It's hard to believe, but Vancouver is just one month away from lighting the torch for the 2010 Winter Olympics, and thus NBC is releasing a ton of their coverage details. Here is the breakdown of hours, some statistics, and the channels the Games will be appearing on. I'll be sure to provide you with the list of announcers, and weekly schedules, when they are released.

NBC Universal will present more than 835 hours of Vancouver Olympic Winter Games coverage - representing the most total hours ever for a Winter Olympics, more than the last two Winter Olympics combined, and the most live hours ever for a Winter Games. The Vancouver Games, which will be the first Winter Olympics to be presented entirely in high definition, commence with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 12. The announcement was made today by Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics and executive producer of NBC Universal's Olympic coverage.

The more than 835 total hours of coverage on six NBC Universal platforms - NBC, USA, MSNBC, CNBC and Universal HD, as well as NBCOlympics.com - nearly doubles the coverage from Torino (419) and is more than Torino and Salt Lake City (375.5) combined (794.5).

Following is a breakdown of the Vancouver Olympics coverage on the NBC Universal networks:

- The six NBC Universal platforms - NBC, USA, MSNBC, CNBC and Universal HD, as well as NBCOlympics.com - will offer the most in-depth coverage in history for a Winter Olympics. The more than 835 hours is nearly double Torino (419) and is more than Torino and Salt Lake City (375.5) combined (794.5).

- Over the 17 days of the Vancouver Games (Feb.12-28), NBCU's coverage will average nearly 50 hours per day - that's more coverage in one day than all of the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics (43.5) on ABC.

- The networks of NBCU will provide coverage of every one of the 15 Winter Olympic sports.

- Vancouver will be the first Winter Olympics broadcast 100-percent in high definition, including the first-ever online HD.

Universal HD: 9am -Noon
USA: Noon - 5:30pm
NBC: 3pm - 5pm
CNBC: 5p - 5am
MSNBC: 5:30pm - 8pm
NBC: 8pm - 11:30pm
NBC: 12:35am - 2am
NBC: 2am - 5 am
MSNBC: 3am - 5:30am

This whole Emmitt Smith as a rogue reporter, for various networks, is highly entertaining. He was last seen talking about tailgating on FOX Sports, but this Friday he's heading to the big time. Emmitt will be taking both the Today Show's, Matt Lauer and Al Roker, on a tour of the Cowboys' new stadium!

Not only will Emmitt be your tour guide this Friday, but Lauer will be interviewing Jerry Jones, and Roker will be hanging with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. The unintentional comedy of this event could be off the charts.

In a press conference today, NBC said that they will be sending Bob Costas to the game site each Sunday, and he will do the pregame show with Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels. Following the trio discussing the bigger stories of the day, along with Tiki Barber on the sidelines and locker rooms, they will then throw it to Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann (along with Dungy, Harrison and Peter King). Via NBC PR....

Costas, the most honored studio host of all time with 19 Emmy Awards, will host the show from a set at the "Sunday Night Football" game site. He will be joined by the new SNF broadcast team of Al Michaels, a six-time Emmy Award-winner whom the Associated Press has called "TV's best play-by-play announcer," and Cris Collinsworth, the most honored studio analyst in sports television history, winning the award in nine of the 12 years of its existence and winning two additional Emmys for game analyst. Collinsworth moves from the studio to the broadcast booth alongside Michaels to replace the recently-retired John Madden.

"At our best we aspire to give the viewer the best seat in the house -- not the hype around the event, but the story of the event itself," said Ebersol. "Bob has proven time and again that he is unmatched in his ability to appropriately set the scene and tell the story of an event. Having the two premier broadcasters of their generation in Bob and Al on site and appearing together alongside Cris, the best analyst in the business, adds an immediacy that makes 'Sunday Night Football' an even bigger event."

Costas said: "Hosting from the site of the game, being in the stadium surrounded by the fans and the energy and atmosphere of the event, creates an urgency and a sense of place that can't be duplicated in the studio. And of course, this allows me to keep working with Cris, while at the same time building on the special chemistry I developed with Al Michaels in BASEketball."

I've always been critical of NBC's decisions when it comes to "Football Night in America", but this year they seem to be close to getting it right. In fact, you could argue that they only really need Costas, Collinsworth and Michaels, manning the highlights.

