, visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a63a4/The-talented-trio

Quotes from NFL GameDay Morning

“This guy is supernatural and he commands a double-team. That is going to open up some other things for some of these other receivers.” – Steve Mariucci on New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski

“It was a foregone conclusion that Peyton Manning was the best Manning in that family when it comes to quarterbacks. But for Eli to put himself into a position to win two rings – we know how hard it is to win just one ring, and older brother Peyton only has one – it puts Eli in a class by himself. That argument about him being an elite quarterback, if he wins this game that ‘E’ in his name will stand for ‘Elite.’” – Charles Woodson on New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning

“It takes you away from football, especially when you have an offensive football team – a passing offensive football team because it’s all about timing. If you look at the last four Super Bowls, there have been some really good offenses but only two of those eight teams have scored more than three points in the first quarter. It’s going to affect momentum early in the game.” – Kurt Warner on the effect of the bye week on teams before the Super Bowl

“The reason he doesn’t get more credit is because he is not flashy.” – Warren Sapp on Giants head coach Tom Coughlin

“Bill Belichick is the best at understanding his players’ strengths and weaknesses. Even if he has injuries he has to deal with or guys playing out of position, he knows how [to put them in the best position].” – Willie McGinest on New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick

“Their biggest challenge could be if Tom Brady has another bad game, can they hold up? If Tom Brady has no touchdowns, two interceptions and he plays the type of game like he did against the Baltimore Ravens, this defense against a hot offense with three really good receivers and a running game that is starting to emerge could be in trouble and exposed.” – Marshall Faulk on the New England Patriots defense

“Tiquan Underwood did not take very many reps this week in practice; we’re going to see the Chad Ochocinco show here. They wanted Alex Silvestro to be able to play on nickel downs. It’s going to be hot in this stadium; they need to rotate their defensive linemen. This clearly was a move that basically they wanted a defensive lineman on the roster and they had a spot with Underwood. Underwood will still get a game check and if they win the Super Bowl. He’ll still get a ring.” – Michael Lombardi on the release of New England Patriots wide receiver Tiquan Underwood on Saturday

“Julian Edelman will be the most versatile player in Super Bowl history.” – Steve Mariucci

“I promise you Bill Belichick is going back to that tape if for no other reason to show his guys, ‘Look where we left ourselves vulnerable; this is where we didn’t finish, this is where we broke down, this is where we’ve got to get better.’ That’s a lot more of a motivator than Tom Coughlin showing his guys the film going, ‘Don’t we look good here, wasn’t this nice here, we have to go do this again.’ Bill Belichick is going to tap into the emotion of that last loss by looking at the tape.” – Brian Billick on the adjustments Bill Belichick will make from the Patriots’ Week 9 loss to the New York Giants

“He is the face and the voice of this organization. There is no doubt who the leader is: Eli Manning is one of the very best quarterbacks in the National Football League.” – Steve Mariucci on New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning

“They’ll have a complete protection plan to frustrate this four-man pressure and to keep them off-balance. The game is going to be won by how New England protects, and New England understands that. The other factor is New England’s offensive line is much better today than it was last time they played them and certainly in 2007.” – Michael Lombardi on the New England Patriots’ offensive line

“If Tom Brady wins this game, it’s simple: he’s the greatest of all time.” – Warren Sapp

“Talking to Peyton, he wants to be a Colt. He wants to be a part of this organization, he wants to be a part of this team and my gut feeling is that he and Jim Irsay, they’re going to sit down and find out how to make that happen.” – Marshall Faulk on Peyton Manning’s future in Indianapolis

“While the Patriots are about to board their buses to the stadium, the Giants [staying nearby] might be able to zip-line their way to the stadium.” – Rich Eisen noting the popular zip-line for fans during Super Bowl week in downtown Indianapolis

Super Bowl XLVI Winner & MVP Predictions:

Marshall Faulk: New York Giants, Tom Brady
Michael Irvin: New York Giants, Eli Manning
Warren Sapp: New York Giants, Eli Manning
Kurt Warner: New England Patriots Tom Brady & Wes Welker
Steve Mariucci: New York Giants, Ahmad Bradshaw
Deion Sanders: New York Giants
Brian Billick: New York Giants
Charles Woodson: New England Patriots
Willie McGinest: New England Patriots

On NFL.com, the following video clips from the Super Bowl XLVI edition of NFL GameDay Morning are available for viewing:

