TCA: NBC News Plans for Super Bowl XLIII

Special editions of Today, Meet the Press and a SportsCenter reunion part of network's planned coverage.

By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/21/2008 9:22:00 PM

Beverly Hills -- NBC News will have an expanded presence at next year's Super Bowl, with special editions of Today and Meet the Press leading into the network's preshow and game coverage.

The network also touted its Super Bowl edition of Football Night in America, which will reunite former ESPN co-anchors Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann.

In a schedule outlined at the Television Critics Association press tour here, the network announced that a special Super Bowl Sunday edition of Today -- anchored by Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Ann Curry -- will originate from Tampa, Fla., from 8 a.m.-10 a.m., followed by a special edition of Meet the Press (anchored by whoever the new host may be) originating at Raymond James Stadium from 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

Following the news programs, NBC will air The Road to the Super Bowl from 11 a.m.-noon, followed by a six hour pregame show from noon-6 p.m. and the big game itself.

Following the announcements, a panel featuring NBC's Football Night in America team and the studio team -- minus anchor Bob Costas, who is in Beijing preparing for the Olympic Games -- answered questions from the audience of critics and reporters.

The most talked-about subject was the reunion of Patrick and Olbermann, who co-anchored SportsCenter on ESPN from 1992-97.

The duo, who will be presenting highlights on Football Night in America, used the chance to take questions as an opportunity to riff off one another.

"We are just sitting in the back of the studio, like kids in the back of the classroom," Patrick said. "It is sort of like joining the Oceans 11 crew -- the Costas 11 crew."

Olbermann, who hosts Countdown on MSNBC, was asked if he would ever consider adding some political content to his football commentary on the show.

"Barring the possibility that [Sen.] John McCain [R-Ariz.] selects Brett Favre as his running mate, I don't think you will see any political content [on Football Night] this year," Olbermann said.

For the latest news and video from the TCA press tour, click here.