(Also to note: As I mentioned before, Andrea Kremer is no longer on the sidelines)

Every year, NBC airs a mini concert as a part of their Kickoff coverage. In the past there have been such acts as Britney Spears, Bon Jovi, P Diddy, Kelly Clarkson and Elton John, and this year's concert will be just as mind-blowing as those. Your two acts this year will be the dynamic duo of Tim McGraw and The Black Eyed Peas! Via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette....

The Black Eyed Peas and Tim McGraw will jump-start the Steelers' season with a free concert at Point State Park on opening night, Sept. 10.

Details are being worked out about other acts and when the big names will go onstage, although the headliners will certainly be part of the live pre-game simulcast from 8 to 8:30 p.m. on NBC and NFL Network. Kickoff for the Steelers-Titans game at Heinz Field is scheduled for 8:30.

I'm sure there will be more acts announced, but you usually only get to see the main two acts on NBC anyway. This is the second concert that Pittsburgh will be hosting. In 2006, before the Steelers took on the Dolphins, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride kicked off the game from Heinz Field, with Diddy and Cassie in Miami.

Free concert by Black Eyed Peas, McGraw to kick off Steelers' season (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

For most of the Hall of Fame Game, I really wasn't missing John Madden. I thought Collinsworth worked great with Madden, and didn't really think about Madden until they aired the tribute piece at halftime. Throw some "booms" together with a random telestrator squiggle, and you've got a winner!

Twitter is taking up just about every single headline today, and that's not just because the site was down for half the day. ESPN is still making waves about their recent "Tweet Laws", but the newest network to use/not use the software appears to be NBC. The Peacock is actually considering an idea that will have their crew, tweeting during Sunday Night Football this season. Via the Albany Times-Union....

On a conference call today promoting NBC’s coverage of Sunday night’s Hall of Fame game (Bills-Titans), “Sunday Night Football” producer Fred Guardelli was asked about the possibility of his announcers tweeting during telecasts. Here’s his response:

“It is something that internally I’ve bandied about with the production team quite a bit. I do Twitter. I can’t tell you I do it a lot, but I do follow the people in pro football to see what they’re tweeting about.

“Twitter would probably be an excellent application for a sideline reporter because as long as they stayed within the bounds of what the NFL allows you to report, Andrea (Kremer) could probably provide a constant stream of information that you just can’t get on TV because the game is dictating how it will be covered. We’ve discussed it quite a bit and while we are not sure what we’re going to do at this point, I could see it having some value.”

While I don't necessarily see the benefits of having the booth tweet during the games, it could be something good for the studio hosts to try out. They could use it as a preview to the halftime show, and if the content is juicy enough, they might keep some people tuned in.

Is sideline tweeting in NBC’s future? (Albany Times-Union)

A month ago, NBC blacked out a semifinal match featuring Roger Federer, to show a taped match between Fernando Gonzalez and Robin Soderling. Well today they've done the same thing by replaying Federer's straight set dismantling of Ivo Karlovic, while Andy Roddick battles former world number one, Lleyton Hewitt. Via Fang's Bites....

NBC is currently showing the Roger Federer-Ivo Karlovic match which finished before 10 a.m. ESPN2 was not allowed to show this match. And it joined the Tommy Haas-Novak Djokovic match in progress, but not after showing the Williams sisters in doubles and James Blake in a doubles match as well.

This was quite maddening to tennis fans who wanted to see the Federer match which he won easily in three sets, 6-3, 7-5 and 7-6 (7-3). Yes, I'm spoiling the results because this is what NBC deserves for short changing fans once again. And not only is NBC showing it on tape delay at 10 a.m. in the East, it's going to do it at 10 a.m. in all time zones so by the time the West Coast sees the match, it will have been more than three hours old.

And while NBC is preventing ESPN2 from showing certain matches as it calls exclusivity not only today, but for the rest of the week, it is streaming matches from Centre Court and Court No. 1 live on NBCSports.com. So while the network is screwing with viewers on TV, it's saying, "Come over to our website and watch the match on a small player." It's not the same as watching it live on your TV whether it be in sparkling clear high definition or in old school standard def.

Providing the feed is certainly helpful, but to take fans of Roddick on a ride like this is just wrong. Not a single person in America can watch the match on television. You'd like NBC to think of the fans when things like this happen, but this happens in every major tournament the air. They won't be changing the practice anytime soon, so it's best to just get used to it.

