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The Scouting NFL Combine has become a staple of the NFL. The week-long athletic testing showcase for college football players has witnessed increased interest over the years.
Taking place at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the media and cameras were historically prohibited from the event. It was thought by some within the NFL that media participation in the process could lead to unwanted exposure for the players.
Of course, the primary goal of the Scouting Combine is for players to showcase their physical and mental abilities to NFL scouts. Media interference could have an impact on the aim of the event itself and derail it from its initial purpose.
Nonetheless, the entirety of the sport is for the fans, and witnessing the event offers them more insight into the league and its future. Fortunately, the NFL eventually allowed the broadcast of the Scouting Combine on television.
The First NFL Combine on Television
Despite the level of skepticism exhibited by some members of the NFL board on the move to open the Scouting Combine to the media, the event eventually went live on television in 2004. This was largely due to the launch of the NFL Network the year before.
The 2004 NFL Combine was the first edition of the event to be aired on television. The edition, which featured the likes of Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Larry Fitzgerald, and Vince Wilfork, had a one-hour show of six installments aired daily to recap the day's event.
The decision to televise the NFL Combine in 2004 ended up being a wise one. The event drew significant interest from fans and media alike. It enabled viewers to see the performances of draft prospects first-hand and allowed them to anticipate the future ahead for the players.
NFL Combine Broadcast Over the Years
Since the 2004 broadcast, the NFL Combine has become a must-watch event for fans across the United States. The ensuing years saw the event on television with increased ratings annually. This has adequately ensured increased exposure for the NFL draft.
Following the one-hour show in 2004, the NFL Network increased the broadcast time to two hours in 2005. The coverage had a total of 26 hours in 2006, 27 hours in 2007, and 25 hours in 2009. The broadcast began airing for more than 30 hours in 2010 after viewers of the event had crossed the 5 million mark.
ESPN commenced the live broadcast of the Combine in 2019. This has aided in expanding the reach of the event to more fans. This marked the first time in which the official coverage of the Combine has been provided to fans outside the NFL Network.
The NFL Combine has witnessed continued success on television over the years. This has led to a more in-depth analysis of players and their potential draft stock in the media. It has also played a crucial role in the branding and marketing of players. The decision to bring the Combine to television in 2004 is therefore a significant moment in the history of the event.
