It’s the most watched annual sporting event in the world, and fills the top 20 places in the most watched programs in American TV history in terms of audiences. It is of course the Super Bowl, and this Sunday night (and into Monday morning) will see the 50th edition of the sporting spectacular as the Carolina Panthers take on the Denver Broncos.
For the third straight season, the number one seeds from both conferences will meet in the final. The Panthers finished the regular season with a 15–1 record, defeating the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game in about as comprehensive fashion as can be 49-15. The Broncos finished the regular season with a 12–4 record, and denied the New England Patriots a chance to defend their title from Super Bowl XLIX by defeating them in the AFC Championship Game 20-18, and joined the Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, and Pittsburgh Steelers as one of four teams that have made eight appearances in the Super Bowl.
The final pits the always entertaining Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton, against the Broncos Quarterback of Peyton Manning whom at the age of 39 will become the oldest QB ever to play at a Super Bowl, and will become the first one to ever lead two different teams to multiple Super Bowls.
Neutral fans will be hoping that the final matches the excitement of last year, when The New England Patriots lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24, in no small part to the intercepted pass that Malcom Butler made on Russell Wilson’s throw as somehow The Seahawks failed to convert a match-winning play despite being on the Patriots 1-yard line in what some people stated was the worst play in American Football history.
It is estimated that approximately 70% (roughly 110-115 million) of the people watching tv in the US at the time of the game will in fact be watching it, so with that said it should come as no surprised that a 30 second commercial during the Super Bowl will cost you around $5 million.
Speaking of breaks in the action the half time show is always the most watched and talked about part of the event, and this year it will be performed by Coldplay featuring a guest appearances by previous headline acts Beyoncé and Bruno Mars.
Emanating from the Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California the game kicks off at 11:30pm and will be shown on BBC and Sky Sports.