Update: It appears the online feature is a bit of a pain as well. Via The Business Insider....

On the NBC Sports site, we clicked the nice big WIMBLEDON LIVE! link. And we got a big popup saying we needed to upgrade Silverlight.

We pushed the buttons we were supposed to, and we downloaded some things, and we refreshed our browser like we were supposed to, and then we pushed the button again like we were supposed to. And we got another big popup saying we needed to upgrade Silverlight.

[Repeat until you want to shoot yourself].

So now we're back to watching the ancient-history Haas-Djokovic tape delay, praying that the Roddick Hewitt shootout will still be going on at 1PM ET when the TV rights revert back to ESPN. (It probably won't be. Roddick just took a 5-2 lead in the breaker and is already up a set).

NBC is Effing with Tennis Fans Again (Fangs Bites)

I didn't really have much of a problem with Football Night In America's approach to their program, but apparently they think it's too "highlight driven". Well, with the hiring of Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison, that's all going to change. From Dick Ebersol via Sports Business Daily....

NBC Sports & Olympics Chair Dick Ebersol yesterday indicated the net’s “Football Night in America” studio show will change its directional tone, cutting back on the amount of highlights from that day’s games to allow for more league analysis and previews of that night’s primetime broadcast. Ebersol: “We have failed to clear out enough time to discuss football, and we’ve been too locked in on highlights for every game.” While clips from each game will still be shown, Ebersol noted there will be “much more emphasis on the whys of what happened at that game than we’ve had in the past.” Ebersol: “I feel that we’ve been neglect in that area.”

I rather enjoyed the no nonsense approach to just showing highlights, but that could be the reason I though Jerome Bettis and Cris Collinsworth were so pointless on the show. NBC can afford to discuss game theory more now, and with Tiki Barber moving on-site, they have the right number of people to do so.

NBC's "FNIA" To Feature More Analysis; Dungy, Harrison In Studio (Sports Business Daily)

You knew the time was coming, but this news still comes as a shock. John Madden has told NBC that he's hanging it up for good, and has officially retired. Via the Associated Press....

John Madden, the burly former coach who has been one of pro football's most popular broadcast analysts for three decades, is calling it quits.

Madden worked for the past three seasons on NBC's Sunday night NFL game. His last telecast was the Super Bowl between Arizona and Pittsburgh.

"It's time," Madden said. "I'm 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and their five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not."

Madden said he still loves all aspects of the game and his job, and that's why it took him a couple of months to make the decision.

Madden's love for the Sport he covers, or covered rather, is unparalleled. It took me awhile to appreciated what he brought to games, but over the last few years his crazy telestrations and inane ramblings, grew on me. Everyone deserves to go out on top, and Madden is certainly doing so.

Jim Lampley has been in and out of the news over the past few years, and whether or not you respect him as person based on some of his past transgressions, you can't deny that he's good on camera. Lampley has always had a spot in both the Winter and Summer Olympics, but following NBC's placement of Al Michaels as the Winter studio host, Lampley might end up skipping this year's Olympics in a bit of a protest.

It has been rumored that Lampley was offered a Hockey role for the Games, but according to the NY Daily News, the HBO Sports' play-by-play man has reportedly turned the offer down....

His EbNess decided to boot Lampley from the role of daytime Olympic studio host in favor of Al Michaels (he last hosted the earthquake at the '89 World Series), who will don the turtleneck and smoking jacket for NBC's 2010 Winter Games coverage from Vancouver. Lampley had a string of working 14 straight Olympics. Ebersol said he "could not imagine" Lampley not having a role in Vancouver.

Start imagining. Spies say Lampley was offered the hockey-host gig and turned it down.

I don't really think of Lampley as someone who would be offended by this. He only had a small role during the last Winter Olympics, but after being replaced on the Summer Games by Bob Costas, he could certainly be feeling a bit slighted.

Turning off the Lamp(ley) (NY Daily News)

In one of the more interesting moves as of late, NBC announced today that Al Michaels would be involved in Olympic coverage for the first time since 1988. Michaels will be the host of the network's daytime and weekend Winter Olympic coverage, and will be putting in over 50 hours of work over the seventeen day event. Via NBC PR....

