The NFL today said it was closing down NFL Europa, its 16-year-old European league.

All 31 of the league’s games were televised live in overnight time periods last season on NFL Network, where they drew relatively low ratings.

To replace the programming, a spokesman said, the network is likely to expand its use of NFL Classics, which are full broadcasts of old NFL games that haven’t been aired since they were played. The NFL Classics have drawn about 10 times the ratings of the NFL Europa games, the spokesman said.

The NFL, which was losing a reported $30 million a year on NFL Europa, will shift its international strategy to presenting real NFL games globally.

The league is planning to play up to two regular-season games outside the U.S. per season.

On Oct. 28, the Miami Dolphins will play the New York Giants at Wembley Stadium in London.

For the 2008 season, Germany, Mexico and Canada are being considered to host games.

The league also is making its games more available internationally via digital media.

“We will continue to build our international fan base by taking advantage of technology and customized digital media, that make the NFL more accessible on a global scale than ever before, and through the regular-season game experience,” said Mark Waller, senior VP of NFL International.

“NFL Europa has created thousands of passionate fans who have supported that league and our sport for many years, and we look forward to building on this foundation as we begin this new phase of our international development,” he added.

(Editor: Horowitz)