ABC to add 10 ‘Monday Night Football’ games to its lineup: How this may affect the future of MNF

Athletic broadcasts live NFL doubleheader of Saints against panthers and Browns against Steelers in Monday night football.

The reach of “Monday Night Football” this season will increase dramatically. ABC will add 10 “Monday Night Football” simulcasts to its lineup this season, the network announced Monday. Here’s what you need to know:

• Previously, these games were exclusive to ESPN only.
• The expectation is that this will only be a one-year situation and is undoubtedly the result of reduced scheduling due to the ongoing strikes from both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA.
• The only “Monday Night Football” games that will not be simulcast on ABC will be the New Orleans Saints at the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 18, the Los Angeles Rams at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 25 and the Tennessee Titans at the Miami Dolphins. on December 11, 2023.

“Monday Night Football” games that will now air on ABC

•Seahawks vs Giants (October 2, 2023 – 8:15 pm – ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

•Packers vs Raiders (October 9, 2023 — 8:15 pm — ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

•Cowboys at Chargers (October 16, 2023 — 8:15 pm — ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

•49ers vs Vikings (October 23, 2023 – 8:15 pm – ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

•Raiders at Lions (October 30, 2023 — 8:15 pm — ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

•Chargers at Jets (November 6, 2023 — 8:15 pm — ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

•Broncos at Bills (November 13, 2023 — 8:15 pm — ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

•Bears vs Vikings (November 27, 2023 — 8:15 pm — ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

•Bengals vs Jaguars (December 4, 2023 — 8:15 pm — ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

•Chiefs at Patriots (December 18, 2023 – 8:15 pm – ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

What does this mean

Sports remain a major driver of linear television in an era of cord-cutting and cord-cutting. The complete “Monday Night Football” schedule can be found here.

The NFL has scheduled two games on Monday: the New Orleans Saints against the Carolina Panthers on ESPN at 7:15 p.m. ET, and the Cleveland Browns against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC. The following Monday will feature the Philadelphia Eagles against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 7:15 pm ET on ABC and the Los Angeles Rams against the Cincinnati Bengals at 8:15 pm on ESPN.

In short, ESPN will have an early start time on Monday this week and ABC will have it the following week. The end result will be that the league and ESPN will obtain real-time data on viewer interest regarding the start times of the “Monday Night Football” doubleheader.

Required reading

(Photo: Bill Streicher / USA Today)