What better time to break out a new scorebug than the Super Bowl?
CBS Sports pulled out all the stops for their broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. They’re presenting the game in 1080p High Dynamic Range (HDR) and 4K HDR for the first time. They have forty-eight cameras with super slow-motion capability, including 24 4K zoom extraction cameras, on the field. They even have “doink” cameras on uprights for the coolest shot possible if a kicker hits a ball off one of them.
They’re also breaking out a lot of state-of-the-art graphics thanks to 23 augmented reality cameras, including 11 on the CBS broadcast, as well as a collection of AR graphic enhancements.
While all these new bells and whistles are great, there’s still something about the simple scorebug and how a broadcast decides to lay it out. CBS Sports decided to change theirs up for the big game.
https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1756827841868767455
For reference, Sports TV News & Updates shared an image of every CBS Super Bowl scorebug, providing a handy way to see how you feel about the progression.
Every Super Bowl scorebug in CBS history: pic.twitter.com/8r0WbrM0kf
— Sports TV News & Updates (@TVSportsUpdates) February 11, 2024
While scorebugs might seem like small potatoes to some, they tend to garner very strong reactions from TV audiences. This one is no different.
I always look forward to seeing the new graphics networks debut during the Super Bowl each year.
But man is this new CBS font atrocious. https://t.co/dYkJRH2HpG
— Joe Dahlke (@TheJoeDahlke) February 12, 2024
So mid. Plus the “SF” and “KC” need to be smaller and not so close to the edges. https://t.co/Et9e6IFtDu
— Cole Purvis (@Cole_Purvis) February 12, 2024
I think it's sharp but why did they give up on the font? https://t.co/tljuO5QQkq
— Jacob Fyock (@Jacob_Fyock) February 11, 2024
I like it, simple is better. FOX really overthought theirs, IMO https://t.co/uVqT3eKT5o
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 11, 2024
The white on gold is hard to read. https://t.co/xbyqLD5q0m
— Brandon Veale (@redveale) February 11, 2024
Scorebug is a downgrade on first glance. You don't need to change the scorebug every time you air a Super Bowl.
— Sports Media Watch (@paulsen_smw) February 12, 2024
This is a Bally Sports ass scorebug pic.twitter.com/qKnJG9kAGX
— Addison (@YankeeWRLD) February 11, 2024
Never underestimate NFL fans’ ability to have a strong opinion about everything and anything.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.