As of 2006 - ABC is out

[OzzO]

ESPN gets MNF, NBC gets SNF

NEW YORK (April 18, 2005) -- The NFL's Monday Night Football, a staple on ABC for the past 35 seasons, will move to ESPN starting with the 2006 season.

And NBC is returning to the NFL after six years away by taking the Sunday night broadcast previously on ESPN.

The Monday night move from network TV to basic cable, hinted at continually by commissioner Paul Tagliabue, was confirmed by two sources familiar with the deals who spoke to The Associated Press under condition of anonymity. The sources said the deals is for eight years.

NBC will get the Sunday night package for six years, according to the sources. The network will also get the Super Bowl in 2009 and 2012 as part of the deal, one of the sources said.

The moves leave ABC -- which originated Monday Night Football in 1970 -- as the only major network without NFL football.

ABC and ESPN are both subsidiaries of the Walt Disney Co. The deal with ESPN, which currently carries games every Sunday night and sometimes on Thursday, was first reported by The Wall Street Journal....

[LikeABoss]

Wow, I definitely did not see that coming

[YodAa]

I saw part of it coming.
On the Bucs board they had been posting threads bout how MNF and Sunday night could switch networks but I had no idea NBC would be back and ABC out! Only good thing is that hopefully I won't have to listen to the boring ESPN commentary crew for the Seattle game.

[D-ReK]

Originally Posted by YodAa

I saw part of it coming.
On the Bucs board they had been posting threads bout how MNF and Sunday night could switch networks but I had no idea NBC would be back and ABC out! Only good thing is that hopefully I won't have to listen to the boring ESPN commentary crew for the Seattle game.

You'll still have to hear their terrible commentary during our two Sunday Night Football games this year since this doesn't go into effect until the 2006 season...I wonder if they'll keep their horrible broadcasters or move Madden and Michaels over to ESPN though...I'm not really sure why this move makes since from Disney, though, since MNF has consistently been the king of Monday night ratings and that will take a big cut when they move to ESPN since not everyone has cable...

[TEXANS84]

Yeah, the NBC thing is pretty random. Guess they are making up for losing the NBA.

I would have preferred the Monday Night game to stay on ABC, and NBC to take the Sunday night game.

[TheOgre]

This isn't surprising news. They had mentioned this potential move recently. It is easier to switch Sunday day games to Sunday night then to Monday night (in case a matchup is bad). This will make it easier for the league to change games for the network that gets the Prime Time game (in this case NBC). They had hinted that the SNF could go to a new network (other than ABC).

ABC will do alright since it has Desperate Housewives on Sunday nights at 8pm.

[YodAa]

I will be very pissed if MNF was moved to ESPN so that ABC can put some retarded show like Desperate Housewives in that slot!

[D-ReK]

Originally Posted by YodAa

I will be very pissed if MNF was moved to ESPN so that ABC can put some retarded show like Desperate Housewives in that slot!

Well then you should be very angry, since that's what people are watching these days...They'll likely put some reality show in that slot and pretend they never had football on the network...

[Porky]

I'm shocked. ABC will regret this bigtime imo. MNF is an instituation in this country. Say what you will, but the minute it goes to ESPN, the luster is taken away from the game, and the ratings on ESPN will be a shell of the MNF game. OTOH, the Sunday night game will draw new fans. To me, it's like tearing down Ebbitt's field, or Yankee Stadium. MNF holds so many memories to me, it's almost hard to fathom. From Howard Cossell's little Minkey comment, to Earl's run to glory against Maimi. From Dandy Don, to Al Michaels. From Cossell and OJ to Dierdorf and Madden. From the greastest of games, to the lamest, you could always count on MNF being there, like a comforter from your childhood on a cold winters night, it wrapped you in warm memories and you wished it would be that way every Monday forever.

[JustBonee]

The regular Sunday afternoon games will still go between FOX and CBS each week?
Where will Al Michaels and John Madden end up I wonder?

[dirty steve]

they won't go anywhere with ABC being the parent company of ESPN.

[DRIFTAWAY]

Just Step 1 of a complete sports takeover from ESPN. I wouldn't mind, i've always said that all games should be played on Espn, and make it just one big dominant covers- everything channel. Than all the good commentators could come work for Espn. Of course they would need Espn 3-7 as well. lol. I've seen a ESPN takeover coming for some time now.

[swisher]

I don't think there will be much difference other than the fact that its on a different channel. Same music, same graphics, same broadcast team.

As for the ESPN crew (which I like..guess I'm the only one), NBC might need somebody to call their games seeing as though all they have left is, what?, Bob Costas?

Kinda sad to think the Texans will never play on a ABC broadcast of MNF.

Which brings up a question....which will be a bigger deal? Getting a Sunday night game or a Monday night game?

I like the flexible schedule.

[gwallaia]

As long as they keep this, I'll be ok with it.

http://espn.go.com/media/abcsports/2...fclassic60.wav

[HomeBred_Texan]

Just read that Monday Night Football will be a thing of the past on ABC. It's all moving to Sunday Night on NBC. I hope they power up there towers now for better reception on portable TV's..

[Davis37]

Monday Night Football is now going to be on ESPN, and Sunday Night Football will be moved to NBC.

[OzzO]

Originally Posted by swisher

....Kinda sad to think the Texans will never play on a ABC broadcast of MNF.

Which brings up a question....which will be a bigger deal? Getting a Sunday night game or a Monday night game?

I like the flexible schedule.

But wouldn't it be interesting if the Texans OPEN UP the first SNF after the transition?

Bigger deal - if they can manuver the better matchups now to SNF, I'm thinking that may work out to be the bigger game. As if you get moved to SNF - you know you've made it. Though, wouldn't it tell you where "your rated" to be scheduled for an SNF, then get moved to an earlier game?

Now MNF may be end up being the way to close out the week, to ease the coming down for another 5 days without NFL.

[Davis37]

All i gotta say is that the Texans need to play on MNF soon so the whole country can see how good we are getting!