NFL Draft Start Time 2013: Expansive Coverage Proves League Is King of Sports

The NFL can do no wrong.

Powerhouse teams can give way to upsets, or favorites can steam roll the little guys. The league can go on strike, relegate Tim Tebow to the bench for an entire season, lose stars, use replacement refs and even go on a lockout, and it doesn't matter. We just can't enough of the NFL. 

Over 108 million Americans tuned into the last Super Bowl as the Ravens beat the 49ers, and that was despite the game suffering a lengthy blackout due to a power outage. 

That made the 2013 Super Bowl the third most-watched broadcast in the history of American television. The only two higher broadcasts? Yep, the previous two Super Bowls. 

The Super Bowl has such drawing power, that even the commercials have become an event. With CBS reportedly charging as much as $4 million per 30 seconds of ad time. 

While all of these things clearly point towards the NFL sitting on the throne of American sports popularity, none of that makes as convincing an argument as what is going on with the NFL draft these days.  

Just check out the expansive TV schedule for this event. 

When: Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, April 27

Where: Radio City Music Hall in New York City

TV Listings

Thursday, April 25 (Round 1) - 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and NFL Network

Friday, April 26 (Rounds 2-3) - 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and NFL Network

Saturday, April 27 (Rounds 4-7) - 12 p.m. ET on ESPN and NFL Network

Again, this is the draft we are talking about. 

Three days of prime TV reality devoted to names being called, hands being shook and hugs being given. 

The NFL Network is showing a whopping 47 hours of live draft coverage. 

While there will undoubtedly be surprising selections that occur during the draft, there isn't anything to be really gained by watching it on TV. Fans could easily read or hear what picks were be made, and do so in real time, and not miss anything. 

This isn't like a sporting contest where things will happen that have to be seen to be believed—unless someone is into breaking down the form of on a man hug. 

Last year, coverage of the first round dominated its time slot by drawing over six million viewers. 

In 2010, the first round drew more viewers than the NBA playoffs, and those playoffs featured a game with the powerful Los Angeles Lakers. 

How depressing that must have been for the NBA! 

And I don't say all of this to condemn anyone who is watching the draft. I know I will be. I can't get enough.