The NFL's ``Monday Night Football,'' a hallmark of television sports programming since the days of Howard Cosell, is leaving ABC after 35 years for ESPN starting with the 2006 season.
The Monday night move to basic cable, which includes an earlier start time of 8:40 p.m. eastern, is expected to cost ESPN $1.1 billion over eight years, two sources familiar with the deals told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity
The NFL's new broadcast deal also brings football back to NBC for the first time in six years. NBC will take over the Sunday night games previously broadcast on ESPN, and plans to use a flexible scheduling model that ensures meaningful games will played in that slot late in the season.
Posted by Yates (Member # 5391) on :
Well, I can handle that. There were plenty of times that our local ABC affiliate would interrupt a game because of some silly show or breaking news.
Dont interrupt my sports unless there is a bomb heading our way!!!!!! Posted by Wu (Member # 1) on :
It will be interesting to see who will call the games on ESPN. Will Madden move to NBC or will the guys already on ESPN be out of a job?
Posted by Yates (Member # 5391) on :
That's a good question.
I would assume that the crew from ABC will go over to ESPN and the crew from Sunday nights will go over to NBC.
Tell the truth, I hope they dump Madden all together. I'm not sure what it is about him, talks to much or something but I can't stand him.
Whom ever is going to call the games, it'll diffenetly be better a better broadcast than on ABC. I just hate to see NBC getting the sunday night games.
Posted by 2spy (Member # 1528) on :
Disney owns both ESPN and ABC. I don't know what they will do. Al Michaels has been an ABC guy for as long as I can remember. As wu said, It will be interesting.
Posted by hott3028 (Member # 3839) on :
BIG MISTAKE.
ABC thinks that with DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES they are back on top. They probably will skew Monday nights to women or 18-25 year olds. They forget that MNF is the only show that has kept ABC afloat for decades.
The regular sports fan wont notice. I think that they will reconsider this before the season starts, The NFL doesn't give a fuck because they get paid either way. Disney will regret the decision because they wont be able to charge advertisers as much on cable.
Look for it to return to ABC in '07. Unless FOX (who is also trying to put together a National sports network, not the regional FSN's) to make a play for Monday Night Football when the contract is up.
Posted by Sasha (Member # 1842) on :
Not a big mistake at all.Sunday night football is kicking the shit outta Monday night football in the rateings...NBC wins in this one..
Football is marketing towards more prime time games on the weekends. The last seven weeks of the season you will see key match-upds on Fri and Sat nights starting in 2006.THAT ROCKS!
FOOTBALL RULES!!!!!
Posted by 2spy (Member # 1528) on :
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