• The Hollywood Reporter, Wednesday, December 31, 2008 9:15 AM

ESPN will televise the 2010 Pro Bowl, after CBS declined to carry the game. Currently, the broadcast network that carries the Super Bowl also carries the much-lower-rated Pro Bowl. In 2010, CBS will carry the Super Bowl.

The shift brings the Pro Bowl back to cable for the first time since 2006. It will also be the first Pro Bowl that is played before a Super Bowl. The change gives ESPN another high-visibility sports property that used to be on broadcast. Recently ESPN bought the rights to the future Bowl Championship Series and golf's British Open.

The NFL-ESPN pact is believed to be a one-year deal. Fox Sports is scheduled to carry the 2011 Pro Bowl, along with the Super Bowl.

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