Lombardi’s Locker Room: Super Bowl XLVI – Legendary head coach Vince Lombardi delivers a pregame speech to the New York Giants and New England Patriots prior to Super Bowl XLVI.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/new-england-patriots/09000d5d8269a113/Lombardi-s-locker-room-Super-Bowl-XLVI

Back to the Future – The 2011 Giants season has eerie similarity to New York’s 2007 Super Bowl run, but will they walk away champions?
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a3f39/Back-to-the-Future

Dear Tom… – Boston sports fan Denis Leary writes an open letter to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a55d2/Dear-Tom

America’s Tebow Obsession – Tim Tebow captured the attention of the entire country this season. What made Tebow so interesting? NFL Network’s Steve Cyphers asks professors at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a560d/America-s-Tebow-obsession

Where is Tyree? – Former Giants wide receiver David Tyree will be remembered for his spectacular catch in Super Bowl XLII. What is Tyree doing now? Find out.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a607b/Where-is-Tyree-now

Eli Creating a Legacy? – What would another Super Bowl victory for Eli Manning mean for his legacy? Deion Sanders, Brian Billick and Charles Woodson debate Manning’s legacy if he defeats Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a51c6/Eli-creating-legacy

Leaving a Legacy – New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will certainly be remembered long after his playing years are over, but is he the best to ever play the game? NFL GameDay Morning debates.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a50b4/Leaving-a-legacy

The Patriot Way – Melissa Stark sits down with New England Patriots Aaron Hernandez, Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater to talk about some of the unconventional positions they find themselves playing.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a3ae4/The-Patriot-Way

Buying into Belichick – New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s methods might be eccentric, but do players believe in the Patriot way? Former Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest and Deion Sanders weigh in.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a3b74/Buying-into-Belichick

The Better Manning? – Will Eli Manning establish himself as the better brother with another Super Bowl victory? The NFL GameDay Morning crew gives their answers.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d826a5c3f/The-better-Manning

Woodson’s Defensive Factors – How much will defense be a factor today? Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson joins NFL GameDay Morning to give an insider’s look on the importance of the Giants and Patriots pass rush.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a3ffb/Woodson-s-defensive-factors

Heart & Pulse of the Pats – What impact has the Kraft family had on the Patriots organization? With the passing of Myra Kraft, former Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest reflects on his own personal relationship and experiences with the Kraft family.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a4e94/Heart-pulse-of-the-Pats

What will we Learn? – Steve Mariucci has some interesting predictions for Super Bowl XLVI, including how versatile Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman will be on both sides of the ball.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a3ff8/What-will-we-learn

Offseason Moves – Michael Lombardi and Jason La Canfora examine the potential offseason moves for both the New England Patriots and New York Giants.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a4206/Offseason-moves

Protecting the Playmaker – The Giants hope to rattle Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, but can New England’s offensive line keep them in check? NFL GameDay Morning discusses.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a45d0/Protecting-the-playmaker

Benefits of a Rematch – Is there a benefit for either team in playing a Super Bowl rematch? Charles Woodson, Marshall Faulk and Brian Billick give their opinions on facing the same team twice.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a4441/Benefits-of-a-rematch

The Saga Continues – Michael Lombardi and Jason La Canfora discuss the future of quarterback Peyton Manning.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/09000d5d826a58a0/The-saga-continues

EXTRA POINTS:

• NFL GameDay Final After Giants-Patriots: Host Rich Eisen and analysts Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin provide analysis and highlights from the field, plus live interviews with all of the stars of the game and the winning head coach on NFL GameDay Final after Super Bowl XLVI. Albert Breer, Stacey Dales and Lindsay Soto provide interviews after the game from both locker rooms.

That’s going to do it for the quotage.

Quick Pre-Super Bowl Links

Let’s do some Super Bowl Sunday links today.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says media analysts are predicting another record viewership for the Super Bowl.

Mike says MSG Network remains off Time Warner Cable systems for the fifth consecutive week with no agreement in sight.

Kate Fagan of espnW has a look at what Super Bowl XLVI sideline reporter Michele Tafoya will deal with on the Lucas Oil Stadium field tonight.

Peter Pachal from Mashable has a look at NBC’s streaming of the Super Bowl.

Sean Newell at Deadspin says CNBC’s Darren Rovell may have lost the female vote forever.

Deadspin’s Timothy Burke tells us about a media feud between WEEI’s John Dennis and ESPN Radio’s Ryan Russillo.

Speaking of Darren Rovell, he wonders if Eli Manning can become a more prolific endorser than Tom Brady.

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe talks about Twitter and some of the New England Patriots who use the social media service.

The New York Times’ Ritchie S. King and Kevin Quealy look at some of the clichés that have enveloped ESPN SportsCenter.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Times is speaking in tongues today.

Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record has the NBC football crew talking about today’s Super Bowl.

Jim Williams in the Washington Examiner talks with Fox Sports’ John Lynch about the Super Bowl.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says the Super Bowl could decide the local news race.

Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that the Green Bay Packers’ Charles Woodson is doing well for the NFL Network.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks with NBC’s Al Michaels.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog has NBC’s and CTV’s coverage plans for the Super Bowl.

Mike Silva from the Sports Media Watchdog goes over Darren Rovell’s downfall with women this weekend.

Joe Favorito has a few sports business tidbits for us.

And those are the quick links for today. Enjoy the Super Bowl. I’ll have grades on the Super Bowl ads tonight.

SiriusXM NFL Radio To Air Madonna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

If you’ve listened to the Super Bowl on Westwood One Radio in the past, you’ll know that it’s rarely aired the halftime concert, choosing to analyze the game with their studio crew.

SiriusXM’s NFL Radio will air the Dial Global/Westwood One feed today, but will also air Madonna’s Super Bowl halftime show. The concert will air in its entirety for SiriusXM subscribers.

Madonna’s Performance During the Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show to Air Live on SiriusXM

Multi Grammy Award®-winning artist’s performance from Super Bowl to air live on SiriusXM NFL Radio

NEW YORK–February 4, 2012– Sirius XM Radio will air Madonna’s halftime performance at Super Bowl XLVI live on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Sunday, February 5.

The performance will air live on SiriusXM NFL Radio, channel 88 on Sirius and XM Premier (formerly known as “The Best of Sirius”). SiriusXM, the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, will broadcast Super Bowl XLVI in 10 languages, offering listeners 13 different live broadcasts.

SiriusXM broadcasts every NFL game live nationwide, from the preseason through the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl.

That will do it.

Revised NFL GameDay Morning Super Bowl Sunday Rundown

Happy Super Sunday! The day has finally arrived. NFL Network has sent a revised rundown for today’s 8½ hour NFL GameDay Morning pregame show. Rich Eisen is your host. Melissa Stark will also be on hand.

There will be a million analysts and reporters joining them. Here’s your rundown

NFL NETWORK AT SUPER BOWL XLVI: WHAT’S ON NFL GAMEDAY MORNING—Sunday, February 5 at 9:00 AM ET

‘Sunday Sitdowns’ on Special 8 ½ Hour Pregame Show –
Kurt Warner with Giants QB Eli Manning
Willie McGinest with Patriots QB Tom Brady
Michael Lombardi with Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
Michael Irvin with Giants WRs Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks & Mario Manningham

Special Guest Analyst Packers CB Charles Woodson Joins NFL Network’s Roster of 21 Analysts, Hosts & Reporters

On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL Network’s pregame show, NFL GameDay Morning will provide 8 ½ hours of live coverage starting at 9:00 AM ET with 21 on-air personalities who have won a total of 14 Super Bowl rings. NFL GameDay Morning is live from seven locations, including two sets at Lucas Oil Stadium. Additional locations include the Giants and Patriots team hotels, the NFL Tailgate, the Super Bowl Village, and with the fans at Super Bowl parties in New York and Foxborough restaurants.

NFL GameDay Morning features host Rich Eisen joined by Super Bowl winners Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin and Warren Sapp, along with Steve Mariucci. The special Super Bowl edition also includes host Melissa Stark on a second set along with Super Bowl winners Deion Sanders, Willie McGinest, Heath Evans and Brian Billick previewing the game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

Super Bowl-winning cornerback of the Green Bay Packers Charles Woodson joins the set as a special guest analyst to provide insight into the game and his own experience playing in last year’s Super Bowl.

Actor Dan Lauria returns in his role as Vince Lombardi to prepare the Giants and the Patriots for Super Bowl XLVI.

The following are highlights of Sunday’s Super Bowl pregame show on NFL Network:

9:00 AM ET

• What to look for in Super Bowl XLVI with Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci

• Melissa Stark on “The Patriot Way” – how Bill Belichick turns spare parts into champions; includes interviews with Patriots Julian Edelman, Matthew Slater and Aaron Hernandez.

