Media Notes

DAILY VARIETY's Sam Thielman reports Showtime and NFL Films "have inked a three-year extension" to continue broadcasting "Inside the NFL," which is heading into its fourth season on the network. The deal was announced yesterday by CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus "as part of the net's NFL Media Day in New York" (DAILY VARIETY, 8/24).

OK CORRAL: In Oklahoma City, Mel Bracht reported NFL free agent Roy Williams will return to the Univ. of Oklahoma this season "as an analyst for the school's radio broadcasts and a pregame host," working alongside "new sideline reporter Chris Plank in both roles." Williams said that he "doesn't anticipate playing in the NFL this season," and that he "turned down a contract offer from a West Coast team." Now living in Oklahoma City, Williams will be "handling the sideline role on home games and selected road games." Williams hosted a radio show in Dallas for two years, but said that he "will need to adjust to his new role as a sideline analyst." Williams: "Honestly, I don't know how it's going to go. I get too much into the game. I'll get (ticked) off and say 'What the heck is coach calling?' I got to learn to detach myself from being a former OU player and learn to be politically correct" (DAILY OKLAHOMAN, 8/23).

READY FOR SOME (MORE) FOOTBALL? DirecTV Senior Dir of Sports Marketing & Product Strategy Alex Kaplan said that the company's decision to make its "Sunday Ticket" package available to Sony PS3 users "may be the first step toward giving viewers access to out-of-market NFL games on a range of Web-enabled devices." Kaplan: "This product is designed for people who cannot get DirecTV." He added, "If this test is successful, we have the opportunity to distribute 'Sunday Ticket' through various different devices, and we're certainly open to relationships with other consoles and Internet-connected devices" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 8/22).

BREAK FOR IT: SI's Alan Shipnuck put Golf Channel reality show "The Big Break" on his hot list for this week. With the "sudden success" of golfers Tommy Gainey, Ryann O'Toole and J.J. Killeen, "The Big Break" has become "golf's 'American Idol,' launching the unlikely careers of would-be stars" (GOLF.com, 8/23).