Sports media observers can always count on one thing from the network broadcasting the Super Bowl each year: a new scorebug.
This year, as expected, Fox is supposedly rolling out its new scoreboard graphic. And so far, reviews on social media have been… mixed.
But why, exactly, do networks choose the Super Bowl of all places to debut a brand-new look?
A look at the (apparent) NFL scorebug that Fox will debut for Super Bowl LIX. Thoughts? 🏈📺 https://t.co/LzKJ4eBzLJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 6, 2025
Speaking purely as a fan, it seems like an awful decision. I spend all season becoming accustomed to one scorebug for Fox; I know exactly where to find information on down and distance, penalties, stats, game clock, play clock, timeouts, score, possession, etc… and now you’re telling me I have to relearn all of that for the most important game of the season?
Yes, this obviously isn’t a huge deal. All of that information should still be readily available to see during the Super Bowl. But instead of glancing down and knowing exactly where to look for a particular piece of information in a split second, I’ll have to search for a second or two before returning my focus to the game.
That may not seem like much, but that’s very annoying during–let me reiterate–the most important game of the season.
And if you’re a network airing the Super Bowl, wouldn’t you prefer to use the scorebug you’ve used all year? For one, by the end of the season, fans will associate the scorebug you’ve used the entire year with your network. Isn’t that great brand awareness for the nine-figure audience the Super Bowl will pull in?
But even aside from brand familiarity, debuting a new scorebug during the Super Bowl is risky. It’s not out of the question for there to be technical glitches, graphical errors, or any number of bugs while launching a brand-new system. Is that a gamble worth taking in front of one hundred million people?
Clearly, the networks don’t think so, because they keep doing it.
There’s certainly an argument as to why the networks do it. The Super Bowl is one of the few times the media takes notice of production-side changes like these. So, the PR element of it all makes sense. But is that worth the downside risk?
In this day and age, it’s worth asking why networks change their graphics packages and scorebugs this frequently at all. ESPN had three during this most recent college football season alone. By doing so, they limit fans’ ability to associate their distinct presentation of the game with the channel they’re watching.
And it’s not like there’s been enough scorebug innovation recently to warrant a major overhaul; most improvements on that front have been minor and could’ve been implemented into old scorebugs.
As a fan, can’t I just watch one Super Bowl with some scorebug peace of mind?