10:00 AM ET

• NFL Films-produced feature goes “Back to the Future” to show the similarities between the Giants’ late-season runs in 2007 and 2011

• The NFL Season: A Biography examines the unique relationship between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his mentor Tom Martinez, who is waiting for a kidney transplant:
  (Advanced preview of the feature: http://ftp2.nflfilmstv.com/filmsint/ftp-inet/flashplayer.html?s_video=Preview/the_season_more_than_a_mentor_v1_600ws.flv)

• Analysts Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Steve Mariucci, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin highlight the key matchups

11:00 AM ET

• Feature on how “The Catch” in Super Bowl XLII changed former Giants wide receiver David Tyree’s life:
  (Advanced preview link: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d82694e59/Catching-up-with-David-Tyree)

• Michael Lombardi on how Bill Belichick uses the Patriots’ loss in Super Bowl XLII to motivate his players

• Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders discuss the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012

• Players Only: The best and worst parts of Super Bowl week

12 Noon ET

• Actor/comedian and Boston sports fan Dennis Leary pays tribute to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady

• Steve Cyphers visits the Norman Lear Center for research and public policy at the USC Annenberg School for Communication to investigate why America was obsessed with Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow during the 2011 NFL season

• Deion Sanders, Brian Billick and Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson discuss how winning the Super Bowl has changed their lives

1:00 PM ET

• Three-time Super Bowl champion Michael Irvin sits down with Giants wide receivers Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham

• Steve Cyphers on the anxiety of the Manning Family on Super Bowl Sunday

• NFL Network analysts debate if Eli Manning wins Super Bowl XLVI, which Manning has achieved more in his career?

• NFL Films presents piece on the emotional year Patriots owner Robert Kraft has experienced with the passing of his wife and the Patriots winning the AFC title.

• Former New England linebacker Willie McGinest on the impact of the Kraft Family on the Patriots

2:00 PM ET

• Three-time Super Bowl champion Willie McGinest sits down with his former teammate Tom Brady for a 1-on-1 interview:

  http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d8269594b/Sunday-Sitdown-Tom-Brady

• Michael Lombardi sits down with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for a 1-on-1 interview:

  http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d82691550/Belichick-preparing-Patriots-for-Sunday

• Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Michael Irvin debate the hot topics of Super Bowl XLVI

3:00 – 5:30 PM ET

• Super Bowl XXXIV MVP Kurt Warner sits down with Super Bowl XLII MVP and
  former teammate Eli Manning for a 1-on-1 interview:

  http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d8267a9e4/Sunday-Sitdown-Eli-Manning

• Essay written by Indiana native Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated on what hosting the Super Bowl means to the Hoosier State

• Stars of the upcoming film “That’s My Boy,” Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg join the set

• Tale of the Tape: how the Giants and Patriots match up at quarterback (Kurt Warner), running back (Marshall Faulk), wide receiver (Michael Irvin), on defense (Warren Sapp) and coaching (Steve Mariucci)

• Super Bowl XLVI MVP picks

 

• Game picks

***Immediately after the NBC postgame show – NFL GameDay Final

Host Rich Eisen and analysts Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci and Michael Irvin provide analysis and highlights from the field, plus live interviews with all the stars of the game and the winning coach. Albert Breer, Stacey Dales and Lindsay Soto provide interviews following the game.

NFL GameDay Morning Super Bowl Pregame Show Roster

Michael Irvin: Analyst (3 Super Bowl rings)
Deion Sanders: Analyst (2 Super Bowl ring)
Marshall Faulk: Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)
Kurt Warner: Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)
Warren Sapp: Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)
Charles Woodson: Guest Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)
Willie McGinest: Analyst (3 Super Bowl rings)
Brian Billick: Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)
Heath Evans: Analyst (1 Super Bowl ring)
Steve Mariucci: Analyst
Rich Eisen: Host
Melissa Stark: Host
Fran Charles: Host
Michelle Beisner: Reporter
Albert Breer: Reporter
Stacey Dales: Reporter
Steve Cyphers: Reporter
Jason La Canfora: Reporter
Michael Lombardi: Reporter
Ari Wolfe: Reporter
Steve Wyche: Reporter

That does it.

Tim Tebow Joins David Feherty on Golf Channel

David Feherty’s Golf Channel show will air from Indianapolis on Saturday. It was taped Friday in front of a live studio apartment. Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow will be a guest as will golfer Fuzzy Zoeller.

Golf Channel gives us details of what the show will entail.

