When the Steelers play the Cardinals this Sunday, 1 million are guaranteed to watch. That is why a Superbowl commercial is so expensive. But now, those 1 million people will include troops overseas.
Global Broadcast Service, a satellite communications system, will be broadcasting the game over their systems. No matter where you are – desert, mountains or even underwater – if you are set up to get the signal, you will be able to get the game.
GBS does have an advantage in that area – their communications system is already there. The company was developed to deliver imagery to troops. The systems were originally set up for the Persian Gulf War and have been used ever since.
This is not the first time they have used this system to broadcast the Superbowl – limited transmissions have been sent since 2002. This is the first time they will be broadcasting it to everyone. Since this is an IP based transmission, troops will not need a television to watch their favorite team play.