‘Inside The NFL’ has landed at The CW, but is seeking new hosts and producers

https://awfulannouncing.com/the-cw/inside-the-nfl-destination-new-hosts-producers.html

It’s been quite a 45-year run for Inside The NFL, involving a lot of different networks. The series started on HBO in 1977, then was dropped by that network ahead of the 2009 season. It moved to Showtime then, and aired there through the 2020 season, but then went to Paramount+ for two years. Paramount+ announced in April they wouldn’t bring it back, though. Now, Inside The NFL has landed on broadcast TV at The CW, but with a new cast.

Since Nexstar closed its acquisition of a 75 percent stake in The CW (formerly a joint venture between CBS and Warner Bros. Television, both of which still own minority stakes in the network) last fall, the network has made lots of noise about getting into sports. The main way they’ve done that so far has been with LIV Golf, a deal which has been controversial and carried hiccups. But they’ve been mentioned in further sports conversations, especially around the Pac-12 (although it seems now that may not happen) and motorsports. And while Inside The NFL is not live sports, it is a long-running and prominent NFL Films series, and it will now be accessible to a wider audience on broadcast TV than it was on streaming services and premium cable. However, as per the Deadline story on this from Peter White, the series will be looking for new hosts and producers.

Last season on Paramount+, the show featured Julian Edelman (who joined ahead of the 2021 season), Simms, Marshall, Lewis, Brown, and Michael Irvin at times. It will be interesting to see who’s on it in this new CW version in 2023. And it will be interesting to see if The CW keeps adding to their sports lineup, both with live events and with shoulder programming like this.