A few months ago, HBO enraged devoted viewers by dropping the venerable Inside the NFL sports show. The pay-per-view network felt that, though the 31-year-old series was innovative in its time, the television landscape had changed and it had become obsolete. There was some talk that another outlet might pick up Inside and that has now come true.
Showtime has announced that they’ve made a deal for the football series to move to its Wednesday night schedule this fall. They’re partnering with both CBS Sports and the NFL to produce the program.
Matthew Blank, CEO of Showtime Networks, said, “We’re thrilled to be joining the successful partnership of CBS Sports and the NFL in presenting the show to our subscribers. It’s a perfect fit with our original scripted series and sports programming.”
Regular viewers of Inside the NFL may be surprised to find that there will be some new faces on the broadcast for this fall. The show’s talent list won’t be announced until next month, but at least a few of last season’s contributors won’t be returning. Actually, most of the series’ on-air reporters are expected to be pulled from the CBS Sports talent pool. Names being tossed around include James Brown, Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason, Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe, and Phil Simms. Marino has co-hosted the program in the past.
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Sportscasters like Bob Costas and Cris Collinsworth (who currently work for CBS competitor NBC Sports) aren’t likely to continue with the program. Both Showtime and the CBS network are owned by the CBS Corporation.
Inside the NFL is scheduled to kick off on Showtime on Wednesday, September 10th at 9pm. The series will then run throughout the NFL season and finish its 32nd season on February 11, 2009. Stay tuned! 
I wonder where Phil Sims learned to speak English? He fractures the English language and in one sentence keeps repeating 3 or 4 times, “we talked”, “he talked” “we talked about it”. No matter that it is not true pertinent to what he is saying, the word talk or talked peppers his speak. Not only that, he can’t shut up during a NFL game. He talks above the crowd, during the play, and his incessant comments that one can’t understand drive one crazy. He ought to listen to Chris Collingworth and take a hint. Thanks
Inside the NFL Our comment is about the Season Finale 2/11/2009, which we just finished watching via TiVo, Friday 2/13/2009. The BEST way to get rid of Phil Sims “Pet Peeves” is to GET RID of PHIL SIMMS. Phil Simms is as useful as an Old Dirty Mop to try to spruce up a clean a floor. Phil comes across as an old Dirty Mop. Phil Simms is absolutely NO good in this position and hope that you will not be blinded by that one comment read on the show tonight praising Phil. Was that written by Phil under a… Read more »
I am one that does not like your new program on Showtime and abore the actions of HBO. After more than 30 years HBO had a following that cried when it went off. And I don’t give a darn about what some programing president thinks about todays tv programing when it come to sports. I finally got to learn all the teams names both towns and mascots names when they turned it off. I am going to turn both Showtime offf and Hbo off
The main thing I do not like about the Showtime version….they only tell 6 picks instead of the whole week football predictions!! I just signed up yesterday to Showtime for this one show!!! Does anyone know where Chris Collingsworth has his full picks?
GREAT JOB SHOWTIME… GOOD BY FOR NOW HBO…
Hey Inside the NFL…you guys really needed to talk more about aaron rogers
thank god Bob Costis is gone. that was the biggest joke.
I agree, HBO really goofed up on this one as I have switched to Showtime and I hope others follow suit. I wish they had Chris Collingsworth and the weekly online picks.
HBO has no class Why? They just gave it all to Showtime & CBS. Thank you guys for saving the best NFL show of all times Inside The NFL.
How about adding Warren Sapp or Tiki Barber to the list of analysts? They’re both hard hitters with a real heart for the sport!!! Maybe having a retired guest NFL coach as a weekly guest might also lend a little experienced perspective.
Thanks for keeping this show alive for ALL OF US HARD CORE FOOTBALL LOVERS!
Sincerely,
Lynn I. Swanger
Great , I could not believe HBO, they must have listen to the drive by media that that show was bad. Any loyal NFL fan loved to see how NFL Films put together the weeks game with unbeliveable camera work. Following the ball in flight was amazing the first time I saw it over 25 years ago. I just hope they bring in some talent to host the show. Dan Marino is a natural and Chris Carter should be available, James Brown would be great as host with someone like Micheal Irvin or Emmett Smith or even Dion Sanders would… Read more »