Emmy Award winner Al Michaels, one of the most renowned broadcasters of all-time and whose legendary "Do you believe in miracles? YES!" call at the Lake Placid Olympics 30 years ago stands as the most famous call in sports television history, will serve as host of NBC's live weekend and weekday daytime coverage of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. The announcement was made today by Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports and Olympics.

This will be Michaels' first Olympic broadcast assignment in 22 years when he called hockey games at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Michaels will host more than 50 hours of live weekend and weekday daytime coverage from Vancouver, a significant increase in hours from NBC's daytime shows from Torino in 2006.

"I've loved the Olympics since childhood and to have a chance to be a part of the coverage again, especially on the 30th anniversary of the Lake Placid Games, will be a thrill," said Michaels. "I am very excited about the opportunity to work another Olympic Games."

I had absolutely no desire to watch the Winter Olympics (except for Hockey), but now that the most famous voice of the game is involved, I might actually check them out. Good move, NBC.

I love that I grew up in this era, but every once and awhile I like to think about some of the things that I missed out on. One of the things that I've pondered about on more than one occasion, what would it have been like listening to Howard Cosell call a game? I wonder if I would have fallen in with the crowd who thought he was brilliant, or the group that couldn't stand the cantankerous analyst. Well after this story by Al Michaels, during yesterday's Pro Bowl, I think I can say I would have fallen in with the brilliant folks.

Nearing the end of the game, Michaels was talking about Archie Manning (in attendance), playing in the first Pro Bowl ever, while both his sons were playing in the current one. That then led the PbPer into how he was actually on the call of that first game with Fran Tarkenton and Howard Cosell, and how the late Cosell actually felt about the first Pro Bowl.....

Hilarious. The best part about Michaels these days, is the way he portrays the visuals of some of his more memorable stories. It's also funny that the way Cosell felt about the first Pro Bowl, is the way 95% of fans STILL feel about the game. Man, would he have had some fun with that boring game yesterday. It's tough not to watch the game, because you know Football won't be on again until August, but it's always the most boring contest ever played. At least Michaels and Collinsworth tried to make it somewhat interesting.

If you remember, the network put up a scroll during the Super Bowl pregame show asking, among other things, that there was possibly a "credibility issue" with the former Lions GM. Well, for the past few days, I've been looking for a follow-up to the Matt Millen incident on Channel 4 in Detroit, and I haven't been able to find anything at all until this morning. Via the Miami Herald....

When Matt Millen appeared Sunday on NBC's Super Bowl pregame show, the NBC affiliate in Detroit superimposed this: ''Matt Millen was president of the Lions for the worst eight-year run in the history of the NFL. Knowing his history with the team, is there a credibility issue as he now serves as an analyst for NBC Sports?'' (Viewers were referred to the station's website.)

NBC wasn't happy.

''We had a conversation with them and made our feelings very clear,'' NBC spokesman Brian Walker said.

Oooooh a conversation!? Take that NBC Detroit! You have been warned, and if you do that again, we might actually make the trip to Detroit, and slap your hand in person!!! In all seriousness, this whole thing is still making me laugh, and the fact they got away with it, makes it even more hilarious.

I may never ever come to your lovely city Detroit, Michigan, but that doesn't mean I don't respect you!

Ranking local sportscasts (Miami Herald)
Detroit Station Has Fun With Matt Millen (Awful Announcing)

I thought Alex Flanagan did a fine job as one of the sideline reporters during the Super Bowl, but not everyone agreed. Two of those people were, Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union and Ted Cox of the Chicago Daily Herald, and Keith Olbermann has come to Ms. Flanagan's defense. Here is the clip via Fang's Bites....

The quote that the articles highlight was Flangan's use of an F. Scott Fitzgerald quote, and while I rolled my eyes at the time, I didn't think it was nearly as bad as Dougherty or Cox did. Still though, it's funny that Olbermann took the time to call them out on national television.

Oh and Keith, it's the Albany Times Union....not Herald.

Keith Olbermann Nominates Sports Media Columnists As Worst Persons in The World (Fang's Bites)
Flanagan gets a flag for sideline report (Albany Times Union)
Super Bowl XLIII: the highs, the lows and the in-between (Chicago Daily Herald)

Wow. I thought that the closeness of this year's game certainly helped it in the ratings, but there was no way I thought it would surpass last year's contest. Well according to NBC it has, and to the tune of 151.6 Million total viewers and 98.7 Million viewers on average. Via NBC PR....

