Here’s How to Stream the Super Bowl

 A view of SoFi Stadium as workers prepare for Super Bowl LVI on February 01, 2022 in Inglewood, California.

A view of SoFi Stadium as workers prepare for Super Bowl LVI on February 01, 2022 in Inglewood, California.
Photo: Ronald Martinez (Getty Images)

It’s the big question for the big game: How do I watch the Super Bowl online?

The biggest sporting event of the year in the United States always draws in big TV audiences —in 2021, the broadcast attracted 96.4 million viewers. But as more consumers cut the cord and ditch their cable TV, the proportion of fans who want to watch online is booming. Last year the game averaged 5.7 million viewers per minute on streaming networks.

This year the game is likely to be as big as ever, and the presence of underdog teams like the Bengals and Rams should make it an exciting watch. And even if it isn’t, there’s always lots of good commercials to watch. Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem are playing the Super Bowl Halftime Show, so you’ve got that to look forward to, too.

Oh, and if you don’t care about football at all? Here’s what you need to know about Puppy Bowl XVII and the Kitty Half-Time Show.

If you’re planning to tune in, here’s everything you need to know.

When Is Super Bowl 2022?

Super Bowl LVI —a fancier way to say the number 56— is happening on Feb. 13, 2002. The kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM Pacific/6:30 PM Eastern. If you’re only interested in watching the halftime show, it should be on around 5 PM PT/8PM ET.

Where Will Super Bowl 2022 Be Played?

The big game will be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. That bit of luck will mean the Rams will be the first team ever to play a conference championship and a Super Bowl in their home stadium.

There was a contingency plan to host the Super Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas if coronavirus concerns scuttled the show in California. But at this point SoFi is a lock.

Who is Playing?

The Los Angeles Rams will square off against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. Both teams were underdogs coming into playoffs, with the Bengals holding a 10-7 record for the regular season, and the Rams only slightly better at 12-5.

How Do I Stream the Super Bowl?

If you’re not headed to a neighbor’s house to watch the Super Bowl, and you don’t have cable at home or an over-the-air antenna, you can stream the Super Bowl instead through a smart TV, set-top box, or dongle like a Chromecast with Google TV.

NBC’s live broadcast is available as a part of YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, and fuboTV’s streaming packages. Streaming apps with on-demand content will also offer the game, including Peacock, Yahoo Sports, and NFL GamePass.

For audio-only coverage, you can turn your digital dial to Sirius XM and Westwood One radio stations (which are streaming on TuneIn).

What About the Ads?

The Super Bowl is typically known for its outlandish, hilarious, incongruent, and sometimes offensive advertising. This year’s Super Bowl is expected to be no different. Ad slots sold out, which hopefully means brands are planning to put forward their most over-the-top TV spots.

If you’re just in it for the ridiculous commercials, here’s a spoiler on what to expect. So far we know Budweiser’s callback to its trusty Clydesdales pulling carts of beer is in store, with a scene with Idris Elba being affable on a faux video conference—just like us at home! There’s also a cringe-worthy ad from AT&T featuring Demi Moore and Mila Kunis who are, as it’s known among the pop cultured, Ashton Kutcher’s ex-wife and current wife. It might be worth tuning in just to see what all the fuss is about.

What’s The Spread For The Super Bowl? Who is Going to Win?

Don’t ask us: We thought the Packers were a lock. But as of publication of this article, the Rams were favorites to win, with a four point spread.

(Updated 2/2/22 with new details)