Inside the NFL, the long-running pro football highlights show that was dumped by HBO after three decades earlier this year, has landed with one of HBO’s oldest pay-channel competitors, Showtime.

The show will be produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films, and it will air on Wednesday nights during football season.

“This is the granddaddy of all highlight shows,” said Steve Sabol, President of NFL Films.  “The combination of our film and game sound with the analysis in the studio gives Inside the NFL a perfect balance of action and insight.  That’s why it’s been so popular for so long.”

It’s unknown whether any, some, or all of the on-air talent that was associated with the show at HBO will make the jump to Showtime.  Bob Costas, one of the hosts of the program, still has a contract with HBO, which might prevent him from moonlighting with such a direct competitor.

We’d been told in the wake of the show’s demise that HBO had been paying NFL Films $8 million per year for access to the company’s game highlights. 

 UPDATE:  A media source suggests that the new version of the show will be staffed primarily with current CBS talent, with Jim Nantz playing the role of Bob Costas, Dan Marino playing the role of, um, Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason or Phil Simms filling the role of Cris Collinsworth, and Charley Casserly serving in the Peter King role.