TAMPA – Feb. 3, 2009 – Super Bowl XLIII is now the most viewed television program in U.S. history with a total audience of 151.6 million viewers, according to official national ratings data released today by Nielsen Media Research.

"It's always incredibly satisfying to amass large audiences, but this television record simply reaffirms the power of the Super Bowl and the National Football League," said Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. "Everyone associated with the NFL should feel a great sense of pride in this accomplishment and in providing a day of enjoyment to American families – especially those who are struggling in these difficult times."

MOST VIEWED TELEVISION PROGRAMS IN HISTORY (total viewers):
1. Super Bowl XLIII 151.6 million NBC 2009
2. Super Bowl XLII 148.3 million Fox 2008
3. Super Bowl XXVIII 144.4 million CBS 2004

The total audience of 151.6 million viewers tops the previous Super Bowl record audience of 148.3 million viewers by 3.3 million viewers (Super Bowl XLII, Giants-Patriots, Note: total audience measures viewership for all or part of a broadcast).

MOST-WATCHED SUPER BOWLS (average viewers):
1. Super Bowl XLIII 98.7 million NBC 2009
2. Super Bowl XLII 97.5 million Fox 2008
3. Super Bowl XXX 94.1 million NBC 1996
4. Super Bowl XLI 93.2 million CBS 2007
5. Super Bowl XXVII 91.0 million NBC 1993

While the season finale of the TV show M*A*S*H* still holds the average record of 106 million viewers, but their total was only in the 120 million range. Pretty amazing that a small market team like Arizona, held their own in both the game and the ratings.

There was no way that this year's Super Bowl ratings would surpass last year's, but in the end, they actually came pretty close. NBC is saying that the overnight number from Nielsen is a 42.1 and a 65 share. That's down only slightly from the 44.7/66 of last year's Super Bowl, and it matches the overnights from Super Bowls XLI and XLII. From NBC....

"Every year, America stands still on Super Sunday and these numbers confirm the power and consistency of the Super Bowl as the top property in all of television," said Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports and Olympics. "Many people doubted this match-up, but it's the Super Bowl not the match-up, that draws an enormous audience.

"We are in a great place to be in relation to last year's historic and unimaginable game when an undefeated powerhouse was upset by an underdog from the country's largest media market."

The total number of viewers isn't out yet, but it's looking like it will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 90 million or so. Very impressive, as Ebersol said, for a game that many thought wouldn't bring the goods.

I mentioned yesterday afternoon, that the pregame show on NBC was all over the place, and after I wrote that, I was a bit worried that the game would continue along the same lines. Thankfully it didn't, and not only was the game itself a great one, I think it was one of the best broadcasts I've ever seen. Perhaps even the best.

The production elements were spot on, the replays were stellar and there wasn't much overkill in the network's reporting. As far as the announcing, there's a reason why people still respect and want to listen to Madden and Michaels. In recent years, I've commented that Madden had lost a step, and Michaels didn't seem to like the game anymore, but they both had a resurgence this past season. To end it on a high note in the Super Bowl like this, just adds to their legacy as broadcasters.

I enjoyed everything about the game and even thought that the normally boring halftime show was rather exciting as well. I don't even like Bruce Springsteen that much either. As far as negatives go, the only things I would point out were the terrible commercials (which isn't NBC's fault) and the number of sideline reports. Other than that I think I'll be giving out one of my first "A" grades in the site's history.

There's just something about NBC's broadcasts each Sunday that are just light years better than any other network. Al and John don't try to make themselves bigger than the moment and let the games speak for themselves. FOX and CBS' telecasts come off as boring at times, and it seems as if the announcers are talking down to you, but not with the "Peacock".

There were 11 years between Super Bowls on NBC, and the NFL needs to make sure that never happens again. Onto the grades....

