What Channel Is the Super Bowl Televised
Who is broadcasting Super Bowl 2021? A guide to the TV channel, announcers & more on Super Bowl 55 rights
The Super Bowl is the most-watched event on TV in the United States, with more than 100 million viewers tuning in annually. There's no reason to expect the 2021 edition of the event to be any different, especially with fan restrictions in place due to COVID-19. So get that television tuned to the right channel, sit back and enjoy the game.
Three networks — CBS, Fox and NBC — are in agreement with the NFL to rotate the broadcasts between their channels in three-year sequences. Things have gone a bit out of turn for 2021 due to the Olympics, which we'll get into more below, so it'll be CBS showing the Super Bowl this time around.
If you want one reason to get excited about that, it's Tony Romo. Widely regarded as the top color commentator in the NFL, the former Cowboys quarterback brings an enthusiasm to broadcasts that few others match while also providing a high level of expertise.
CBS will also surely plug its annual rights to the NCAA Tournament, otherwise known as March Madness, which should bring one of the most-known jingles in all of sports out during the Super Bowl, too.
Below, we've got more of what you need to know about the 2021 Super Bowl broadcast.
Who is broadcasting the Super Bowl in 2021?
CBS will broadcast the Super Bowl on Feb. 7, 2021. That's due to being one of three networks (Fox and NBC the others) who agreed to a deal with the NFL in 2006 to rotate the Super Bowl between the three channels.
That 2006 deal is set to expire following the 2022 Super Bowl, which makes this the last Super Bowl broadcast on CBS under the current rights deal. Because CBS was previously involved in Super Bowl broadcasts, this will be the 21st time the big game is shown on CBS.
The 2021 Super Bowl was originally lined up to be broadcast on NBC, but they swapped places with CBS and will instead broadcast the Super Bowl in 2022. That allows NBC to cross promote the Super Bowl with its coverage of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
In Canada, the Super Bowl is being broadcast on TSN and CTV, and is also available to live stream on DAZN (which offers a 30-day free trial).
Below is the list of Super Bowls that have been broadcasted (and will be broadcasted) with the rotation set by the current TV agreement.
| Super Bowl | Broadcast network | NFL season |
| Super Bowl 56 | NBC | 2021 |
| Super Bowl 55 | CBS | 2020 |
| Super Bowl 54 (49ers vs. Chiefs) | Fox | 2019 |
| Super Bowl 53 (Rams vs. Patriots) | CBS | 2018 |
| Super Bowl 52 (Eagles vs. Patriots) | NBC | 2017 |
| Super Bowl 51 (Falcons vs. Patriots) | Fox | 2016 |
| Super Bowl 50 (Panthers vs. Broncos) | CBS | 2015 |
| Super Bowl 49 (Seahawks vs. Patriots) | NBC | 2014 |
| Super Bowl 48 (Seahawks vs. Broncos) | Fox | 2013 |
| Super Bowl 47 (49ers vs. Ravens) | CBS | 2012 |
| Super Bowl 46 (Giants vs. Patriots) | NBC | 2011 |
| Super Bowl 45 (Packers vs. Steelers) | Fox | 2010 |
| Super Bowl 44 (Saints vs. Colts) | CBS | 2009 |
| Super Bowl 43 (Cardinals vs. Steelers) | NBC | 2008 |
| Super Bowl 42 (Giants vs. Patriots) | Fox | 2007 |
| Super Bowl 41 (Bears vs. Colts) | CBS | 2006 |
The next round of NFL negotiations with the broadcast powers for the Super Bowl could be the most lucrative ever. ABC/ESPN, owned by Disney, could seek to get into the rotation with a huge bid. And Amazon has been nudging its way into NFL broadcasting in recent years and could make a play on some sort of digital Super Bowl broadcast rights, too.
How much does it cost to broadcast the Super Bowl?
The Super Bowl broadcast rights are packaged with other broadcasts and not sold individually, so there's not a straight answer to this question.
CBS reportedly pays $1 billion for its package of games that includes Sunday games during the regular season along with a place in the Super Bowl broadcast rotation.
Fox reportedly pays the most, with $1.1 billion getting it a package of Sunday games, a share of "Thursday Night Football" and a spot broadcasting the Super Bowl. And NBC reportedly pays $950 million, which gets it "Sunday Night Football" and Super Bowl rights in the rotation.
