Wikipedia

NFL on ABC

National television broadcasts ofNational Football League(NFL) games first aired onABCfrom1948to1951.Between1970and2005,Monday Night Footballaired exclusively on ABC. In2006,ESPNtook over as the exclusive rights holder toMonday Night Football,and theABC Sportsdivision was merged intoESPN Inc.by parent companyDisney.Afterward, ABC did not broadcast any game from the NFL, whether exclusive or a simulcast from ESPN, until they simulcasted an NFLWild Cardplayoff game in2016.ABC would then return toMonday Night Footballin2020,when they aired three games as simulcasts from ESPN.

NFL on ABC
Also known asMonday Night Football
GenreAmerican football game telecasts
Directed byDerek Mobley
Presented byScott Van Pelt
StarringRyan Clark
Marcus Spears
Jason Kelce
Adam Schefter
Lisa Salters
Laura Rutledge
Russell Yurk
Narrated byJoe Buck
Troy Aikman
Chris Fowler
Louis Riddick
Dan Orlovsky
Opening theme"Heavy Action"byJohnny Pearson(1976–2005; 2015–present)
"In the Air Tonight"byPhil Collinsfeat.Chris Stapleton,Cindy Blackman SantanaandSnoop Dogg(2023-present)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerNorby Williamson
ProducerSteve Ackels
Production locationsVarious NFL stadiums(game telecasts)
ESPN Studios,South Street Seaport,New York City(studio segments)
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time3–4 hours
Production companiesABC Sports(1970–2005)
ESPN(2016–present)
Original release
NetworkABC(1970–2005, 2016–present)
Related
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Countdown

Since2021,ABC simulcasts or exclusively airs someMonday Night Footballgames, two Saturday games during Week 18, one Wild Card playoff game, and thePro Bowlin conjunction withESPN.Beginning in 2023, ABC and ESPN will simulcast one divisional playoff game, and both networks will air theSuper Bowlin 2027 and 2031.[1]All games since 2016, whether a simulcast or an exclusive broadcast, have used ESPN branding and graphics.

History

edit
See also:History of Monday Night FootballandHistory of the NFL on television

Prior toMonday Night Football

edit
See also:List of NFL Championship Game broadcasters

ABC began television professional football in1948,where the network used a "game of the week" format to broadcast the NFL. Later that year, the network broadcast theNFL Championship Gamebetween theChicago CardinalsatPhiladelphia EagleswithHarry Wismer[2][3][4]providing commentary. The1949 NFL Championship Gamebetween theEaglesandLos Angeles Ramsin Los Angeles was only made available to viewers on theWest Coastbecause at the time, there was no way to sendlive TVprograms from the West Coast to theEast Coastand vice versa. ABC thefollowing year,would broadcast theplayoff gamebetween theNew York GiantsandCleveland Browns.For the1950 NFL Championship Gamebetween the Browns andRams,the game was not televised toChicago,but it was so inLos Angeles.

Beginning in1951,theDuMont networkfor all intents and purposes, replaced ABC as the NFL's prime network telecaster. However, come1953,[5]ABC was able to sign contracts with theChicago Bears,Chicago Cardinals.They would soon add theWashington Redskinsbeginning in1954,and come1955,theLos Angeles RamsandSan Francisco 49ers.Red Grange[6]andBill Faytypically called home games for the Bears and Cardinals in Chicago. For Washington Redskins games, ABC usually used the broadcast crew ofBob Wolff[7]andDutch Bergman.In1955,the Redskins left ABC in favor ofsyndicatedregional coverage that was sponsored and produced byAmoco Gasoline.

As previously mentioned, also in 1955, ABC picked up games featuring the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers and broadcast them specifically to theiraffiliatesin thePacific Time Zone.These games were usually either called by the team ofBob Fouts[8]andFrankie Albertor byBob Kelleyand Bill Brundige.[9]ABC also broadcast that year'sThanksgiving Day gamebetween theGreen Bay PackersandDetroit Lionswith Harry Wismer andBudd Lynchon the call.

Monday Night Football(1970–2005)

edit
See also:List of Monday Night Football results (1970–2005),List of Monday Night Football results (2006–2019),ESPN on ABC § Pre-Disney/ESPN,andDennis Miller § Monday Night Football

During negotiations on a new television contract that would begin in1970,NFL CommissionerPete Rozellecontacted ABC about signing a weekly Monday night deal. Despite reluctance, ABC would sign a contract for the scheduled games. The firstMonday Night Footballgame on ABC aired on September 21, 1970, between theNew York JetsandCleveland BrownswithHoward Cosell,Keith JacksonandDon Meredithin the broadcast booth. HoweverFrank Giffordwould replace Jackson in1971.[10]

