Inside the NFL on Showtime in 2008

[pats1]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/

IT’S SHOWTIME FOR “INSIDE THE NFL”
Posted by Mike Florio on June 3, 2008, 8:31 p.m.

Inside the NFL, the long-running pro football highlights show that was dumped by HBO after three decades earlier this year, has landed with one of HBO’s oldest pay-channel competitors, Showtime.

The show will be produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films, and it will air on Wednesday nights during football season.

“This is the granddaddy of all highlight shows,” said Steve Sabol, President of NFL Films. “The combination of our film and game sound with the analysis in the studio gives Inside the NFL a perfect balance of action and insight. That’s why it’s been so popular for so long.”

It’s unknown whether any, some, or all of the on-air talent that was associated with the show at HBO will make the jump to Showtime. Bob Costas, one of the hosts of the program, still has a contract with HBO, which might prevent him from moonlighting with such a direct competitor.

We’d been told in the wake of the show’s demise that HBO had been paying NFL Films $8 million per year for access to the company’s game highlights.

Yay, another movie channel I don't want to pay for.

 

[Ghost of Ben Dreith]

I hardly watched it last year and probably won't again.....even if it was on free TV.

The only guy who was worth listening to was Collingsworth, and he wasn't any great shakes....just a lot better in comparison to the others.

 

[BelichickFan]

I get the HBO/Showtime package because my wife wants it - so I'll watch. I don't watch it that much, though, it's OK but not a whole lot better than that.

 

[Rob0729]

I hardly watched it last year and probably won't again.....even if it was on free TV.

The only guy who was worth listening to was Collingsworth, and he wasn't any great shakes....just a lot better in comparison to the others.

According to an update on Florio's site, the CBS crew is going to be the hosts of the show. So the only guy returning is Marino. Easiason, Sharpe, Cowher, Nantz, and Casserly are replacing Costas, Carter, Collinsworth, and King.

The fact that Bob Costas is makes the show infinately better. Costas should stick to baseball and the Olympics. He is horrible witb football.

I hate Carter too, but he is a wash with Shannon Sharpe.

 

[Jackson 2]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/



Yay, another movie channel I don't want to pay for.

Used to love that show until last year, then I grew to despise it. I can't think of four more rabid anti-NE drones on one stage than those guys. Throw in Peter the Dink and it's five-for-five. May be they'll bring back Deadwood to replace it. Even Al Swearengen is more likeable than those guys.

 

[jmt57]

I really enjoyed Inside the NFL when it started but didn't look for it at all the last few years. Not sure if that was due to the NFL Network, the abundance of stories available from so many sources on the web, or if the commentary became stale. I'll find an excuse to check it out, but personally I'm not expecting all that much. We're saturated with highlights and analysis pre and post game on Sundays. Hoping they go with new hosts for a breath of fresh air, and maybe by Wednesday we'll be ready for a new slant on the games.

I just think this may be looking backwards rather than forwards. With all the sources of information available, analyzing 14-16 upcoming games and reviewing the same number of previous games in an hour will only attract peripheral fans. I'd rather see two half hours to each division, Tuesday through Friday. Showtime has a bunch of channels, let one be dedicated to the NFL for an hour or two per day in the fall. Three minutes per team was cool on TV before everybody had internet access, but not now.

 

[bradmahn]

I really enjoyed Inside the NFL when it started but didn't look for it at all the last few years. Not sure if that was due to the NFL Network, the abundance of stories available from so many sources on the web, or if the commentary became stale. I'll find an excuse to check it out, but personally I'm not expecting all that much. We're saturated with highlights and analysis pre and post game on Sundays. Hoping they go with new hosts for a breath of fresh air, and maybe by Wednesday we'll be ready for a new slant on the games.

I just think this may be looking backwards rather than forwards. With all the sources of information available, analyzing 14-16 upcoming games and reviewing the same number of previous games in an hour will only attract peripheral fans. I'd rather see two half hours to each division, Tuesday through Friday. Showtime has a bunch of channels, let one be dedicated to the NFL for an hour or two per day in the fall. Three minutes per team was cool on TV before everybody had internet access, but not now.

For my money, there is no better highlight of an NFL game than one done by NFL Films. The analysis, picks, in-studio bluster and all provided nothing that you couldn't piece together from NBC/CBS/SI*, but the highlights... the highlights were where it was at (they also have a lot of the good sound bites). A change of scenery should revitalize the show.

*That is, of course, when Marino doesn't pick both teams to win.

 

[signbabybrady]

For my money, there is no better highlight of an NFL game than one done by NFL Films. The analysis, picks, in-studio bluster and all provided nothing that you couldn't piece together from NBC/CBS/SI*, but the highlights... the highlights were where it was at (they also have a lot of the good sound bites). A change of scenery should revitalize the show.

*That is, of course, when Marino doesn't pick both teams to win.

I agree with everything you said. The NFL films made and will continue to make that show. Especially the voice over guy, he is awsome.

Hopefully the change of scenery evitalizes it.

The only other thing I am really exited about here is that Boomer will be on it. He is my favorite analyst, he is really inciteful and doesn't seem to have agendas like other guys.