The scarcity of football is an advantage that's not commented on enough. The country as a whole is becoming an event-driven culture and pro football games are still events in the way that baseball can't be.
When everybody starts broadcasting games the way 'Monday Night Football' did, then 'Monday Night Football' is not as exceptional and unique as it once was. You can turn on ESPN 2 now and see the same techniques being used for the Kent State-Akron game.