Super Bowl on BBC television for the first time

Super Bowl, one of the world’s most watched sports events, will be broadcast live for the first time on BBC television (Sunday 3 February, 10.50pm, BBC Two).

BBC Sport’s studio line-up for Super Bowl XLII from Arizona will include one of the UK’s best-known NFL broadcasters alongside a former Super Bowl winner recognised as one of the all-time greats.

Jake Humphrey will introduce the BBC’s first Super Bowl live from University of Phoenix Stadium, where he will joined by experts Mike Carlson, who has been broadcasting on American football for almost two decades, and Rod Woodson, who followed a 17-year playing career by becoming an analyst for NFL Network.

Defensive back Woodson won a Super Bowl ring with the Baltimore Ravens following the 2000 NFL season and appeared in two other Super Bowls – for the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 1995 season and for the Oakland Raiders in 2002, when he led the league with eight interceptions.

Drafted by the Steelers in 1987, Woodson was selected to 11 Pro Bowls and in 1995 was named as cornerback on the NFL’s 75th Anniversary team. He was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 and finished his career with all-time NFL records for interceptions returned for touchdowns (12) and interceptions yards (1,483). His 71 career interceptions rank third in league history.

Woodson said: “I am very excited and honoured about the opportunity of working with the BBC. It will be a great experience to help spread the word of the NFL to a new audience.”

Digital viewers will also have access to a Beginner’s Guide To The NFL and BBC Radio 5 Live’s commentary provided by Arlo White and Greg Brady, behind the Red Button. There will also be live commentary on Radio 5 Live.

Viewers can follow the fortunes of the New England Patriots and New York Giants on their journey to this year’s Super Bowl in Road To The Super Bowl (Thursday 31 January, 11.20pm, BBC Two).