ESPN Ends Overlapping ‘Monday Night Football‘ Games in New NFL Deal
Table of Contents
Bristol, CT – November 9, 2023 – In a important shift for NFL broadcasting, ESPN will discontinue its overlapping Monday Night Football doubleheaders following its acquisition of NFL Network. The move, announced by ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro too The Athletic‘s Richard Deitsch, aims to streamline game presentation and boost viewership.
Consolidating Coverage for a Clearer Broadcast
For the past three seasons, ESPN has experimented with simulcasting Monday Night Football games across ABC and ESPN, creating a fragmented viewing experience. This strategy, initiated with the 2021 media rights deal, proved ineffective, with ratings suffering as audiences were split between networks. Pitaro stated the change will result in “28 clean windows for NFL games across ESPN networks,” up from the current 22.
How the Changes Will Work
NFL Network will maintain its seven-game schedule, but four of those games will now originate from ESPN’s existing inventory. These include three ABC-exclusive windows that previously ran concurrently with ESPN broadcasts, and the annual ESPN+ exclusive game. The NFL will license three additional game windows to ESPN to complete the NFL Network schedule.
The elimination of overlapping broadcasts addresses a long-standing issue of self-cannibalization within ESPN’s own networks.Scheduling complexities, where ESPN and ABC swapped early and late game slots, will also be resolved. The underperforming ESPN+ exclusive game, which averaged under two million viewers last year, will also be phased out as ESPN focuses on its new direct-to-subscriber streaming service.
What Remains the Same
ESPN will continue to broadcast a Week 18 saturday doubleheader in conventional consecutive windows. The network will also retain a secondary broadcast team, currently Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, and Louis Riddick, to cover the seven NFL Network games.
Timeline and Future Outlook
These changes are expected to take effect next season. However, the implementation timeline is contingent on the completion of the regulatory approval process, which could potentially delay the rollout until the following year. This strategic realignment signals ESPN’s commitment to maximizing the value of its NFL rights and delivering a more focused and engaging viewing experience for fans.
Stay informed about the latest sports media developments! share this article with fellow football fans,drop your thoughts in the comments below,and subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates and in-depth analysis.