In an era with only three televisionbroadcast networks,the series became the longest-running prime-time sports program in television history, and developed into one of television's most valuable franchises.[11][12]The Cosell-Meredith-Gifford dynamic helped makeMonday Night Footballa success; it frequently was the number one rated program in theNielsen ratings.The inimitable style of the group (mostly with Cosell, both loved and hated by the public) distinguishedMonday Night Footballas a distinct spectacle, and ushered in an era of more colorful broadcasters and24/7TV sports coverage.[13]

Meredith left for three seasons (1974–1976) to work withCurt GowdyatNFL on NBC,then returned toMNFpartners Gifford and Cosell. In 1974,Fred Williamsonwas selected by the ABC as a commentator onMonday Night Footballto replace Don Meredith. He was relieved of his duties at the beginning of the regular season, becoming the firstMNFpersonality not to endure for an entire season. He was replaced by the fellow former player (and fellowGary, Indiana,native)Alex Karras.Karras served three years in that role until leaving after the1976season, with his most memorable comment coming in his first game, when he joked that baldOakland Raiders' linemanOtis Sistrunk,who never attended college, was from "the University of Mars", after seeing steam coming off his head.[14]

Prior to1978,Monday night games were not scheduled in the final week (Week 14) of the regular season. From1974to1977,a Saturday night game was scheduled for Week 14, and televised live by ABC, in lieu of a game on Monday night.

During a game between theMiami DolphinsandNew England Patriotson December 8, 1980, Cosell broke the news that formerBeatleJohn Lennonhad beenshot and killed,news that stunned a nationwide audience.[15]

1982–1989

edit

As part of the renewal of the NFL's television contract in1982,ABC was put in the Super Bowl rotation for the first time, giving it the broadcast rights toSuper Bowl XIXin1985.A second renewal of the television contract gave them the rights toSuper Bowl XXIIin1988.[16]Don Meredith retired from sportscasting after the1984 season,a year after Howard Cosell's retirement. His final broadcast was Super Bowl XIX with Frank Gifford andJoe Theismann.

From1983to1986,ABC also aired a Friday night game in the final week (Week 16) of the regular season, in addition to the normal Monday night game.[10]

During the first half of the September 5, 1983Monday Night Footballgame between theDallas CowboysandWashington Redskins,Cosell's commentary on wide receiverAlvin Garrettincluded "That little monkey gets loose doesn't he?" Cosell's references to Garrett as a "little monkey," ignited a racial controversy that laid the groundwork for Cosell's departure fromMNFat the end of the 1983 season. The Rev.Joseph Lowery,then-president of theSouthern Christian Leadership Conference,denounced Cosell's comment as racist and demanded a public apology. Despite supportive statements byJesse Jackson,Muhammad Ali,and Alvin Garrett himself, the fallout contributed to Cosell's decision to leaveMonday Night Footballfollowing the 1983 season.

"I liked Howard Cosell," Garrett said. "I didn't feel that it was a demeaning statement."[17]Cosell explained that Garrett's small stature, and not his race, was the basis for his comment, citing the fact that he had used the term to describe his own grandchildren. Among other evidence to support Cosell's claim is video footage of a1972preseason game between theNew York Giantsand theKansas City Chiefsthat features Cosell referring to athleteMike Adamle,a 5-foot, 8-inch, 195-pound Caucasian, as a "little monkey."

On November 18, 1985, Joe Theismann suffered a comminutedcompound fractureof the tibia and fibula in his right leg during asackbylinebackersLawrence TaylorandHarry Carsonduring aMonday Night Footballgame between theWashington Redskinsand theNew York Giants.TheMonday Night Footballannouncer team ofFrank Gifford,O. J. SimpsonandJoe Namathhad correctlyinferredfrom the start that Taylor was calling for help.[18]While initially only the players on the field could see the extent of the damage to Theismann's leg, the reverse-angle instant replay provided a clearer view of what had actually happened: Theismann's lower leg bones were broken midway between his knee and his ankle, such that his leg from his foot to his mid-shin was lying flat against the ground while the upper part of his shin up to his knee was at a 45-degree angle to the lower part of his leg. ABC's decision to screen the reverse-angle instant replay several times despite its palpably graphic content shocked millions of viewers, although as the replays were shown, Gifford repeatedly urged viewers at home to exercise discretion. The repeated screening of this replay remains to this day one of the most controversial in-game television production decisions in NFL history.

In1986,Al Michaelstook over play-by-play duties, and Gifford switched to a color commentator role.[19]However, Gifford did play-by-play for the next several years (Gifford was joined byLynn SwannandO. J. Simpsonon color commentary in 1986 and byDan Dierdorffor the rest of his run onMonday Night Football) whenever Michaels was coveringpost-season baseball gamesfor the network.[20]

As previously mentioned, in April 1987, Dan Dierdorf was hired by ABC to join Al Michaels and Frank Gifford onMonday Night Footballbroadcasts.[21]He spent 12 seasons onMonday Night Footballbefore resigning the post in early 1999.[22]

On October 26,1987,Gary Benderalong withLynn Swanncalled theMonday Night Footballgame between theDenver Broncosand theMinnesota Vikings.That game had been scheduled for October 25, but when theMinnesota Twins(who at the time, shared theHubert H. Humphrey Metrodomewith the Vikings) played Game 7 of theWorld Seriesthat day, the football game was moved to Monday and shown to a regional audience. The game was therefore, only made available to theMinneapolisandDenvermarkets while the rest of the nation would see the game between theLos Angeles Ramsand theCleveland Browns.

