Good Bye Inside N F L

[TAZZ]

BY NEIL BEST | neil.best@newsday.com
February 7, 2008
"Inside the NFL," the longest-running show in cable TV history, will conclude its 31-year run on HBO after the current episode, which debuted last night and reruns five times this week.

"It's like saying good-bye to an old friend," said HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg, who added the show still averages 2 million viewers per week but increasingly had trouble differentiating itself in a sports TV landscape vastly more crowded than it was in 1977.

"It's been a hell of a run," he said. "No shame here, no bitterness, no anger, just a lot of pride."


Nick Buoniconti, a host on the show for 23 years, said, "I'm very disappointed, but that's life."

On last night's show Buoniconti, a member of the undefeated 1972 Dolphins, thanked Amani Toomer for scoring the winning touchdown against the 13-0 Broncos in 1998 and for the Giants' upset of the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

"I owe him a couple of glasses of champagne, not just one," Buoniconti said.

[BucNut]

I used to never miss Inside The NFL back in the day. It was one of the most informative shows on the NFL around. I finally decided that it wasn't worth paying for HBO when it was the only thing I actually watched...other than Dennis Miller.

[panther ad man]

Well I think they are making a hell of a mistake. I know it was the main reason that I kept HBO. Although I don't watch many of the repeated movies and would not miss Inside the NFL. Now I will definitely cancel HBO.

[TAZZ]

With NFL Network 24 yours a day ,I can see why!

[BucShot]

I always enjoyed Inside the NFL but it was one of those shows you had to make a point to catch. I guess the network execs have lofty goals. 2 million viewers simply isn't enough to go through the motions anymore.

Heck, if I could buy a watch for $5 and sell it to 2 million people for $6 I could retire.

[Arkansas Falcon]

It was always appointment TV to watch Inside The NFL when we had HBO. Hate to read that it's gone.

[TheQ]

The was a long running show on HBO, but it's time had run out, really.
I mean with the NFL Network and ESPN and Fox sports channels, HBO's show didn't have anything to add, IMO.