NBC to Stream Super Bowl XLIX on iPad and Mac for Free, No Cable Subscription Required - MacRumors
Skip to Content

NBC to Stream Super Bowl XLIX on iPad and Mac for Free, No Cable Subscription Required

NBCUniversal today announced that it's debuting a new "Super Stream Sunday" promotion, which will allow all U.S.-based users to watch 11 continuous hours of NBC content through the NBCSports.com website and through the NBC Sports Live Extra app on the iPad/iPod touch without the need for a cable subscription.

Super Stream Sunday, which starts on February 1 at noon Eastern Time, will include Super Bowl XLIX, the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show with Katy Perry, and the Super Bowl XLIX pre- and post-game shows. It will also feature an episode of The Blacklist.

superbowlxlix
Accessing NBC content through NBC.com or within the NBC Sports Live Extra app typically requires a cable subscription and authentication through logging into the service, but for the Super Stream Sunday period, no logins will be required, allowing everyone to watch the Super Bowl for free. NBC is running the promotion in an effort to make people aware of its TV Everywhere offerings, which offer television content on a range of devices with a cable subscription.

While iPad and iPod touch users can watch the Super Bowl using the NBC Sports Live Extra app, NBC is not able to stream content to the iPhone as it does not have NFL live-streaming rights for smartphones due to an exclusive deal the NFL has with Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Wireless and the NFL plan to introduce a Super Bowl Stadium app that will offer "exclusive in-stadium video content" that includes commercials and replays shown from four camera angles. Users not in the United States or Mexico can access the Super Bowl through the NFL's Game Rewind service.

NBC Sports Live Extra can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Popular Stories

Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

11 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 18 Pro

Monday May 11, 2026 9:01 am PDT by
We're only four months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a sea change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year, adopting a...
iOS 26

iOS 26.5 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.5

Monday May 11, 2026 5:09 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 26.5 after a few months of beta testing, and while it doesn't have the Siri features we were hoping for since those are being held until iOS 27, there are a handful of useful changes worth knowing about. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. End-to-End Encryption for RCS Support for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and...
General Apps Reddit Feature

Reddit Starts Blocking Mobile Website, Pushing Users to App Instead

Monday May 11, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
Social network Reddit recently began blocking mobile visitors to its website while pushing them to download the official Reddit app, and it's fair to say that the move is not going down well with users. If you visit reddit.com on your iPhone today, you may see a new popup that can't be dismissed, asking you to "get the app to keep using Reddit." A Reddit spokesperson told Ars Technica...

Top Rated Comments

sualpine Avatar
148 months ago
All advertising is ultimately paid for by all consumers through increased product costs, thereby everyone ultimately getting socked for it. Every purchase you make for an advertised product contains an upcharge to cover the ads.


Does a solution exist in which you wouldn't complain?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thogin Avatar
148 months ago
I'll be watching the SuperBowl the good ol' fashioned way: OTA in HD on my TV. Totally free, with no network buffer timeouts.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
happydude Avatar
148 months ago
wish it were avail as an Apple TV option as well. good move for them promotion wise, hope their streaming services can handle the extra load...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
148 months ago
I gotta see this, just for the commercials filmed from FOUR different camera angles!

/englishkindasux
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
148 months ago
All advertising is ultimately paid for by all consumers through increased product costs, thereby everyone ultimately getting socked for it. Every purchase you make for an advertised product contains an upcharge to cover the ads.

You must be awesome to hang out with.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
148 months ago
airplay

wish it were avail as an Apple TV option as well. good move for them promotion wise, hope their streaming services can handle the extra load...

Airplay works on the NBC sports app so you will be able to push it to your Apple TV
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)