As part of the league's television contract renewal with the network in1989,ABC was awarded the television rights toSuper Bowl XXV(at the end of the1990 season) andSuper Bowl XXIX(at the end of the1994 season), as well as one Wild Card game from each conference, during the first Saturday of the NFL playoffs.[10]

1990–2005

edit
The official logo for ABC Sports' coverage ofMonday Night Footballfrom2000–2005.

From1990until2005,the package included seventeen (eighteen in1992and1993) regular season games, the first two wild card playoff games (held on the first Saturday of the playoffs), and at times, theAFC–NFCPro Bowl.[10]Beginning in2003,ABC dropped the Week 17 game in favor of the openingThursday night game,which was part of sister channel ESPN the year before.

Frank Gifford was replaced in the broadcast booth byBoomer Esiasonin1998.[23][12][24]That season, he was reassigned to a nominal role for ABC's Monday night pregame show, but the program was cancelled after one season. Gifford was not offered a new role by the network.[25]

Prior to1998,MNFaired at 9:00 p.m.ET.Beginning in 1998 however, the game was moved to an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff.[10]FormerCincinnati BengalsquarterbackBoomer Esiasonreplaced Gifford in 1998, and Dan Dierdorf was dropped after that season. Esiason was dismissed after the1999 seasondue primarily to personal conflicts between him and Al Michaels.

After his time at NBC, producerDon Ohlmeyerwas lured out of retirement in 2000 to spark interest and provide some vigor to theMNFbroadcast. Besides the on-air talent, Ohlmeyer's changes included clips of players introducing themselves, new graphics, use of a sidelineSteadicam,and music. In another temporary change, thescore bugused nicknames of teams, such as "Skins" and "Fins", instead of the teams' actual names or cities (the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins, in this instance). He also made the controversial decision to hire comedianDennis Millerto join Al Michaels andDan Fouts[26]in the broadcast booth, an experiment widely regarded in hindsight as a failure.[27][28][29][30]

Ohlmeyer leftMonday Night Footballafter one season. Ratings for the program had dropped 7% compared to the previous year.[31]

Despite having hired Miller and Fouts for another year, ABC began negotiations with veteran football commentatorJohn Madden.Madden had worked atFox Sportsfor eight years since the network had won the contract for theNFC Conferencegames away from CBS in 1994. Since getting the NFL contract, Fox had lost $4.4 billion (losing $387 million due to the contract in 2001 alone), and was looking to cut programming costs.[32]Madden's contract for the next year would cost Fox $8 million so, when ABC was approaching Madden, Fox agreed to let him out of his remaining year on their contract. Despite having been hired for another year, Miller and Fouts were replaced by Madden, who was signed on February 28, 2002, for $5 million a year for four years. (Fouts remained with ABC, being moved to cover college football; Miller was let go.)[32]

The final exclusiveMonday Night Footballbroadcast on ABC aired on December 26, 2005, when theNew York Jets,who coincidentally played in the firstMNFgame, hosted theNew England Patriots.ABC's final NFL telecast as part of theirMonday Night Footballcontract would beSuper Bowl XLin on February 5, 2006, between theSeattle SeahawksandPittsburgh Steelers.Following the 2005 season,Monday Night Footballwould move exclusively to ESPN.[10]

Postseason coverage (1984-2005)

edit
Super Bowl
edit
See also:Super Bowl XIX § Television,Super Bowl XXII § Broadcasting,Super Bowl XXV § Broadcasting,Super Bowl XXIX § Broadcasting,Super Bowl XXXIV § Television,Super Bowl XXXVII § Broadcasting,andSuper Bowl XL § ABC Sports

As a result of the 1982 television contract signed by the NFL with the three networks,Super Bowl XIXto be televised by ABC, as they earned their first turn at the Super Bowl, with a new alternation process started for the 1983 game. Previously, the Super Bowl telecast alternated betweenCBSandNBC,while the networkssimulcastthe first AFL-NFL World Championship Game.Monday Night Football,happened to be celebrating its 15th season in 1984. Two more ABC-aired Super Bowls would occur during major anniversary seasons forMNF–Super Bowl XXIX(also won by theSan Francisco 49ers) closed out the 25th anniversary season (1994), andSuper Bowl XXXIV(won by theSt. Louis Rams,division rivals of the 49ers) closed out the 30th anniversary season (1999).

