Grant SunesonFor those who love watching football but hate paying for cable, CBS has a big announcement.
The broadcast company released a statement saying it will stream the 2016 Super Bowl and a few other games for free online.
CBS Sports Digital General Manager Jeffrey Gerttula said the company is "excited to offer more NFL ON CBS streaming coverage across more digital platforms than ever before. All NFL fans will have access through their computers, tablets and now Connected TVs."
This isn’t the first Super Bowl fans could catch the game live online. NBC's put the feed up for free the last two times the network’s aired the game. (Video via NBC)
CBS will let anyone with an Internet connection watch two regular season games, four playoff games and Super Bowl 50 — presumably a move to appeal to the growing number of cord-cutters.
Quartz reported traditional cable outlets lost almost half a million subscribers in last year's third quarter alone. And those are eyes CBS certainly doesn't want to lose for the big game.
Between contracts with CBS, NBC, ESPN and Fox, the NFL rakes in between $5 billion and $6 billion per year for the rights to broadcast games.
The networks recoup that money by selling ad space during games, so protecting viewership is a high priority.
Last year, a record 114 million people saw the Patriots take home the title.
Meanwhile, advertisers shelled out about $4.5 million to air a 30-second spot. (Video via WEBN)
This video includes images from Getty Images.
Correction: An earlier version of this video incorrectly said a TV subscription was required to watch the NHL Stanley Cup Final. The video has been updated.