GRADES:

Matt Lauer- C+ (Good questions with Obama, but he didn't seem to care when he was on-air)
Al Roker- F- (The Super Suite was a horrible idea and Roker was just not good in the role)
Bob Costas- B+ (Was at his best/non-annoying self yesterday)
Cris Collinsworth- B+ (Still the best analyst in the Sport)
Dan Patrick- B- (Entertaining and informative)
Keith Olbermann- C (Just too smarmy for my taste)
Jerome Bettis- C+ (Better than he normally is, but the Steeler homerism showed)
Tiki Barber- C (Pointless)
Peter King- D+ (Doubly pointless)
Matt Millen- B- (Good analyst again and he works well with Collinsworth and Costas)
Tony Dungy- C (Loved the connection to Tomlin, but also pointless)
Mike Holmgren- C- (Really pointless)
Rodney Harrison- D+ (Just wasn't ready for the big time. The Tyree stuff could have been interesting, but he still seems bitter about the play)
Alex Flanagan- B- (Should be NBC's full-time sideline reporter)
Andrea Kremer- C+ (I'm biased here, because I've never been a fan, but she wasn't bad)
John Madden- B+ (Hopefully he's got another year in him)
Al Michaels- A- (Best Football play-by-play man period)

Pregame Show- D
Halftime Show- B+
Game Coverage- A

WHAT: Super Bowl XLIII
WHO: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
WHERE: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida
WHEN: Kickoff 6:28pm (NBC)
SPREAD: Steelers -7, O/U 47
ANNOUNCERS: Al Michaels, John Madden, Andrea Kremer, Alex Flanagan, Peter King
AA's PICK: I've been back and forth on this one a bunch of times, but it boils down to quarterback play. With that said, there's no one hotter right now than Kurt Warner, and I just can't trust Roethlisberger against a surging defense. I'm going Cardinals for the win, but it would behoove you to just take the seven points.

Cardinals 28 - Steelers 23 (MVPs: Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald)

I'll be trying to throw videos up throughout the game if I can, but I'll definitely have up your highlights and quotes later on tonight. Enjoy the game.

I didn't think anything could out dumb the red carpet show that FOX puts on for the MLB All Star Game, but I think NBC's "Super Suite" with Al Roker has stolen that title away from them. So far you've had great celebrity interviews from Hayden Panettiere (She's a Jets fan! Who knew?), Chuck and the always annoying, Jimmy Fallon!

Other than that nonsense, NBC is jumping around like crazy during the pregame, and the sheer number of people is borderline maddening. You've got Bob, Cris, Dungy and Holmgren on the ship. Dan and Keith running around the locker rooms and the parking lots. All while Peter King, Alex Flanagan and Andrea Kremer, stalk the team's hotels. Oh and don't forget the Top Chef competition underneath the outdoor set! 5 hours of plugs for NBC shows is exactly what I wanted!!!

I know the Super Bowl is all about hype, but this pregame show is taking that just a bit too far.

Talk about an undertaking that I was definitely not prepared for. A few days ago, I started trying to collect what each network was planning on Super Bowl Sunday, and I was not prepared for the amount of work the following schedule of events would take. Either way though, you can view it in all of its glory below. I've got everything from celebrity guest appearances, to segments on each network, as well as your particulars on the game itself. Enjoy!

(FYI- Haven't settled on a live-blog or open thread for the Super Bowl, but I'll certainly have something going on)

Your Super Bowl XLIII Viewing Guide:

NBC

Pregame Show Length: 6 Hours (12pm-6pm)
Pregame Show Hosts and Analysts: Bob Costas, Cris Collinsworth, Keith Olbermann, Dan Patrick, Jerome Bettis, Tiki Barber, Peter King, Matt Millen, Tony Dungy, Mike Holmgren, Rodney Harrison, Matt Lauer, Al Roker
Celebrity Guests: President Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Kevin James, Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Vin Diesel, Hayden Panettiere, Tom Colicchio from Bravo's Top Chef and Rainn Wilson
Musical Performances: Journey, John Legend, Faith Hill and Jennifer Hudson

Segments

9AM-12PM:

Today Show Coverage - "Meredith Viera, Al Roker and Ann Curry will give viewers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the sights, sounds, parties and food of the big game as well as the preparations that go into Super Sunday. They will also explore the city of Tampa and experience the local Super Bowl fever. Tiki Barber will get a VIP tour of the stadium from his twin brother Ronde, who plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."

12PM-6PM:

"ROAD TO THE SUPER BOWL": "Bob Costas will kick off NBC's pregame coverage live at Noon ET from the "Pirate Ship"."

HAIL TO THE CHIEF: "NBC News' Matt Lauer will sit down with President Barack Obama for a live interview from the White House during NBC's Super Bowl Pregame Show."

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: "Bruce Springsteen, who will be performing at halftime of Super Bowl XLIII, will be the subject of an exclusive sit-down during pregame with Bob Costas. Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, a native of the Jersey shore, is contributing an essay on his idol Springsteen in the pregame show."

