HBO has announced that they’ve dropped the longest running series on cable television. After over three decade, say goodbye to Inside the NFL… or maybe not. The NFL contends the show’s not over yet.

Inside the NFL debuted back in the Fall of 1977. It was the first major sports show for the young HBO, or any cable channel for that matter. The series’ schedule parallels that of the National Football League (NFL), beginning each season just prior to the first game and wrapping up after the Super Bowl. Generally the show features highlights of recent matches, interviews, upcoming game previews, and occasional comedy segments.

NBC Sports veteran Bob Costas is the current anchor with former players Dan Marino, Cris Collinsworth, and Cris Carter serving as co-hosts and analysts. HBO Sports and NFL Films co-produce the weekly program.

Inside was truly unique in its day but, with the explosion of sports programming on cable, viewers have been able to get their football fix on a more timely basis elsewhere. It’s for this reason that HBO has announced that they are canceling the series after last night’s Super Bowl recap show.

“Inside the NFL has been a hallmark program for three decades on HBO,” HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg said. “It has been a terrific franchise. But the television landscape has changed quite a bit over the last 30 years and we have to recognize the realities of the business.”

The NFL says that they plan to continue the series without HBO, via another channel. The organization has been in talks with three or four possible outlets but a deal hasn’t been sealed yet. Regardless, the NFL is confident that the series will kick off on schedule in the fall. Stay tuned!