The Super Bowl brings eyeballs. And as we have seen, covering the scene around the game can be big for a network. It’s why ESPN has done it every year and it’s why FS1 is doing it now. By having a presence at the Super Bowl, networks hope that it attracts viewers and expand their brands.

Fox is broadcasting Super Bowl LI from Houston on Sunday and will have programming all day devoted to the Big Game. While Fox is carrying the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots, FS1 has in essence relocated to Houston for the week filling its weekday hours from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Whether it’s Undisputed, Colin Cowherd, Garage Time or Fox Sports Live, FS1 is going all-out at the Super Bowl

Joe Flint of the Wall Street Journal notes that FS1 will total 51 hours of Super Bowl programming. ESPN will air about 50 hours from Houston.

And FS1 isn’t the only Fox network that will be part of the corporate-wide programming. Fox News Channel and Fox Business will both have a presence in Houston on Friday broadcasting shows from the city throughout the day.

We already told you about FS1’s daily programming slate from the Super Bowl and Fox’s plans to air a Super Bowl Sunday edition of Undisputed. It makes for a big week for the rightsholder.

We’ve seen the other NFL rightsholders utilizing their cable sports networks to air shoulder programming surrounding the Super Bowl. CBS Sports Network is airing a week-long simulcast of the Jim Rome Show from Houston. NFL Network has Super Bowl Live to bring viewers closer to the game and there’s DirecTV’s Dan Patrick and Rich Eisen both with their shows in Houston too.

So Super Bowl Week has become big for all networks involved and FS1 is betting that its programming will be the one to bring viewers to the network.

[Wall Street Journal]

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.