TIM TEBOW JOINS ‘FEHERTY LIVE’ FROM THE SUPER BOWL SATURDAY AT 10 P.M. ON GOLF CHANNEL

NBC’s Golf Channel Brings the Wit and Irreverence of David Feherty to Super Bowl Week for Live Stage Performance
Feherty Live’ Takes Place Friday, Feb. 3, at Indianapolis Repertory Theater; Performance Also to be Produced as TV Special to Air on Golf Channel Saturday, Feb. 4, at 10 p.m. ET
Tebow Joins Famed Golfer and Indiana Native Fuzzy Zoeller, Along with Football Greats Joe Theismann and Steve Mariucci
Singer-Songwriter Josh Kelly also to Perform

ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 2, 2012) – Tim Tebow, quarterback of the Denver Broncos and the source of “Tebow-mania” that swept the country during the recent NFL season, has been added to the guest list for Feherty Live this week at the Super Bowl. The stage show, which will be taped Friday before a live audience at the Indianapolis Repertory Theater during Super bowl XLVI week in Indianapolis, will air Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.

Tebow is the latest celebrity guest to join in on the off-beat humor and compelling interviews which have become the trademark of golf funnyman David Feherty’s self-titled Golf Channel series. Also celebrating the super week with Feherty on stage will be one of golf’s all-time characters and Indiana native Fuzzy Zoeller, Super Bowl-winning quarterback and current NFL Network analyst Joe Theismann, and former NFL coach and NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci.

A college football superstar, Tebow continues to be the subject of media frenzies for his part in resurrecting the Broncos this past season and leading the team to its first playoff appearance in six years. The feat made him a worldwide sensation and an iconic personality that transcends the sport. In addition to great conversation with the featured guests, Feherty Live

Feherty, whose critically acclaimed Golf Channel series has been described as “a cross between Oprah Winfrey and Johnny Carson” by The New York Times, has been dubbed “one of the funniest men in the game” by Yahoo! Sports. The second season of Feherty premieres Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.

MCA recording artist and country singer-songwriter Josh Kelley will be the musical guest and will entertain the audience throughout Feherty Live. Kelley is best known for the top-5 hit “Amazing,” but his music has been incorporated into TV shows, such as MTV’s The Hills, ABC’s Brothers and Sisters and CW’s Smallville. Kelley is having success in Nashville with his hit “Georgia Clay” from his debut country album. He’s also an avid golfer who played golf at the University of Mississippi – where he was a roommate with Eli Manning – and remains a single-digit handicap.

That will do it for tonight.

ESPN’s Super Bowl XLVI Coverage Continues This Weekend

ESPN wraps up its Super Bowl coverage this weekend from Pan Am Plaza in Indianapolis and from the World Headquarters in Bristol, CT. As usual, multiple networks on TV and radio are involved.

We have your schedule for Saturday and Sunday.

ESPN and ESPN Radio Super Bowl XLVI Weekend Programs Originating Live from Pan Am Plaza in Indianapolis

ESPN’s multimedia coverage of Super Bowl XLVI continues through the weekend from Pan Am Plaza (201 South Capitol Avenue) in downtown Indianapolis. All shows are available for free public viewing.

Actors Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, and Indy Car driver Graham Rahal, who will be part of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown season finale, are among the notable guests scheduled to appear on ESPN programs this weekend. Scheduled highlights (all times ET):

Schedule of ESPN’s on-site programming for Saturday, Feb. 4:

10 a.m. — SportsCenter (ESPN)
Host: Steve Levy. Analysts: Tedy Bruschi and Steve Young.

1 p.m. – ESPN Deportes and ESPN International SportsCenter
Host: Ciro Procuna. Analysts: Alvaro Martin, Raul Allegre.

6 p.m. — SportsCenter (ESPN)
Host: Stuart Scott. Analysts: Trent Dilfer and Keyshawn Johnson.

Schedule of ESPN’s Super Bowl programming for Sunday, Feb. 5:

Sunday’s coverage will feature more than 17 hours of Super Bowl-related programming, beginning at 6 a.m. with Mike & Mike in the Morning live from ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., studios.

Chris Berman, covering his 30^th Super Bowl, will host a four-hour Super Bowl XLVI edition of Sunday NFL Countdown (10 a.m. — 2 p.m.) with analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Tedy Bruschi, Trent Dilfer, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young. Monday Night Football’s Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will join the crew from the stadium. NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will also contribute reports, and reporters Rachel Nichols (covering the Giants) and Ed Werder (Patriots) will provide updates on the teams throughout the day.

Special celebrity guest appearances at Pan Am Plaza during Countdown

11:45 a.m. – Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, stars of the upcoming movie That’s My Boy will be on-set (Jets head coach Rex Ryan made a cameo appearance in the movie);
1:55 p.m. – IndyCar driver Graham Rahal will drive through downtown Indianapolis to deliver the Super Bowl XLVI picks to the set.

