Updated Feb. 6, 2021
Last year I was in New Zealand during the Super Bowl season. In the week before I was hiking the Milford Track on the South Island, backpacking for four days across 33 miles, away from internet and television (though I did pack a little travel radio). For the actual game I was in the capitol city of Wellington, but I didn’t even try to watch because I actually don’t care much at all about football.
I am, however, fascinated by the global phenomenon, and figuring out how radio listeners can tune in to hear it. But, due to my vacation I didn’t write my annual “how to listen to the Super Bowl” post in 2020. Even some six months ago I wasn’t sure there would be a Super Bowl to write about in 2021. But here we are with the Buccaneers facing off against returning champions the Chiefs for Super Bowl LV on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 at 6:30 PM EST.
US Super Bowl Radio Broadcasts
In the US it’s pretty easy to find a Westwood One Sports terrestrial radio affiliate carrying the game. Some stations black out their internet feed, and it’s generally hard to predict which ones will. However, I’ve found that clicking around will eventually land you on a functioning live stream. Note that your experience may vary depending on what state or country you’re connecting from.
A reliable internet radio stream can be had with a NFL Game Pass subscription.
The Super Bowl will be broadcast in Spanish on Entravision stations in 24 US radio markets.
Satellite radio subscribers can listen in on SiriusXM channel 104 in the US. Canadian subscribers have it on XM 88. Both are also available online. (Full disclosure: I’m an employee of Stitcher, a subsidiary of SiriusXM Holdings, but that has no influence on including this listing).
International Super Bowl Broadcasts
It’s also easy to find a television broadcast just about anywhere on the globe. But radio is much more of a challenge. Yet not everyone is in a position to watch a screen – whether they’re working or driving, or are visually impaired. For many folks the most descriptive radio play-by-play is the best or most appropriate experience. That’s why my annual quest is to find broadcasters all over the world that carry the game.
On terrestrial radio, our neighbors to the north in Canada can reliably follow the Super Bowl on the TSN Radio Network in Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. To the south, Mexican listeners can tune in to W Radio and W Radio Deportes, as well as Los 40.
Further afield, Australians will be able to hear the game called by a home-grown announcer for the fourth year in a row on SEN 1116. In the past years I’ve been able to listen to this broadcast live online without problem.
UK rights to the game seem to bounce around different networks, but this year Super Bowl 55 will be heard on BBC 5 Live. In my experience the online stream is geofenced so that only UK audiences can catch it.
People serving in the American Armed Forces deployed around the world, as well as those who live near a base, can hear the big game on AFN Radio. Military personnel can also hear it the online streaming via AFN 360.
Otherwise I haven’t been able to track down terrestrial radio broadcasts anywhere else in the world. Please send me your tip if I’m missing one.
Here’s where to listen to Super Bowl LV live from Tampa, FL on the radio, Sunday, February 7:
Terrestrial Radio
United States
English: Westwood One Sports affiliate stations
Spanish: Entravision stations
Canada
TSN Radio – Edmonton, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg
Australia
1116 AM SEN Victoria / 1629 AM SEN South Australia
(also online)
Mexico
United Kingdom
BBC 5 Live (also online in the UK)
Armed Forces Network
Armed services members deployed overseas can listen via AFN Radio on satellite, and AFN 360 Internet Radio.
Internet Radio
NFL Game Pass (subscription required)
Possibly: Westwood One Sports A on TuneIn
Ultimate Sports Radio Network (added Feb. 6)
Satellite and Internet Radio
United States
Canada
Is there a terrestrial, online or satellite radio broadcast of the Super Bowl we’re missing? Please let us know.
