Disney Plus will stream Super Bowl LXI

Your access to the Super Bowl on February 14th, 2027, now includes a major streaming service you may already pay for.

Disney Plus will stream Super Bowl LXI on February 14th, 2027, marking the first time the NFL championship game will be available on the service. Subscribers in the United States will have access to the same broadcast as ESPN and ABC, with commentary from Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, and Laura Rutledge. Additionally, the game will be streamed on Disney Plus in over 55 international markets, including Latin America, South Africa, and Australia. This move follows NBC's Peacock's successful streaming of the previous Super Bowl, which contributed to subscriber growth. Ahead of the Super Bowl, Disney Plus will also stream two Monday Night Football games, the first on October 26th between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

Broadcasting the Super Bowl on Disney Plus signals a significant shift in how major live sporting events are distributed, moving beyond traditional cable and broadcast networks to reach a broader, digitally-native audience. This strategy aims to leverage high-demand events to drive subscriber acquisition and retention for streaming platforms, mirroring the success seen with Peacock. The inclusion of international markets indicates a global ambition for NFL content distribution via streaming.

This decision by Disney could compel other sports leagues and media conglomerates to re-evaluate their own distribution strategies, potentially accelerating the migration of premium live sports rights to direct-to-consumer platforms. For consumers, it suggests greater flexibility in accessing major events but also raises questions about potential subscription fatigue and the fragmentation of viewing options across multiple services.