Super Bowl XXIIwas the first with the broadcast team ofAl Michaels,Frank Gifford,andDan Dierdorfin the booth (as the1987 seasonwas the first year the trio was together, with Dierdorf moving to ABC from CBS; Gifford was the only holdover from ABC'sSuper Bowl XIXtelecast). The trio went on to man the booth for ABC'sMonday Night Footballfrom 1987 to 1997 and called Super BowlsXXVandXXIX.

ABC did not broadcast the halftime show for Super Bowl XXV live. Instead, they televised a specialABC Newsreport anchored byPeter Jenningson the progress of theGulf War.The halftime show was later shown ontape delayafter the game at around 10:40EST,although most ABC affiliates ran the first episode ofDavis Rulesfollowing the Super Bowl, and may have televised the remaining parts of the halftime show later.

Brent Musburgerhosted all the Super Bowl XXIX pregame (2 hours), halftime, and postgame events with the help of then-ABC SportsanalystDick Vermeil,Musburger's regular color commentator on ABC'scollege footballtelecasts,and then-New York JetsquarterbackBoomer Esiason.This would be the final Super Bowl hosted by Musburger, as all subsequent Super Bowls on ABC were hosted byESPN'sChris Bermanfollowing theDisneypurchase of ABC (which included ESPN), and the subsequent integration of ESPN and ABC Sports (now ESPN on ABC). This was also the last Super Bowl broadcast by theMonday Night Footballbroadcast team of Michaels, Gifford and Dierdorf.

As previously mentioned, this was the broadcast team forMonday Night Footballfrom1987to1997.They also worked ABC's coverage of Super BowlsXXIIandXXV.This would also be the last Super Bowl aired on ABC until the1999 season(when Al Michaels called the game withBoomer Esiason).Super Bowl XXXIVwas the first Super Bowl to be aired inhigh definitionand 5.1Dolby Digital.ABC Sportschose to use the720pformat.[33]

Super Bowl XXXVIIwas the first of three major professional sports championship seriesABCbroadcast in 2003, as they would also broadcast theStanley Cup Finalsand theNBA Finals.Al Michaels handled theplay-by-playduties withcolor commentatorJohn Madden,who became the first person to announce Super Bowls on different networks in consecutive years, having calledSuper Bowl XXXVIonFoxand then moving to ABC afterPat Summerallretired.

Although the Super Bowl had largely been presented inhigh definitionsince Super Bowl XXXIV,Super Bowl XLwas the first Super Bowl where all aspects of the game itself were aired in HD.[34]

Wild Card Weekend
edit

When the NFL expanded its Wild Card round to include a third team in each conference for the 1990 season, this added two additional playoff games to the slate. As such, ABC was given the rights to the Wild Card matchups aired on Saturday during that weekend. TheMonday Night Footballbroadcast team would cover the game that the network regarded as the marquee matchup of the two. The other game was initially broadcast by ABC's #2 college football broadcast team ofBrent MusburgerandDick Vermeil.Beginning with the 1996 season, the other game was broadcast by ESPN'sSunday Night Footballteam. Initially consisting ofMike Patrick,andJoe Theismann,the two were joined byPaul Maguirefollowing NBC's loss of broadcast rights in 1998. The lone exception came in 2002, when Musburger returned to call the AFC wild card game in New York with analystGary Danielson.

The NFL leaves ABC

edit
See also:History of Monday Night Football § End of the ABC era

With the expiration of the television contracts among ABC,CBS,ESPN,and Fox following the2005 season,Super Bowl XL ended up being ABC's final NFL broadcast as a regular NFL broadcaster. Following the game,Monday Night Footballmoved to corporate siblingESPNunder the new CBS, Fox,NBC,ESPN, andNFL Networkdeal, which also saw ESPN and ABC being removed from the Super Bowl rotation.

Monday Night Footballbecame the second major sports package ABC had lost in a span of three years, as not only did they give up national primetime broadcast television rights to NBC, they also gave up the national broadcast television rights to theNational Hockey League,[35]coincidentally, toNBCa year prior.

In 2006, during that first year ABC did not airMonday Night Football,ABC and ESPN's parent companyDisneydecided to integrate theABC Sportsdivision into ESPN. Since then, ABC's sports programming has been produced by ESPN under theESPN on ABCbranding.[36][37]

The NFL returns to ABC

edit

Simulcasts of ESPN games (2016–2020)

edit
See also:List of Pro Bowl broadcastersandList of NFL draft broadcasters

After a cable-only Wild Card playoff game experiment became the least-watched NFL playoff game in 6 years, ESPN announced on May 12, 2015, that beginning with the2015-16 playoffs,ABC would simulcast ESPN's Wild Card game telecast. This would be ABC's first NFL game since Super Bowl XL.[38]This arrangement has continued every year since.

Beginning with the2017 season,ABC added a second regular NFL telecast when it began simulcasting ESPN's coverage of thePro Bowl.[39]Other than the2021 Pro Bowl,which was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,ABC has continued this arrangement every year since.

