http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-nflmondaynight&prov=ap&type=lgns By DAVE GOLDBERG, AP Football Writer April 18, 2005 NEW YORK (AP) -- 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 Monday by two sources familiar with the deals who spoke to The Associated Press under condition of anonymity. The sources said the league is expected to get $1.1 billion over eight years from the network. NBC will get the Sunday night package for $600 million over 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. Last month, Tagliabue said during the NFL meetings in Hawaii that the Monday night move was a strong possibility. ABC, which has been losing money on the package despite high ratings, had been balking at the NFL's asking price. CBS and Fox already have agreed to pay a total of $8 billion over six years for the Sunday AFC and NFC rights. That has become more pressing since parity caused by the salary cap has resulted in teams moving up and down the standings annually, leaving bad teams that were strong the previous season in prime time and good teams that were bad the past season off of it. The NFL is still considering separate packages for Thursday and late-season Saturday nights.
Now they won't have to worry about showing women in towels during half-time since they'll be on cable. I'm sure that's what prompted the move.
What happens to Michaels and Madden? Do they still broadcast via ESPN or are they out of work? Does this mean the Theisman, mike patrick and other guy tandem is eliminated?
This is unbelievably huge. MNF is now a cable subscription program. An institute of Americana is no longer available to the hard-working common man who has no money to spend on cable. I'm astounded.
Monday Night Football will be a lot more profitable on ESPN for the simple fact that they probably won't be overpaying that senile goober John Madden...
Wow this is huge news. I would rather watch paint dry then hear Theisman, McGuire, and Patrick..... Blah..... Hopefully Michaels and Madden make the switch too.
I think this is awesome. Glad to see NFL back on NBC and most people would rather watch football on Sun then Mon for the common man that doesnt have cable.
Well, cable has already lapped network TV in the comedy and drama arenas, so it might as well take it's most storied sports program, also...Besides, I think nine hours of football on Sunday will be plenty for the average football fan.
Theisman and McGuire are the two worst color men for any sport on any level in the history of televised sporting events. This is not hyperbole.
No doubt! And that's why it is all that more sweet that MNF is going to ESPN because you know that ESPN is going to use Madden/Michaels for those games. Wave goodbye to Theismand and the Walrus!.....on the other hand I can see NBC picking up these clowns for their Sunday night games.
Cable isn't as prevalent amongst the masses as we, in our Internet bubble world, may think. MNF and ABC has been an insititution that I was raised on. This news has really rocked my world. I'm not looking forward to 55 commercials of "Tilt" during my MNF. Plus, ten little words... "we now kick it to our sideline reporter.... LINDA COHN!"
I didn't think I could get any more depressed/mortified. Than VS comes along and blows me outta the water.
