ESPN is gearing up for a historic milestone since being founded in 1979 and first covering the NFL in 1980. For the first time in its history, the network will broadcast the prestigious Super Bowl. It will take over from traditional network partners like CBS, FOX and NBC.
The network will broadcast it for the first time in the 2026 NFL season and has already set out another historic milestone to achieve.
ESPN targets record Super Bowl viewership
ESPN will be broadcasting Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027. It will be its first time producing and airing a Super Bowl, along with ABC. The game itself will be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Both networks have been returned to the NFL Super Bowl rotation as part of a 10-year rights deal. Their next broadcasting of the Super Bowl will be following the 2030 season.
ESPN logo
Apr 16, 2026; Fort Worth, TX, USA; A view of the ESPN logo before the semifinals for the 2026 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics National Championships at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Despite broadcasting it for the first time, the sports network is already targeting an ambitious goal. It has publicly set out a goal to deliver the most-watched Super Bowl in history. It aims to achieve this through extensive coverage and multi-platform distribution.
Currently, the record of 127.7 million U.S. viewers was achieved by FOX’s broadcast of Super Bowl LIX in February 2025. ESPN wishes and believes it can surpass this and create a historic milestone. The intention was announced during the network’s parent company Disney’s upfront presentations to the league. Network executives and talent including NFL Live host Laura Rutledge announced this goal.
Super Bowl viewership has grown steadily in recent years, with the addition of multiple streaming platforms. FOX broadcasted the Super Bowl LIX across linear TV, Tubi, Telemundo and NFL digital properties. Before FOX’s record, CBS drew 123.7 million viewers during Super Bowl LVIII. ESPN already has a vast plan to complete their huge objective.
ESPN’s strategy to achieve record Super Bowl viewership
ESPN is already deploying a comprehensive strategy involving multiple platforms to break the Super Bowl viewership record. The game will be simulcast on both ESPN and sister network ABC, with additional streaming on streaming platforms ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu.
They are also planning a week-long “ESPN Beach”, which will feature daily programming from beachside sets on Santa Monica Beach starting February 8, 2027. The network will also use top primetime talent such as Joe Buck and Troy Aikman in the booth, multiple alternate casts, Spanish-language coverage and year-round cross-promotion across Disney properties to maximize reach.
Further details about Super Bowl LXI such as the halftime show and others will be confirmed later. As of now, ESPN is fully dedicated to achieving their goal.