Since2018,ABC has simulcasted ESPN's coverage of the final day of theNFL Draft.Beginning in2019and every year since, ABC has aired aCollege GameDaybranded version of the Draft on the first two days, separate from ESPN's coverage, replacingFoxwhich aired this coverage in 2018.[40]

In 2019, during theNFL Scouting Combine,ABC presented a two-hour special that featured drills by quarterbacks and wide receivers. It was the first time the combine was televised on broadcast television.[41]

To celebrate the 50th anniversary ofMonday Night Football,and the NFL's arrival inLas Vegas,with theRaiders' relocation,ESPN announced that their Week 2 game on September 21, 2020, would be simulcast on ABC, the network's firstMNFregular season game since 2005. The game was also simulcast onESPN2,as part of ESPN'sMegacastseries. Later on, ABC simulcast two more late-seasonMNFgames with ESPN, both involving theBuffalo Bills.[42][43]ABC was also part of ESPN's first ever NFL Playoff Megacast on January 10, 2021. The Megacast saw ABC simulcast ESPN's coverage per usual, with ESPN2,ESPN+,andDisney-ownedFreeform,carrying alternate presentations of the game. The Megacast will continue on during the 2022 playoffs as well.

New contract (2021–present)

edit
See also:National Football League on televisionandSports broadcasting contracts in the United States § National Football League

Before the2021 season,ESPN renewed itsMonday Night Footballcontract. As part of the contract, ABC would begin to simulcast a Saturday doubleheader on the final weekend of the season with ESPN beginning in 2021. Then beginning in2022,ABC would start to exclusively air an additionalMonday Night Footballgame, which would then expand to at least three in2023.ESPN also gained the rights to a divisional playoff game starting in 2023, and two future Super Bowls, which would all also be simulcast on ABC.[1][44]ABC would also continue to simulcast ESPN's Wild Card game and thePro Bowl.ESPN also gained rights for their games to be simulcast onESPN+,andMegacaston other ESPN and Disney-owned channels.

For the first year of the new contract, in 2021, ESPN announced that their Week 1 Monday Night Football game, coincidentally in Las Vegas, would be simulcast on ABC. The game was also part of the Megacast series. ABC would also simulcast the Week 14 and Week 15 games, along with the previously mentioned Saturday doubleheader.

In February 2022, ABC then aired the yearlyNFL Honorsawards ceremony. The ceremony is usually aired by the same television network airing the Super Bowl, however NBC, the 2022 Super Bowl broadcaster, was instead airing the2022 Winter Olympics.[45]

On March 5, 2022, ABC aired a special edition ofNFL Live,covering theNFL Combine.[46]

For the second year of the contract in 2022, ABC initially announced on April 8, 2022, that its regular Monday night program,Dancing with the Stars,was moving from ABC toDisney+for one season (it was later announced that it would be returning to ABC starting the following season).[47][48]ABC said the show was moved to allow the network to broadcastMonday Night Footballon a more regular basis.[49]ABC was then scheduled for seven regular season games, up from five in 2021. Five of these games aired on Monday nights, up from three in 2021, while the other two were part of the final Saturday doubleheader.[50]While six of these seven games were ESPN simulcasts, as part of the second year of the contract ABC exclusively aired theMinnesota Vikings–Philadelphia Eaglesgame on September 19, 2022. This was the first exclusive NFL game (not simulcast on ESPN) aired on ABC sinceSuper Bowl XL.[51]As this game was part of a split-network doubleheader, with ESPN airing theTennessee Titans–Buffalo Billsgame instead, viewers in the Nashville (Tennessee Titans primary) and Buffalo markets were able to view their teams over-the-air on non-ABC stations.

In 2023, the number of ABC's scheduled regular season games increased from seven to nine. While the ABC/ESPN split-network doubleheaders increased from one to three, the total number of ABC's exclusive games increased to four for this season only because the network aired the loneMonday Night Footballgame on December 25 due to ESPN's coverage ofNBA Christmas games.The number of ESPN/ABC simulcasts remained at five, including threeMonday Night Footballgames and the final Saturday doubleheader. WithNew Year's Dayalso falling on a Monday, theMonday Night Footballgame that weekend was instead moved to Saturday, December 30. In addition to the Monday night Wild Card game, this was the first postseason that ABC/ESPN aired a divisional playoff game.[52]On September 18, 2023, ABC announced that due to the2023 Hollywood labor disputes,it would simulcast Monday Night Football every week for the 2023 season. ABC aired 21 games in the2023 NFL season(15 regular season simulcasts, 4 exclusive games, and 2 postseason simulcasts), its most since 2005.[53]

In the 2024 season, ABC will return to its original scheduling made in 2023, however due to NBC's scheduling of the2024 Summer Olympics,it will air thePro Football Hall of Fame Gamefor this season only, its first preseason game of any kind since 2005. On October 11, 2024, ABC announced it was adding 6 additional Monday Night Football simulcasts for the2024 NFL season.During the 2024 season, ABC is scheduled to air 18 games (1 preseason game, 12 regular season simulcasts, 3 exclusive regular season games, and 2 postseason simulcasts).[54]

