Hiestand on TV

0 Comments | USA TODAY, August, 2008 | by Michael Hiestand

Inside the industry

ESPN pays the NFL far more for its TV rights -- $1.1billion annually just for Monday night games and no playoff games -- than the other networks carrying NFL action. But that, obviously, doesn't buy it any special favors.

Consider that the league's own NFL Network has announced it will this season debut its first-ever pregame show -- the two-hour NFL GameDay -- to air Sundays from 10a.m. ET to noon. The show won't conflict with Fox and CBS pregame shows, which start at noon ET, but will compete with ESPN's NFL Countdown.

This is just the latest instance of the NFL showing up to cover previously ESPN-only events, such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions and the ratings-grabbing NFL draft. Tuesday, ESPN declined comment. No...