Pre-game coverage:

3 a.m. — NFL Matchup (ESPN – re-airs at 6:30 a.m.) – Taped Saturday in Indianapolis
Host: Sal Paolantonio. Analysts: Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski

6 a.m. — Mike and Mike in the Morning (ESPN Radio/ESPN2) **
Hosts: Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic
Guests: ESPN analyst Herm Edwards (7 a.m.), Super Bowl winning coach and Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden (7 a.m.), and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (9:03 a.m.)

9 a.m. — SportsCenter (ESPN) **
Hosts:  Bob Ley and Hannah Storm
(Super Bowl XLVI segments from Lucas Oil Stadium – Host: Mike Tirico. Analysts: Merril Hoge, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski)
SportsCenter anchor Karl Ravech will be live in Durham, Conn., midpoint between and Met Life Stadium (Giants) and Gillette Stadium (Patriots).

9 a.m. — SportsNation (ESPN2) **
Hosts:  Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd. Guest analyst: Herm Edwards

10 a.m. — Sunday NFL Countdown(ESPN)
Full release

11 a.m. – First Take(ESPN2)
Host:  Jay Crawford. Analyst: Skip Bayless

Post-game coverage:

10:30 p.m. – NFL PrimeTime(ESPN) – live from Lucas Oil Stadium
Host: Berman. Analysts: Jackson and Young.

11:30 p.m. – SportsCenter(ESPN) **
Hosts: Steve Berthiaume and Robert Flores
(Super Bowl XLVI segments from Pan Am Plaza – Hosts: Stuart Scott and Steve Levy.  Analysts: Cris Carter, Trent Dilfer, and Keyshawn Johnson)

* Commentator and guest schedules subject to change
** Originating from ESPN Studios in Bristol, Conn.

That will do it.

NFL Network’s Super Bowl Week Day 5 Quotage Plus Day 6 Schedule

Let’s do the quotage from Friday’s coverage of the NFL Network’s day at the Super Bowl. Lots of stuff including an interview with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell who announced that NFL Network will get five additional games for its Thursday Night Football schedule, but it is not included in this set of quotage unfortunately. You can see it here.

We have links to video and tomorrow’s schedule of programming on NFL Network.

NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM SUPER BOWL XLVI NOTES & QUOTES – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

Special 8 ½ Hour Edition of NFL GameDay Morning Super Bowl Sunday at 9:00 AM ET from Lucas Oil Stadium
New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick Sits Down with Michael Lombardi on NFL GameDay Morning
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012 Announcement & Super Bowl Saturday Night Saturday, Feb. 4 on NFL Network

Video Links from Friday’s Edition of Super Bowl Live

The following special guests appeared on Super Bowl Live Friday:

• Peyton Manning’s agent Tom Condon:
  http://www.nfl.com/videos/indianapolis-colts/09000d5d82691d72/Condon-Peyton-expects-to-play
• New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin:
  http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-player-interviews/09000d5d82691280/Coughlin-wired-in
• Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne:
  http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d8269344e/What-s-up-Wayne
• Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney:
  http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d82693eff/Gronk-s-tough
  
• Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday:
  http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d82695177/Peyton-s-best-man
• Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews:
  http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d82693b07/Matthews-more-than-just-hair
• Former NFL defensive end Jason Taylor:
  http://www.nfl.com/videos/miami-dolphins/09000d5d826919a1/Is-Taylor-finished
• Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Kate Upton:
  http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d82694a1f/Kate-Upton-chats-about-the-big-game

New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick 1-on-1 Interview with NFL Network Analyst Michael Lombardi on NFL GameDay Morning Sunday, February 5 at 9:00 AM ET

On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL Network is live in Indianapolis from Lucas Oil Stadium with a special 8 ½ hour edition of NFL GameDay Morning at 9:00 PM ET. Host Rich Eisen is joined by analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin on the first and most comprehensive pregame show on television. With the latest news reports, sitdown interviews, special guest appearances, Super Bowl features and expert analysis, NFL GameDay Morning is the go-to destination leading up to the kickoff of Super Bowl XLVI.

During the show, NFL Network analyst Michael Lombardi sits down with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to discuss the team’s season and their preparation leading up to facing the New York Giants.

Below is a preview of the interview:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl/09000d5d82691550/Belichick-getting-team-ready-for-Sunday

Additional sitdown interviews on NFL GameDay Morning include:

• New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady with Willie McGinest
• New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning with Kurt Warner
• New York Giants wide receivers Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham with Michael Irvin

In total, NFL GameDay Morning features 21 on-air personalities who have won a total of 14 Super Bowl rings to break down Super Bowl XLVI between the New England Patriots and New York Giants.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Announcement Class of 2012 & Super Bowl Saturday Night on NFL Network Saturday, February 4

In a special ceremony the day before Super Bowl XLVI, NFL Network will announce the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees on Saturday, February 4 at 5:30 PM ET on Road to Canton: Pro Football Hall of Fame: Class of 2012.