Results

edit
Main article:List of NFL on ABC results

Commentators

edit
See also:List of Monday Night Football commentatorsandList of Super Bowl broadcasters

Current

edit

Play-by-play

edit
  1. Joe Buck– lead play-by-play (2022–present)
  2. Chris Fowler– #2 play-by-play (2021, 2023–present)

Color commentators

edit
  1. Troy Aikman– lead color commentator (2022–present)
  2. Louis Riddick– co-#2 color commentator (2022–present); co-lead color commentator (2020–2021)
  3. Dan Orlovsky– co-#2 color commentator (2022–present)

Sideline reporters

edit
  1. Lisa Salters- lead sideline reporter (2015–present)
  2. Laura Rutledge- fill-in sideline reporter (2020); #2 sideline reporter (2021–present)

Rules analyst

edit
  1. Russell Yurk– rules analyst (2024–present)

Studio hosts

edit
  1. Scott Van Pelt– studio host (2023–present)
  2. Mike Greenberg– studio host (2024–present)

Studio analysts

edit
  1. Randy Moss– studio analyst (2016–present)
  2. Booger McFarland– studio analyst (2020–present)
  3. Rex Ryan– studio analyst (2020–present)
  4. Tedy Bruschi– studio analyst (2020–present)
  5. Ryan Clark– studio analyst (2023–present)
  6. Marcus Spears– studio analyst (2023–present)
  7. Jason Kelce– studio analyst (2024–present)

Insiders

edit
  1. Adam Schefter– lead insider (2015–present)

Contributors

edit
  1. Chris Berman– contributor (2017–present)

Former

edit
Main article:List of Monday Night Football commentators

Other professional football telecasts

edit

AFL on ABC

edit
See also:American Football League on ABCandList of AFL Championship Game broadcasters

From1960until1964,ABC broadcast games from theAmerican Football League[55](AFL). As part of the deal ABC broadcast approximately 37 regular season games, theAFL Championship Gameand theAFL All-Star Game.These games were typically broadcast regionally on 15 consecutive Sundays and on Thanksgiving Day. This became the first ever cooperative television plan for professional football, in which the proceeds of the contract were divided equally among member clubs; the National Football League would follow suit in1961.

USFL on ABC

edit
See also:United States Football League on television

From1983until1985,ABC broadcast games from theUnited States Football League(USFL)[56]As part of the contract ABC televised a Sunday afternoon game-of-the-week, one prime time evening game, plus coverage of the USFL divisional playoffs and championship game.[57]The contract required the USFL to schedule a minimum of three games on Sunday, with ABC guaranteed to broadcast one game nationally (the aforementioned, Sunday afternoon game-of-the-week) or two or more regionally. The contract included no clauses regarding "blackouts"or" cross-feeding ". In all, the total package with ABC called for 21 telecasts of USFL action.

WLAF on ABC

edit
See also:List of World Bowl broadcasters

In1991and1992,ABC broadcast select games from theWorld League of American Football(WLAF). These games mostly aired on Sunday afternoons. ABC also aired the1991 World Bowl.

Commentators

edit

Arena Football League on ABC

edit
Main article:Arena Football League on ABC

From1998to2002,ABC broadcast the AFLArenaBowlunder theirWide World of Sportsumbrella.[58]

In2007and2008,ABC broadcast one regular season game and theArenaBowlfrom theArena Football Leagueas part ofESPN on ABC.[59]

Commentators

edit

XFL on ABC

edit

In 2020, ABC broadcast games from theXFL.ABC was scheduled to air a weekly Saturday game and four Sunday games. However, because of theCOVID-19 pandemic,only five of the Saturday games and one of the Sunday games ended up being televised.[60]

On May 17, 2022, Disney announced that the XFL would return to ABC when the league returned to play in 2023.[61]In 2023, ABC aired 8 games, including the2023 XFL Championship Gameinprimetime.[62][63]

Commentators

edit
2020
2023

UFL on ABC

edit

Following the merger of the XFL andUSFLinto theUFL,the UFL announced that ABC and ESPN had acquired partial television rights to the league along withFox Sports.[64]

For the2024 UFL season,ABC aired 9 regular season games and one division championship.[65]