Unlike the three networks' deals with the NFL, ESPN's current contract expires after 2021 and not after 2022. That means it could be complicated for Disney to negotiate for Super Bowl rights as part of its next package, although that could accelerate the overall negotiation for anyone who wants a piece of the Super Bowl pie, which will surely be as expensive as ever.
Super Bowl announcers: Jim Nantz and Tony Romo
Nantz and Romo are CBS' top NFL broadcast team and will call Super Bowl 55 from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
This will be the sixth Super Bowl with Nantz on play-by-play duties. He first called the big game in 2007, and the first four of his career were called with Phil Simms as his color commentator. Nantz called his first Super Bowl with Romo in 2019, when the Patriots beat the Rams.
Romo is the highest-paid color commentator in sports, with him reportedly making $17 million per season. According to Spotrac, Romo only made more than that in four of his NFL seasons as a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
The "Romo Game" each week during the regular season is looked forward to by many football fans, who appreciate Romo's blend of enthusiasm and humor paired with an ability to explain the game for the audience. He's also known for reading the field and calling plays before they happen.
Super Bowl sideline reporters: Tracy Wolfson, Evan Washburn and Jay Feely
Wolfson is the usual sideline reporter for the Nantz and Romo crew. This will be the fourth Super Bowl she's on the sideline for. Wolfson joined Nantz's crew for NFL games in 2014.
This will be the third Super Bowl broadcast for Washburn. He joined CBS in 2014 and was a part of the call for Super Bowls in 2016 and 2019.
Feely is a former NFL kicker who provides both kicking insights and other commentary during games for CBS. He, like Washburn, assisted on the call for the games in 2016 and 2019. Feely made 332 field goals in an NFL career spanning from 2001 to 2014, which ranks him 25th all-time in that category.
What channel is the Super Bowl on?
Super Bowl 55 will be broadcast nationally on CBS.
MORE: Live stream Super Bowl 55 on fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Below are the top 40 TV markets in the Unites States and the local CBS affiliate for each.
| Market | Fox affiliate (digital/virtual channel) |
| New York | WCBS (2) |
| Los Angeles | KCBS (2) |
| Chicago | WBBM (2) |
| Philadelphia | KYW-TV (3) |
| Dallas-Ft. Worth | KTVT (11) |
| San Francisco/Bay area | KPIX (5) |
| Washington D.C. | WUSA (9) |
| Houston | KHOU (11) |
| Boston | WBZ-TV (4) |
| Atlanta | WGCL-TV (46) |
| Phoenix | KPHO-TV (5) |
| Tampa/St. Petersburg | TWSP (10) |
| Seattle | KIRO-TV (7) |
| Detroit | WWJ-TV (62) |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | WCCO-TV (4) |
| Miami | WFOR-TV (4) |
| Denver | KCNC-TV (4) |
| Orlando | WKMG-TV (6) |
| Cleveland | WOIO (19) |
| Sacramento | KOVR (13) |
| Charlotte | WBTV (3) |
| Portland | KOIN (6) |
| St. Louis | KMOV (4) |
| Pittsburgh | KDKA-TV (2) |
| Baltimore | WJZ-TV (13) |
| Raleigh-Durham | WNCN (17) |
| Nashville | WTVF (5) |
| San Diego | KMFB (8) |
| Salt Lake City | KUTV (2) |
| San Antonio | KENS (5) |
| Kansas City | KCTV |
| Columbus | WBNS-TV (10) |
| Milwaukee | WDJT-TV (58) |
| Cincinnati | WKRC-TV (12) |
| Las Vegas | KLAS-TV (8) |
| Jacksonville | WJAX-TV (47) |
| Oklahoma City | KWTV-DT (9) |
| New Orleans | WWL-TV (4) |
| Memphis | WREG (3) |
| Buffalo | WIVB-TV (4) |
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What Channel Is the Super Bowl Televised
Source: https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nfl/news/super-bowl-2021-channel-announcers/1ggcjc667yna01lzxw8awyfn70#:~:text=What%20channel%20is%20the%20Super,be%20broadcast%20nationally%20on%20CBS.