NEW YORK, April 26 (UPI) -- The NFL Draft, one of the most watched U.S. sporting events not an actual game, will attract tens of millions of viewers this weekend.
More than 34 million watched last year's draft, the most ever, and along with two TV networks delivering live coverage Saturday and Sunday will be online content and updates via cell phones.
The Washington Times reports ESPN and the NFL Network will have a total of 33 hours of live coverage over the two days at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
It will be a first for the NFL Network, which plans 12 hours of draft news Saturday and four hours on Sunday.
ESPN viewers will get 17 total hours coverage.
Brian Curtis, an analyst for College Sports Television, calls the hype surrounding the draft "overkill" but said the NFL has done a good job promoting it as part of everyday football activities.
Nearly 700 print and Web publications planned analysis of the draft.
ESPN senior vice president for programming and acquisition and strategy, John Wildhack, said initially there were doubts about covering the NFL draft.
"Now, it's established itself as the signature event of the springtime," Wildhack said.