Commentators

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ab"NFL announces TV deals with ESPN/ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, Amazon".ESPN.com.March 18, 2021.RetrievedDecember 14,2021.
  2. ^Brulia, Tim."POST-SEASON FOOTBALL TV ANNOUNCERS"(PDF).Pro Football Researcheres.
  3. ^Brooks, Marsh, Tim, Earle F. (June 24, 2009).The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present.Random House Publishing. p. 487.ISBN9780307483201.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^Montez de Oca, Jeffrey (July 31, 2013).Discipline and Indulgence: College Football, Media, and the American Way of...Rutgers University Press. p. 65.ISBN9780813561288.
  5. ^Coenen, Craig R. (2005).From Sandlots to the Super Bowl: The National Football League, 1920-1967.Univ. of Tennessee Press. p. 163.ISBN9781572334472.
  6. ^Brulia, Tim."A CHRONOLOGY OF PRO FOOTBALL ON TELEVISION: Part 1"(PDF).Pro Football Researchers.
  7. ^Wolff, Bob (March 9, 2011).Bob Wolff's Complete Guide to Sportscasting: How to Make It in Sportscasting...Simon and Schuster.ISBN9781626367418.
  8. ^"Daily Review Newspaper Archives".October 2, 1954.
  9. ^Enberg, Dick (January 4, 2012).Dick Enberg: Oh My!.Skyhorse Publishing. p. 59.ISBN9781613210055.
  10. ^abcdef"Monday Night Football - History of ABC's Monday Night Football".Archived fromthe originalon September 6, 2016.
  11. ^Chase, Chris (August 10, 2015)."Frank Gifford defined 'Monday Night Football' for a generation".USA Today.Archivedfrom the original on August 10, 2015.
  12. ^abKent, Milton (January 20, 1998)."Gifford's ouster from ABC booth is no surprise".The Baltimore Sun.Archivedfrom the original on August 11, 2015.
  13. ^"'The perfect fit': Glory days of 'Monday Night Football' with Cosell, Meredith and Gifford ".August 12, 2021.
  14. ^"Oakland Raiders - Otis Sistrunk".Oakland Raiders.Archived fromthe originalon November 17, 2008.
  15. ^"Denver Adult Rock Station - KQMT-FM | 99.5 FM the Mountain".995themountain.com.
  16. ^"Super Bowl XIX".Beyond the Gameplan.RetrievedDecember 14,2021.
  17. ^"EX-REDSKIN ALVIN GARRETT RECALLS REMARKABLE COSELL".Washington Post.April 25, 1995.ISSN0190-8286.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
  18. ^Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:"Lawrence Taylor breaks Joe Theismann's leg on MNF".YouTube.
  19. ^Goodwin, Michael (September 10, 1986)."TV SPORTS; MORE ANALYSIS WOULDN'T HURT".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on May 24, 2015.
  20. ^Goolsby, Denise (August 10, 2015)."Frank Gifford, legendary NFL player, broadcaster dies".The Desert Sun.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
  21. ^"Dierdorf Has Dream Come True".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.April 14, 1987. p. 5B – viaNewspapers.com.
  22. ^Caesar, Dan (February 5, 1999)."Dierdorf leaves" Monday Night Football "team: Lack of progress on contract prompts St. Louisan to step down".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.pp. D1, D7 – viaNewspapers.com.
  23. ^Boren, Cindy (August 9, 2015)."Frank Gifford, Hall of Fame player and 'Monday Night Football' broadcaster, dies at 84".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on August 10, 2015.
  24. ^"Esiason In; Gifford Moves".The New York Times.January 17, 1998.Archivedfrom the original on May 27, 2015.
  25. ^Sandomir, Richard (September 12, 1999)."Two Voices in the Booth Might Comfort Esiason".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on May 27, 2015.
  26. ^"Monday Night Football - Fouts, Dan".ESPN.Archived fromthe originalon November 18, 2018.
  27. ^Chase, Chris (September 15, 2015)."Ranking every 'Monday Night Football' announcer ever".USA Today.Gannett Company.RetrievedDecember 27,2015.
  28. ^Jaime-Paul Falcon (October 21, 2013)."Dennis Miller Is a Jerk, and Other Lessons Learned in Allen Last Saturday".Dallas Observer.Voice Media Group.RetrievedDecember 27,2015.
  29. ^Yoder, Ryan (January 25, 2012)."Top 10 Sports Media Busts".Awful Announcing.RetrievedDecember 27,2015.
  30. ^"TV Guide Network's" 25 Biggest TV Blunders "".The Futon Critic.March 2, 2010.RetrievedDecember 27,2015.
  31. ^Gabriel Spitzer,"Ohlmeyer exits Monday Night Football,"ArchivedOctober 25, 2006, at theWayback MachineMedia Life.
  32. ^abIsidore, Chris (February 28, 2002)."Madden leaves Fox for ABC".
  33. ^Sandler (2001) p. 19
  34. ^"Super Bowl Gets Supersized Production".broadcastingcable.com.January 28, 2006.
