Internet Usage Dips During Super Bowl

Heavy TV viewing reduces network usage by 15%, according to Sandvine

By George Winslow -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/4/2013 2:18:50 PM

High levels of television viewing during Super Bowl XLVII once again reduced Internet traffic during the game by about 15%, reports Sandvine, a provider of broadband technologies.

CBS has not yet released data on their live stream of the big game, the second time in history the event has been made available on the Internet. But the Sandvine numbers would confirm the network's strategies of focusing on its streaming and digital components as a complement to viewing on the TV.

Overall, Sandvine reported that "the Super Bowl stream accounted for over 3% of total network traffic for the evening."

"For the second year in a row, the Super Bowl was streamed online for viewers in the US," a blog posted by Dan Deeth on Sandvine's site noted. "While many might think the big game might cause big demand on fixed access networks, the truth is while everyone is watching the game on their television they are actually giving the network a break from usage....At Sandvine's we've long maintained that the biggest screen is always the best screen to consume content, and for the Super Bowl it makes sense that most people would prefer to watch the game on their large HDTV.

"Sandvine's traffic statistics have showed continued growth in adoption of live streamed sports events, but for the time being it is no threat to replace viewing via traditional broadcast method," the blog concluded.