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Providing proof that live event programming and football are important draws for broadcast television, the National Football League on Wednesday announced it has agreed to nine-year extensions of its relationship with CBS, Fox and NBC.our editor recommendsNFL, Broadcast Networks Close to Eight-Year TV Deal Extension (Report)Tim Tebow Effect: How a Phenom Cashes InTV Ratings: Giants and Cowboys Give Strongest Sunday Night Football Showing in Weeks2011-2012 College Football Bowl Game Schedule The NFL's current agreement was set to expire in 2013. This now keeps the games on broadcast TV through 2022. PHOTOS: 26 of Hollywood's Most Popular Athletes-Turned-Actors "These agreements underscore the NFL's unique commitment to broadcast television that no other sport has," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "The agreements would not have been possible without our new 10-year labor agreement and the players deserve great credit. Long-term labor peace is allowing the NFL to continue to grow and the biggest beneficiaries are the players and fans." Under the agreement, the NFL will be able to expand its package of games on Thursday night on the NFL Network beginning next year. The league had said it wanted to expand on Thursdays to cover games in the first half of the season but speculation was it would go out for bid. Instead it will air on the NFL Network, which already had Thursday night games in the second half of the season. PHOTOS: 10 Broadcast and Cable TV Shows Most Watched by Men NBC will continue to air the Thursday night season kick off game and carry the primetime game on Thanksgiving starting in 2012. The contract continues flexible scheduling. This means the networks will be able to move games around to get the most exciting matchups on TV. Beginning in 2014, the contract allows games to be moved between CBS and FOX so that important regional matchups can be seen by a wider audience. According to the NFL, 23 of the 25 most watched shows on TV this fall were NFL football games, often drawing twice the viewership of other primetime shows. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Biggest Fantasy Football Fans American Football Conference games will continue to air on CBS on Sunday afternoons. CBS first aired NBL games in 1956. Fox will continue to carry National Football Conference games on Sunday afternoon as it has since it first acquired rights in 1994. NBC continues Sunday Night Football, which it began in 2006. CBS, FOX and NBC will continue to rotate coverage of the Super Bowl. NBC will carry Super Bowl XLIX (49) in Glendale, Arizona in 2015, Super Bowl LII (52) in 2018 and Super Bowl LV (55) in 2021. CBS will broadcast Super Bowl L (50) in 2016, Super Bowl LIII (53) in 2019 and Super Bowl LVI (56) in 2022. FOX will televise Super Bowl LI (51) in 2017, Super Bowl LIV (54) in 2020 and Super Bowl LVII (57) in 2023. Earlier this year ESPN, which is part of ABC/Disney, reached an eight-year extension that keeps Monday Night Football on the cable network through 2021. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 26 of Hollywood's Most Popular Athletes-Turned-Actors Related Topics NBC CBS NFL ESPN Sports