The bidding is done for the next NFL TV contract, and true to longstanding rumors, "Monday Night Football" will move from ABC to ESPN, while NBC will take over the Sunday night package. Not sure what this means for the Al Michaels/John Madden team, but it looks like Madden can now start selling video games full time- which he's pretty much been doing for the past five years anyway.
I don't like this, for three reasons: One, MNF on ABC is an institution that's endured for decades, and I don't like saying goodbye to that. Two, after both broadcasting and co-owning the XFL, NBC should be banished from holding the rights to pro football for at least 25 years. And three, I don't like the idea of ESPN getting the keys to such a major franchise. Because after their Stephen A.-driven desecration of the NBA and continuing downward slide of the majority of their programming, I don't trust them.
Posted by Stephen Silver at April 18, 2005 09:39 PMI heard something terrible on the radio earlier today, "This is 1050, Stephen A. Smith in the house".
Posted by: Bill McCabe at April 18, 2005 10:14 PMDoes this mean that ESPN Sunday Night Baseball will be all season now?
Posted by: Jeff S at April 19, 2005 08:27 AMWell, if you didn't know, ABC Sports was already ESPN South... George Bodenheimer is in charge of both, and really ABC Sports ceased to be an independent entity when Disney came into the game.
As for ESPN ruining Monday Night... as long as they don't move Stephen A. into the NFL booth, it might just be OK.
Posted by: Dan at April 19, 2005 03:39 PMAs for ESPN ruining Monday Night... as long as they don't move Stephen A. into the NFL booth, it might just be OK.
No, that job has already been given to Joe Morgan. What, he has no idea what he is talking about when it comes to football you say. I say just listen to him on a baseball broadcast and remind me again why the matters to the World-Wide Leader.
Posted by: J. Lichty at April 20, 2005 02:46 PM