• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

ESPN Adds Six More ‘Monday Night Football’ Games to ABC

  • The 2024 slate of dual-network NFL coverage now looks much more like last year’s.
  • ABC’s prime-time programming is dominated by reality and game shows, making the extra NFL games a welcome boost.
Denny Medley-Imagn Images

ESPN and the NFL have significantly expanded the presence of Monday Night Football on Disney-owned broadcast network ABC—beginning with Monday’s Bills-Jets matchup—a move all but certain to further boost viewership for the showcase.

The networks said Friday they are scheduling six additional MNF games for the ABC simulcasts of ESPN coverage. The new games set for the dual-network presence are:

  • Week 6 (Oct. 14): Bills at Jets
  • Week 7 (Oct. 21): Ravens at Buccaneers
  • Week 9 (Nov. 4): Buccaneers at Chiefs
  • Week 11 (Nov. 18): Texans at Cowboys
  • Week 12 (Nov. 25): Ravens at Chargers
  • Week 16 (Dec. 23): Saints at Packers

Before this move, ESPN planned to show 11 NFL regular-season and playoff games this year on ABC, a marked reduction from last year’s schedule that featured 19 games either simulcast or shown exclusively on the broadcast network. With the revised schedule, that number reaches 17 and the overall 2024 MNF broadcast slate will now look much more like last year’s. 

Last year’s heavy slate was partly owed to the writers’ and actors’ strikes that disrupted entertainment programming for the start of the 2023–2024 television season, and ESPN used the extra exposure to help fuel a 29% lift in MNF ratings. This season, ABC’s prime-time programming is led largely by reality and game shows, making the presence of the NFL—by far the most-watched content across all of U.S. television, regardless of genre—a rather welcome one there.

Even before the shift, though, MNF has been performing well on ESPN so far this season. The network had the benefit of showing the two-time defending champion Chiefs this past Monday, drawing an average audience of 15.91 million, marking its highest figure for a non-ABC simulcast game since 2019, while a season-opening game involving the Jets and 49ers drawing an average of 20.5 million was the second-best Week 1 figure in ESPN’s 19 years with MNF. The network, however, has not released a year-over-year viewership comparison as MNF doubleheaders held during Weeks 3 and 4 have skewed such analysis.

Overall, though, the NFL has posted a 1% overall viewership lift for the 2024 season so far.

ESPN’s total, 25-game NFL lineup for the 2024 season (including the playoffs) now includes 17 contests either simulcast or shown exclusively on ABC, seven tied specifically to ESPN, and one exclusive to ESPN+.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

U.K. Appoints New Soccer Regulator, EPL Matches Stay Behind Paywall

Men’s soccer in England will receive new levels of oversight.

Jokić Declined a Contract Extension, but the Nuggets Shouldn’t Panic

Jokić still has three years remaining on his current contract.

NFL’s Alternate Uniforms Fuel Big Business—and Lots of Nostalgia

The Commanders kick off a run of new NFL helmets and uniforms.

Browns $600M Stadium Deal Hit With Suit Over ‘Unclaimed’ Money

Ohio’s use of unclaimed funds for a new stadium is challenged legally.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.
July 7, 2025

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 2, 2025

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.