ABC Bids Farewell to Monday Night Football After 35 Years...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - If you were ready for some football, it was the
place to be for 35 seasons on Monday nights. Tonight, the NFL bids
farewell to ABC, with the New England Patriots playing the New York Jets.

The second longest-running series on network TV shifts to ESPN beginning
next season.

The series began in 1970, with Keith Jackson handling the play-by- play.

ESPN is paying about $1.1 billion over eight seasons for the Monday night
contract.

Obveeus...

I'm finding it a bit hard to believe that ABC can just pull 3 hours of
programming out of their catalog of pilots and put all that material into
the Top15 in the ratings every week.

shawn...

This will be a problem, but at least ABC is doing okay in the ratings.
It would be a much worse situation if this was happening with NBC
which is really hurting when it comes to any decent shows. Even the
long term faves like "ER" are starting to lose viewers.

I'm also finding it hard to believe that ESPN can generate the ad sales that
ABC could generate to pay for the rights/fees.

shawn...

ESPN will just increase the fee that they charge the satellite and
cable companies, which will then pass the increase along to the
consumers.

Obveeus...

...and the a-la-cart chant will grow louder. If nothing else, it is true
that the people with no interest in sports or news are getting ripped off by
bundled programming.

How is this move going to make ABC/ESPN money?

shawn...

That I'm not sure about.

Goro...

in further news, no one cares... :)

I love watching NFL football, but over the past several years, MNF has
become a non-starter for me. What they really should have done is get
3 games on monday night and show them on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. Tons of
fantasy points would mean that lots of people would be tuning in and
with three gaems, at least they'd be morel likely to have a decent
matchup.

M.B....

Well, the problem of MNF for me is precisely what you alluded to. 9
times out of 10 I could care less about the teams playing.

Goro...

especillay in the latter half of the season when you get stuff like
Detroit v Arizona or some other pretty borign matchup.

David B...

No. It's stil airing on Wednesday after Lost.