If 2023’s big game was the Andy Reid bowl, you have to call this year’s the Taylor Swift bowl.
While the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers are the star attractions of Super Bowl LVIII on paper, let’s be honest: Pop culture interest in the singer is unabated, to the point that bookies are making prop bets about everything from her screen time to big moments.
But let’s put Swift aside. Today is about football—and this Super Bowl could have looked a lot differently. One month ago, Kansas City’s participation in the game was anything but certain, as the team had to fight their way up from a wild card spot. San Francisco wouldn’t be here if not for a riveting comeback fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions two weeks ago.
The teams last met in a pre-season game in October 2022 (which the Chiefs won 44-23). Pre-season doesn’t matter much, though. Most fans are thinking back to 2020 and Super Bowl 54, where the Chiefs began their championship run, winning 31-20—the first title for Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and coach Andy Reid.
As you prepare for this year’s Super Bowl party, the details of the game can be hard to remember. We’ve got you covered.
Which NFL teams are playing in the 2024 Super Bowl? And what channel is airing the games?
Pre-game broadcasts for Super Bowl LVIII officially begin 7 hours before kickoff this year on CBS at 11:30 a.m. ET, with what might be the most unusual pre-game show in the NFL’s history: NFL Slimetime, featuring SpongeBob and Patrick. (Really.) The “official” pregame show starts at 2:00 p.m. ET.
As the game draws closer, keep your eye open for a few memorable commercials, which will warm viewers up for the big ones that air after kickoff.
Sunday, February 11
San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs, kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS
Who’s singing the National Anthem at Super Bowl LVIII?
Country music icon Reba McEntire will sing the National Anthem this year. Before she kicks off the game with that song, the Country Music Hall of Famer will be joined by Post Malone singing “America the Beautiful” and Andra Day singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Meanwhile, Tiësto will act as the Super Bowl’s first-ever in-game DJ. He’ll play a set pre-game during player warm-ups and in several breaks during the game.
Who’s performing at halftime for Super Bowl LVIII?
R&B superstar Usher takes center stage at this year’s halftime show. (This follows the end of his two-year residency in Las Vegas.) Throughout his career, he has had 9 number-one songs and 18 top-ten songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Burn,” “My Boo” and “Yeah!”
Where is this year’s Super Bowl being held?
It’s been kind of hard to miss in the walkup to this year’s game, but Allegiant Stadium is located in Las Vegas, Nev.—the city’s first time hosting the Super Bowl. And Sin City has gone all out in the days leading up to the game.
What’s this I hear about the Super Bowl being aired on Nickelodeon?
It’s true! The biggest game in the sporting world will be simulcast on the Nickelodeon cable channel this year—and Paramount is making it something to remember.
To celebrate the 25h anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants, the cast of that show will join CBS Sports analyst Nate Burleson and play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle to call the game. SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Patrick (Bill fa*gerbakke) will ad lib comments throughout the game. Sandy Cheeks (voiced by Carolyn Lawrence) will act as a sideline reporter.
Before the game, “Sweet Victory,” from the fan favorite episode “Band Geeks” Will play.
How can I watch Super Bowl LVIII for free—even if I am out of market?
The Super Bowl, as you might expect, isn’t blacked out in any market. The best way to watch for free on a big screen is with a good HD antenna. Super Bowl 58 will be broadcast by CBS—meaning you’ve got a good chance of capturing the game over the air, which costs nothing beyond the equipment prices. Be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home to find the most reliable signal.
How can I stream Super Bowl LVIII live online if I don’t have a cable subscription?
With CBS as the host network, the Super Bowl will be a big draw for the Paramount+ streaming service. Unlike the Chiefs wildcard game a few weeks ago, though, it’s not exclusive to Paramount+.
You have loads of online options to watch the Super Bowl, though the era of free trial periods is largely over for many of them. Here are a few options:
Paramount+
The streaming home of the Super Bowl, Paramount+ has two tiers, the Essential plan ($5.99 per month) and Paramount+ with Showtine ($11.99 per month). You can choose either tier to watch the game, with pregame coverage starting at 2 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. ET on the more expensive tier). Best of all, there’s a seven-day free trial for the service currently being offered. That will not only let you watch today’s game, but you can also catch the return of Jon Stewart to “The Daily Show” next week.
Disney+
Disney’s bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $15 per month for all three combined (or $25 per month for no ads on Hulu).
Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $77 per month ($90 with no ads).
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial on this service is no longer offered, as well. It will now cost you $77 per month.
YouTubeTV
After up to a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73. YouTube is also now the home of Sunday Ticket, but that won’t help this week as Sunday Ticket does not carry the Super Bowl (but you should be able to watch on your local CBS station via the service).
Sling TV
Dish Network’s Sling lower-tiered “Orange” plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive “Blue” plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial has disappeared, but the cord-cutting service is offering 50% off of the first month’s bill.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $75 per month and up after the free trial option.
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $75 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
Does the NFL offer any viewing packages to watch the Super Bowl?
Yes, but only one will help you watch the game live.
NFL App
The NFL App will let you stream games that are being broadcast locally in your market on Sundays. If you want to watch an ‘out of market’ game, you’ve got two choices.
NFL Game Pass
There are couple hitches with this service. You can’t use it to watch live games, but you can watch anything once its main broadcast ends. There’s a seven-day free trial, after which you’re looking at a $50 charge.
Which team is the favorite to win Super Bowl LVIII?
Oddsmakers are giving a slight edge to the 49ers this year, but it’s close. On FanDuel, San Francisco is the -130 favorite, while the Chiefs are +110 underdogs. CBS Sports puts the 49ers as a two-point favorite in the game. ESPN’s experts, though, say the Chiefs will dominate the game. Basically, this one’s about as evenly matched as it can get before the first snap.
Where is next year’s Super Bowl being played?
Super Bowl LIX is scheduled to take place on Feb. 9, 2024, at the Superdome in New Orleans, La. Ironically, this year’s game was originally supposed to take place there, but since Mardi Gras is still going on, officials moved New Orleans’ turn as the host city to next year.
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