COVER ME: "Among the features in the Super Bowl XLIII pregame show are segments on the Cardinals' Ken Whisenhunt, Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald; features on Mike Tomlin, Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, beloved defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers; analysis of each team with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who analyzed game film with Collinsworth; and a look at what the players experience during Super Bowl week. Rodney Harrison will analyze how to defend the seemingly unstoppable Fitzgerald."

"LITTLE BIG SHOW": "Olbermann and Patrick, who together redefined sports highlights, will break down the best highlights from the AFC and NFC this season."

BACK STAGE PASS: "NBC will follow the Cardinals and Steelers throughout the lead up to the game, from the team hotels, to the team buses, to the first-ever Super Bowl pregame reports from the locker rooms, to the teams' sidelines."

ROKER TO HOST SUPER SUITE: ""Today's" Al Roker will host NBC's pregame coverage from the "NBC Super Suite" from the NFL Experience in Tampa."

TOP CHEF: "Tom Colicchio from Bravo's Top Chef, will join Tiki Barber and Jerome Bettis in judging a "Cook-Off" between previous "Top Chef" contestants exploring the cuisines of Arizona and Pittsburgh."

GATORADE SHOWER: "CNBC's sports business reporter Darren Rovell will take a look at Gatorade and its iconic presence in the Super Bowl."

"LET THE SUNSHINE IN": "The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore will provide updates on the weather from Tampa throughout the pregame."
_________________________

ESPN

Pregame Show Length: 3 Hours (10pm-1pm)
Pregame Show Hosts and Analysts: Chris Berman, Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Mortensen, Mike Tirico, Trent Dilfer, Ron Jaworski, Steve Young, Suzy Kolber and Ed Werder

Segments:

History (10am)- "In their own voices, the two Super Bowl XLIII quarterbacks, Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner, narrate their team’s paths to the Super Bowl and the history that will be made."

Cardinals Turning Point (10:30am)- "Rachel Nichols reports on Whisenhunt’s decision to toughen up his team by practicing in pads once-a-week, a move that Arizona players say was the turning point to their season and improbable playoff run."

Mike Tomlin’s Formative Years (11am)- "In an old red notebook that sits on his mother’s kitchen table are pictures and hand-written captions describing early moments in the young coach’s path to the NFL. The first page reads: “This is a book about football and how it has molded my character, Michael Pettaway Tomlin 3-15-72.” Jackson speaks with Tomlin about his childhood memoirs."

Mayne Event: Offseason Insanity (11am)- "Kenny Mayne embarks on a mission to discover what other players are doing during their off-season, catching up with Pro Bowlers Jared Allen and Wes Welker as they begin their winter “retreats”."

Namath’s Guarantee (11am)- "Jeremy Schaap reports on the circumstances that led to Namath’s famous proclamation."

“Soundtracks” – AFC Championship (11:30am)- "Countdown will re-live the sights and sounds of the game"

Super Bowl Quarterback Blueprints for Success (11:30am)- "Former Super Bowl quarterbacks Dilfer, Jaworski and Young will present the blueprints for success for both Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner."

Big Ben: Stand & Deliver (12pm)- "Tom Jackson sits down with Roethlisberger and his teammates to discuss how “Big Ben’s” style of play means big risk, but comes with big reward."

Larry Fitzgerald: Memories of Mom (12pm)- "Cris Carter sits down with the Arizona wide receiver to discuss how he honors his mother on the field and how her death has affected him."

EA Sports Virtual Playbook: Kurt Warner vs. Steelers’ Blitz (12:30pm)- "In EA Sports Virtual Playbook, Jackson previews how the Steelers blitz will pressure Kurt Warner in Super Bowl XLIII."

The Terrible Towel (1pm)- "Greg Garber traces the history of “The Terrible Towel” and the charity which benefits from the sales of the towel even after [Myron] Cope’s death last year.
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SUPER BOWL XLIII

WHAT: Super Bowl XLIII
WHO: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
WHERE: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida
WHEN: Kickoff 6:28pm (NBC)
SPREAD: Steelers -7, O/U 47
ANNOUNCERS: Al Michaels, John Madden, Andrea Kremer, Alex Flanagan, Peter King
TROPHY PRESENTER: Dan Patrick

(Info from ESPN and NBC PR)