From the Super Bowl Media Center in Indianapolis, Fran Charles hosts alongside Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Fouts and Warren Moon. They will be joined by the new enshrinees and current Hall of Fame members for interviews. In addition, the show will cover the process that determines who is inducted and the toughest decisions that were made this year. Portions of the announcement ceremony will also be available live on NFL.com

Finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012 are Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Jack Butler, Cris Carter, Dermontti Dawson, Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Chris Doleman, Kevin Greene, Charles Haley, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, Bill Parcells, Andre Reed, Willie Roaf, Will Shields, Dick Stanfel, and Aeneas Williams. For more information, please visit www.profootballhof.com.

At 8:00 PM ET, Rich Eisen and Melissa Stark are on the red carpet at the Murat Theater on Super Bowl Saturday Night, the one-hour show leading up to the inaugural NFL Honors awards show.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4 NFL NETWORK’S SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET)

7:00 AM – No Huddle
8:00 AM – Bill Parcells: A Life in Football
9:30 AM – Sound FX: 2011 New England Patriots
10:00 AM – Brady 6
11:00 AM – Playbook
12 NOON – Super Bowl Commercials
1:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Super Bowls
2:00 PM – Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
2:30 PM – NFL Replay: New York Giants at New England Patriots – Week 9, 2011
5:00 PM – Super Bowl Live – LIVE from Super Bowl Media Center
5:30 PM – Hall of Fame Announcement Show: Class of 2012 – LIVE from Super Bowl Media Center
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl – LIVE from NFL Experience
8:00 PM – Super Bowl Saturday Night – LIVE from Murat Theater
9:00 PM – Playbook
10:00 PM – Sound FX: Super Bowls I-XLV
11:00 PM – NFL Total Access at the Super Bowl
12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Honors
2:00 AM – Full Game Re-Air: New York Giants at New England Patriots – Week 9, 2011

We’ll have ESPN’s schedule for Saturday coming up next.

The Super Bowl Weekend Megalinks

Let’s do some linkage on this Super Bowl Weekend.

The Weekend Viewing Picks have my sports and entertainment suggestions.

Time for your links. As you can imagine, many of the stories will deal with Sunday’s Super Bowl.

National

Michael Hiestand of USA Today talks with NBC’s Bob Costas about his past experiences in hosing a Super Bowl pregame show.

The Nielsen Wire Blog has a look at the 10 Most Liked Super Bowl ads in the last five years.

Daisy Whitney at MediaPost says a large portion of viewers go online to look up information about a Super Bowl ad.

Wayne Friedman of MediaPost writes that the Super Bowl is reaching almost half of all female viewers.

Peter Pachal of Mashable says NBC will hold a Google+ hangout to after the Super Bowl to discuss the ads.

Marisa Guthrie of the Hollywood Reporter talks with NBC Sports Group Fearless Leader Mark Lazarus about the Super Bowl, winning the Olympics and losing Wimbledon to ESPN.

John Eggerton in Broadcasting & Cable writes that a fan lobbying group hopes the FCC will call for the elimination of the NFL’s antiquated TV blackout rules.

John says a Michigan man has been charged with illegally streaming NFL games online.

Thomas Umstead from Multichannel News says Saturday’s UFC pay per view event will be available in 3-D for the first time.

Todd Spangler of Multichannel looks at Verizon’s streaming of Sunday’s Super Bowl on select mobile devices.

Adweek talks with Sports Illustrated/NBC’s Peter King.

Tim Nudd from Adweek notes the return of the E*Trade baby to the Super Bowl.

The International Olympic Committee has awarded the Japanese rights for the 2014/16 Games at a much lower rate than the US rights paid by NBC.

Robert Livingston at Games Bid says the 2014 Olympics in Sochi will be the first to be produced in 3-D TV.

André Lowe of the Jamaica (yes the country) Gleaner says ESPN has gathered some former NFL players in a cruise ship for the Super Bowl at Sea. I’m not making this up.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch talks with The Big Lead’s Jason McIntyre about his recent profile of ESPN Radio Hack Colin Cowherd.

Allison Stoneberg at ESPN’s Front Row discusses how the network’s producers book guests for the studio and radio shows during Super Bowl Week.

