Fox' pregame coverage will begin at South Beach, before moving to a set outside of Hard Rock StadiumGETTY IMAGES
Discussions and plans for Fox' production of Super Bowl LIV "began more than a year ago," and execs "ultimately came together with a plan to host more than 100 hours of coverage this week," according to Shlomo Sprung of AWFUL ANNOUNCING. Fox Sports Exec Producer Brad Zager is "overseeing every aspect of production, logistics and coordination" leading into Sunday's game, marking his "third Super Bowl with the network in some capacity." Pregame coverage on Sunday begins with "Fox NFL Kickoff" at 1:00pm ET from South Beach, before the "Fox NFL Sunday" crew "takes over at 2 and broadcasts from three different locations." After leaving the net's South Beach complex, the pregame crew "heads north to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens to an outdoor set outside the stadium before finishing pregame coverage inside the stadium" at 5:00pm. One part of Fox' "logistical minefield is the addition of a third set, the Super Bowl fan plaza stage in the stadium parking lot." Zager said that he and the net "wanted to add one more pregame set location to mimic the natural flow of the fan on Super Bowl Sunday" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 1/28).
LOGISTICAL PLAN: The AP's Joe Reedy noted Fox will use "more than 90 cameras for the game, including multiple 8K cameras." Sunday also will be the "first time that the entire game will be shot in 8K." Fox' Richie Zyontz, who has been a part of 13 Super Bowls over the years with CBS and Fox, will be lead producer for his sixth SB, with Rich Russo as the "lead director for the fourth time" (AP, 1/30). SI.com's Jimmy Traina reported Fox will "unveil new graphics for the game and use a 'fly cam' that will go from inside to outside Hard Rock Stadium" (SI.com, 1/30).
DON'T BET ON IT: Zager said that viewers "should not expect a heavy dose of gambling content" during the game. He said, "I don't think it'll be something significant, where you'll see the true impact of the legalized state by state ruling that happened this year. Maybe in three years at our next Super Bowl where more states are legalized that could change" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/31). Zager spoke with SBJ's John Ourand about being the lead producer of the Super Bowl for the first time.
