CBS Sports' stream of Super Bowl 50 last night performed without major incident, and network execs are expecting record audience numbers when metrics are released later this week. This year’s Super Bowl stream featured a variety of new and returning features, including a first-ever sync with televised commercials -- with the exception of local affiliate ad units. Alternate angles such as the popular All-22 view were made available on Microsoft platforms such as Xbox One and Windows 10. Last night's game also represented the first time the Super Bowl was streamed live on connected TV platforms. There were some reports on social media and online of sporadic user issues connecting with the stream, particularly during the pregame and first quarter and via Apple TV. CBS Sports disclosed on Twitter during the first quarter of the game some issues with third-generation Apple TV devices, though there were individual reports of users with the newest fourth-generation Apple TV also having issues accessing the stream. Sources close to the CBS game production said that there were no significant problems, such as with a content delivery network. The digital stream of the game lagged behind TV anywhere from five to 30 seconds, depending on the device or platform, typical for a live-streamed sporting event. Last year’s Super Bowl XLIX on NBC generated an average minute audience on digital of 800,000, with a peak of 1.3 million concurrent users and 213 million total minutes of consumption (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). In S.F., Benny Evangelista reported the CBS Sports Help Team yesterday on Twitter wrote that it also was "working on problems involving computers using an older version of the Chrome browser and on tablets running on older versions of Google’s Android operating system" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/8).
STREAMING REVIEWS: RE/CODE's Peter Kafka noted once CBS and/or Apple "got the app working, about 20 minutes after kick-off," he was able to stream the game "without incident, and the picture looked pretty darn good for the rest of the game." Kafka: "I never had to swap out of the app or reset my Apple TV box -- things I often need to do even when I’m not streaming live sports" (RECODE.net, 2/7).
STADIUM ARCADIUM: ADWEEK's Tim Baysinger noted the Super Bowl was supposed to be the "big coming out party" for Facebook's Sports Stadium, which was launched last month. But it has a "few hiccups, most notably the fact" that it was "having trouble keeping up with the game." Many people who tried Sports Stadium "ended up turning to Twitter to air their frustrations." As well as having trouble "staying with the action, it appears some users have been underwhelmed with the amount of actual conversation around the game." A lot of the problem during the first half was attributed to "high traffic volume" (ADWEEK.com, 2/7).
TREND SETTERS: VATOR.tv's Steven Loeb noted the biggest trending moment on Twitter during the Super Bowl was the halftime show, which was headlined by Coldplay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars. The "other two big moments" were the Broncos scoring a touchdown to go up 10-0 after stripping Panthers QB Cam Newton and "when the game ended." Newton and Broncos QB Peyton Manning "were the most Tweeted about stars," followed by Broncos LB and MVP Von Miller and Broncos CB Aqib Talib (VATOR.tv, 2/8).
