NFL Network Offers Preseason Games; Comcast Adds it to HD Lineup

The nearly 4-year-old NFL Network will televise 34 games starting now in the preseason, leading up to the 2007-08 regular schedule—or about double its preseason HD output last year. Earlier this month, Comcast added NFLN to its regular HD lineup in some markets, dropping it as a special proprietary channel and thus making NFLN more readily accessible to the MSO’s HD subscribers.

During last year’s preseason matchups, NFLN—which is owned by the league—televised more than 50 games, with about three-quarters of them aired nationally by the four networks which hold contracts with the NFL (CBS, ESPN, Fox and NBC).

For the first time, NFLN will carry a pair of evening doubleheaders—set for Saturday, Aug. 25 and Thursday, Aug. 30, with kickoffs at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. (EDT).

The preseason HD contests begin this Saturday, Aug. 11, with three games airing at 10 a.m. (St. Louis at Minnesota), 1 p.m. (New England at Tampa Bay), and 8 p.m. (Washington at Tennessee) all EDT. NFLN features football content seven days a week throughout the year. The complete preseason HD schedule is on NFLN’s Web site.