  35. ^Miller, Shales, James Andrew, Tom.Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN(PDF).p. 543.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  36. ^"'ESPN on ABC' to debut during college football season ".ESPN.com.ESPN Inc.Associated Press.August 10, 2006.
  37. ^Nagle, Dave (January 2, 2007)."ESPN, Inc.: 2006 in Review".ESPNPressroom.com.ESPN Inc.ESPN announces "ESPN on ABC" will become the brand for all sports carried on the ABC Television Network beginning Saturday, Sept. 2.
  38. ^"NFL Wild Card Playoff Game Will Return to ESPN – and Be Simulcast for the First Time on ABC".ESPN Press Room.May 12, 2015.RetrievedDecember 14,2021.
  39. ^"2018 Pro Bowl on ESPN and ABC Up 25 Percent".ESPN Press Room.January 29, 2018.RetrievedDecember 14,2021.
  40. ^"NFL expanding television coverage for 2018 NFL Draft".nfl.com.March 21, 2018.RetrievedDecember 14,2021.
  41. ^"ABC to air NFL combine for first time".ESPN.com.February 12, 2019.RetrievedApril 29,2019.
  42. ^"First regular-season game in Las Vegas will be simulcast on ABC".USA Today.May 7, 2020.RetrievedDecember 14,2021.
  43. ^"ABC will air 2 'Monday Night Football' games in December".USA Today.November 30, 2020.RetrievedDecember 14,2021.
  44. ^Bucholtz, Andrew (March 18, 2021)."NFL completes network/Amazon rights deals through 2033, bringing in $10 billion per year along the way".Awful Announcing.RetrievedSeptember 16,2024.
  45. ^"11th annual 'NFL Honors' to be broadcast Thursday, Feb. 10 on ABC from YouTube Theater in L.A."NFL.com.November 15, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 7,2022.
  46. ^"ESPN's NFL Scouting Combine Coverage includes NFL Live Onsite Plus Segments on Get Up, First Take, This Just In and Multiple Editions of SportsCenter".ESPN.com.March 2, 2022.RetrievedMarch 2,2022.
  47. ^Rice, Lynette (May 2, 2023)."'Dancing With The Stars' Shocker: Popular Show Is Moving Back To ABC From Disney+ ".Deadline.RetrievedMay 2,2023.
  48. ^Alexander, Bryan."'Dancing With the Stars' returns to ABC after 1 season streaming exclusively on Disney+ ".USA TODAY.RetrievedSeptember 16,2024.
  49. ^Rice, Lynette (April 8, 2022)."'Dancing With The Stars' Moving To Disney+ In Stunning Move After 16 Years On ABC ".Deadline.RetrievedSeptember 16,2024.
  50. ^"A Record-Setting 23-Game Slate, Monday Night Football with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters, and the First ESPN+ Exclusive Game Among the Highlights of the 2022 NFL Schedule for ESPN and The Walt Disney Company".ESPN Press Room(Press release). May 12, 2022.
  51. ^"What You Need to Know About the 'Monday Night Football' Doubleheader".Sports Illustrated.May 9, 2022.RetrievedMay 12,2022.
  52. ^"ESPN's 25-Game 2023-24 NFL Schedule: More Monday Night Football Games, Multiple Playoff Games, Flex Scheduling, and More of the League's Signature Matchups, Marquee Teams, Storylines than Ever Before".ESPN Press Room(Press release). May 11, 2023.RetrievedAugust 13,2023.
  53. ^"ABC adds 'MNF' simulcasts amid ongoing Hollywood writers strike".Sports Business Journal.September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 18,2023.
  54. ^Porter, Rick (October 11, 2024)."ABC Bulks Up 'Monday Night Football' Slate".Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedOctober 11,2024.
  55. ^Crepeau, Richard."ABC Sports: The Rise and Fall of Network Sports Television (Sport in World History)".New York Journal of Books.
  56. ^1984 USFL 2nd Season PromoonYouTube
  57. ^USFL: 1985 Championship GameonYouTube
  58. ^Nov 20, 1999 - The AFL has had regular season games televised on ABC ESPN in recent years For the last two years ABC has shown the ArenaBowl live on Wide World of Sports a breakthrough for the ever growing AFL. SCOTTSDALE Ariz The Phoenix Coyotes traded Mikhail Shtalenkov the NHL's player of the month in...
  59. ^"AFL, ESPN enter into five-year agreement".oursportscentral.com.March 20, 2007.Archivedfrom the original on August 9, 2017.RetrievedAugust 9,2017.
  60. ^"XFL Reaches Deal With Fox, Disney To Broadcast Games".SI.com.May 6, 2019.RetrievedDecember 19,2021.
  61. ^"The Walt Disney Company, ESPN & XFL Reach Exclusive Multi-year Agreement".espnpressroom.com.May 17, 2022.RetrievedMay 17,2022.
  62. ^"ABC 33/40 to air seven XFL games including championship during 2023 season".abc3340.com.January 5, 2023.RetrievedMay 11,2023.
  63. ^"XFL and ESPN Update Game Times and Networks for Multiple Games".espnpressroom.com.March 7, 2023.RetrievedMay 11,2023.
  64. ^"NBC won't carry USFL, XFL games".Sports Business Journal.December 5, 2023.
  65. ^"UFL announces inaugural season schedule with March 30 kickoff".ESPN.February 5, 2024.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NFL_on_ABC&oldid=1258509519"