• by David Goetzl , April 25, 2006

The NFL Network will air rebroadcasts of four games a week during the 2006 regular season--a first in the 87-year history of the NFL.

The league-owned network, which will begin carrying live games for the first time this season, will pick four games with compelling story lines from the previous weekend--and will air 90-minute condensed versions on the ensuing Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

The network will keep the graphics and commentary from each game's original appearance on CBS, Fox, NBC, or ESPN, but will overlay added features such as relevant commentary from post-game press conferences and sideline and on-field sound bites. A picture-in-picture format will be used to display some of the added elements.

The NFL says this marks the first time in its nearly 90-year history that replayed games will appear after their broadcast window.

Since many live games only reach a small percentage of the country because of the NFL's broadcast restrictions, the network believes the replays will still hold appeal for fans several days later.

The programming carries the working title "NFL Game Re-Airs." Plans call for it to air Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5:30 P.M. and 8:30 P.M. both nights.

The network expects to carry 75 games during the season in the rebroadcast format, including the playoffs and Super Bowl.