Jack Dickey at Deadspin explains how the New York Times really messed up the story of former Yale quarterback Patrick Witt.

Dylan Stableford at Yahoo’s The Cutline explains why the Puppy Bowl has become so popular on Super Bowl Sunday.

Sports Media Watch delves into the expanded NFL Network Thursday Night Football schedule.

SMW has a few ratings news and notes including one on the Winter X Games.

Ken Kerschbaumer of Sports Video Group goes behind the scenes with NBC’s Super Bowl production crew.

Jason Dachman of SVG goes into NBC’s first-ever online streaming of the Super Bowl.

And Dan Daily from SVG writes about this year’s Super Bowl World Feed.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says Wednesday night NHL games are doing well for NBC Sports Network.

Northeast & Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe speaks with NBC’s Rodney Harrison on the unspoken revenge factor for the New England Patriots in this year’s Super Bowl.

Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette has NBC’s Cris Collinsworth talking about the Super Bowl.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says one of the Mets’ TV partners may help to bail out the team from its financial troubles.

Judy Battista of the Times reports on the expanded Thursday Night Football schedule.

Stuart Elliot of the Times says the Shazam mobile app will play a prominent role during many Super Bowl ads.

A rare appearance by Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News in the links. He has his Top 5 Super Bowl announcing teams of all-time.

Phil Mushnick from the New York Post has some Super Bowl storylines the media has missed.

Ken Schott at the Schenectady Gazette looks at the NFL Network announcement of five more games added to Thursday Night Football.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has NFL Commish Roger Goodell shooting down rumors of more Monday Night Football doubleheaders.

Pete says Commissioner Goodell is firing a warning shot at Time Warner Cable.

Pete reviews the 11 men who have called a Super Bowl on network television.

The Crossing Broad blog says the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer may be on a slow death march to oblivion.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call discusses NBC’s coverage of Super Bowl XLVI.

South

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle notes that NBC’s Rodney Harrison may be an ex-New England Patriots, but he says he can remain fair.

David says NFL Network gets a beefed up schedule next season.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman says NBC’s Cris Collinsworth gets to call his second Super Bowl on TV.

Mel notes that College GameDay will be covering the Big 12 on Saturday.

Midwest

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that one local radio show will be on radio row in Indianapolis today.

Scott Olson of the Indianapolis Business Journal says ESPN is very happy about choosing Pan Am Plaza as its Super Bowl headquarters this week.

The Indianapolis Star has what journalists are saying about the city as a Super Bowl host.

Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says two participants in last year’s Big Game will be on NBC’s Super Bowl pregame show.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Cardinals TV voice Dan McLaughlin will return to call games this season.

Steve Walentik of the Columbia (MO) Tribune calls ESPN’s Jay Bilas, “College Hoops’ Deepest Thinker.” Ok.

West

John Maffei of the North County Times says Al Michaels still loves calling Super Bowls.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star says Michaels is hoping for overtime.

Jim has NBC’s Rodney Harrison keeping the David Tyree catch from Super Bowl XLVII in proper perspective.

Richard Varrier of the Los Angeles Times looks at the Fed crackdown on websites that were illegally streaming NFL games.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks with former Lakers voice Paul Sunderland and lists the 20 best play-by-play men in Southern California.

Tom has more about Paul in his blog and adds a couple of media notes.

Canada

Susan Krashinsky of the Toronto Globe and Mail explains why Canada can’t see the U.S. Super Bowl ads in real time.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog has NBC’s Super Bowl production by the numbers.

And that’s going to do it for the links. Enjoy the Big Game.

Super Bowl XLVI Viewing Picks

All Times Eastern

NFL GameDay Morning — NFL Network, 9 a.m.
Sunday NFL Countdown — ESPN, 10 a.m.
Road to the Super Bowl — NBC, noon
Super Bowl XLVI Pregame — NBC, 1 p.m.
SportsNet Central Extra: Super Bowl Pregame — Comcast SportsNet New England, 3 p.m.
Super Bowl Pre-Kick Show — NBC, 6 p.m.

Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots — NBC, 6:30 p.m.
Announcers: NBC — Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth/Michele Tafoya; Dial Global — Kevin Harlan/Boomer Esiason/James Lofton/Mark Malone

SportsNet Central Extra: Super Bowl Postgame — Comcast SportsNet New England, 10 p.m.
SportsNite: Big Blue Live — SNY, 10 p.m.
NFL PrimeTime — ESPN, 10:30 p.m.
NFL GameDay Final — NFL Network, 10:30 p.m.

Sirius XM Super Bowl Channel Assignments