big time money

given the staggering numbers involved in athletics including nfl tv deals and even college programs, it doesn't always register until they are strung together.

the ny times strings some together--i think even they can't mess this up--in a summation of nfl commish paul tagliabue's career

In television deals made during his time as the National Football League commissioner, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, TNT and ESPN have signed contracts worth a combined $46.4 billion, while the satellite operator DirecTV will end up paying $6.1 billion by the time its new five-year deal is over.
In that same 16-year span, Major League Baseball's network deals have totaled nearly $11 billion, and those with the National Basketball Association have come to $9.2 billion. Real good, but not Tagliabue money.

additionally, the $3 billion a year and the effective revenue-sharing make the NFL perhaps the best product too

¶ - nitish @ 4:03 PM