When does the Super Bowl start? What channel is it on, who is playing, what time is kick-off and where can I watch it?

From what time it starts to who is favourite to win, find out everything you need to know about Super Bowl 50 here

Jack de Menezes
Friday 05 February 2016 10:43 GMT
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NFL American football for dummies

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Super Bowl 50 will see the two best teams in the NFL go head-to-head for the right to be named the best American football side in the world as the Carolina Panthers take on the Denver Broncos in a bid to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

The match sees the NFC champions Carolina take on the AFC champions Denver after both came through a 16-game regular season and successfully tackle the play-offs, with 32 teams being whittled down to just two.

In what is the biggest sporting event on the planet, the two sides will compete to become Super Bowl champions on an historic night for the sport, as the showcase game reaches the half-century mark 50 years after the first instalment in 1966.

Denver’s participation in the match will see them equal the most Super Bowl appearances at eight, matching the joint-record held by the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots.

But for Carolina, they will be making just their second Super Bowl appearance, having finished on the losing side at Super Bowl 38.

What time does it start?

Super Bowl 50 begins at 6.30pm EST on Sunday 7 February, meaning an 11.30pm kick-off in the United Kingdom. With the event set to last up to four hours – providing there’s no blackout this year – so expect a late one.

Where will the Super Bowl be held?

Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, will host Super Bowl 50 for the first time in its history. The stadium only opened its doors in July 2014, and its record reception to date was WrestleMania 31, which saw 76,976 fans fill out the ground in March last year.

Where can I watch it?

Sky Sports will continue its full NFL season coverage with an extended show that begins at 10pm, 90 minutes before kick-off is scheduled for. The Super Bowl will also be shown on BBC 2, with coverage beginning at 10.50pm.

Super Bowl 50 will see the Denver Broncos face the Carolina Panthers
Super Bowl 50 will see the Denver Broncos face the Carolina Panthers (Getty Images)

Who will play the Halftime Show?

This year, Coldplay will perform at half-time in what has become one of the most talked about moments of the Super Bowl. Beyoncé is also expected to join them, having recently collaborated on “Hymn for the Weekend” and “Up&Up”, both of which featured on Coldplay’s latest album.

Cam Newton will look to lead his side to victory at Levi's Stadium
Cam Newton will look to lead his side to victory at Levi's Stadium (Getty Images)

Who is favourite to win?

Carolina Panthers head into the Super Bowl as slight favourites after finishing the regular season with an unrivalled 15-1 record, with the Broncos entering the match off a regular season 12-4 run.

Carolina Panthers – 2/5

Denver Broncos – 2/1

(Odds provided by BetVictor)

Peyton Manning could be appearing in his final NFL match as he ponders retirement
Peyton Manning could be appearing in his final NFL match as he ponders retirement (GETTY IMAGES)

How much does each Super Bowl commercial cost?

After the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the commercials tend to generate the most attention given the extra details that companies will go in to in order to maximise the chance to sell their product to a global audience. Of course, this doesn’t come cheaply, with fees set at $5m for a 30-second advert.

Has either team won the Super Bowl before?

Yes, but only the Denver Broncos, and they also hold an unwanted losing record when it comes to the showcase match. Having made the Super Bowl seven times before, the Broncos have only emerged victorious twice, and they suffered defeat in Super Bowl 48 to the Seattle Seahawks. The two years that they came out victorious came in consecutive years as John Elway inspired them to wins in 1998 and 1999.

Carolina meanwhile have never won the Super Bowl, and their only previous appearance saw them beaten 32-29 by the New England Patriots in 2004.

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