Is Monday Night Football Really Over?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the transition of Monday Night Football (MNF) from ABC to ESPN, exploring participants' reactions to this change and their broader views on sports programming and its impact on television content.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express nostalgia for the original MNF and its cultural significance, recalling its early days and the impact it had on programming.
  • Others argue that the shift to ESPN is beneficial for those who do not wish to watch football, suggesting it may free up programming on ABC for other content.
  • Several participants voice dissatisfaction with the prevalence of sports on television, suggesting that resources could be better allocated to educational programming or other non-sport content.
  • There is a discussion about the future of sports commentary, with questions about whether popular commentators will transition to new networks alongside the games.
  • Some participants express indifference or even enthusiasm about the move to ESPN, viewing it as an opportunity to avoid sports programming altogether.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential for ESPN to focus on less traditional sports, such as poker and billiards, rather than a broader range of athletic competitions.
  • A few participants reflect on their personal viewing habits, indicating a preference for educational content over sports, while others share their enjoyment of specific sports like hockey.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally do not reach a consensus; there are multiple competing views regarding the implications of MNF moving to ESPN, with some expressing relief and others disappointment. The discussion remains unresolved on the broader impact of sports programming on television content.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention a lack of awareness regarding current programming on ABC, indicating a potential gap in knowledge about what will replace MNF. There are also references to the historical context of MNF's influence on other television shows, suggesting a complex relationship between sports and entertainment programming.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to fans of sports broadcasting, television programming, and those concerned with the cultural implications of sports on media. It may also appeal to individuals who prefer educational content over traditional sports programming.

Ivan Seeking
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Wow, I just saw this on... I can still remember the first game thirty six years ago; it was a big deal at the time with lots of promotion. What I didn't remember was that just as in the last game, last night, the NY Jets also lost the first MNF game by the same score: 31-21

Personally, I'm glad it's gone. I hate it when sports displace valuable programming. :biggrin:

In fact, I'm thinking that MNF killed Maxwell Smart. Maybe they'll bring that back now...
 
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Is it really true? You're not just teasing me and getting my hopes up, are you? I don't know who came up with the idea in the first place. As if there aren't enough football games on all weekend long, they have to have one on a school night and work night so everyone can be even less productive on Tuesday than on Monday after staying up too late watching some game that disrupts all the regular programming people actually want to watch.
 
No kidding, it's going to ESPN.
 
So if I don't subscribe to espn I won't be forced to even accidently SEE a football game?!YIPPEEEEE!...next step...removing competitive sports from all college campuses and replacing them with, oh, I don't know, science and math competitions. Can you picture what might happen if all the money that is put into collegiate sports got put into math, science, literature, or music? I'm also guessing that the economic draft would be greatly reduced. Just a thought, and another thread.
 
Moonbear said:
Is it really true? You're not just teasing me and getting my hopes up, are you? I don't know who came up with the idea in the first place. As if there aren't enough football games on all weekend long, they have to have one on a school night and work night so everyone can be even less productive on Tuesday than on Monday after staying up too late watching some game that disrupts all the regular programming people actually want to watch.

Hate to dash your hopes, but there will still be a "Monday Night Football", it will just be on ESPN now. So this will really only affect those that don't have cable or a dish, or those who actually watch ABC's regular Monday night programming. (What is ABC's regular Monday Night programming now? Is there anything even worth watching anyway?)
 
Echo 6 Sierra said:
So if I don't subscribe to espn I won't be forced to even accidently SEE a football game?!YIPPEEEEE!

Only if you can avoid watching TV for most of Sunday and a part of Saturday. (And of course, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve and New Years day, you know the "football" Holidays.)
 
Janus said:
Hate to dash your hopes, but there will still be a "Monday Night Football", it will just be on ESPN now. So this will really only affect those that don't have cable or a dish, or those who actually watch ABC's regular Monday night programming. (What is ABC's regular Monday Night programming now? Is there anything even worth watching anyway?)

However, since ESPN is all sports anyways...who cares! :biggrin:

But you're right. There's so much crap that I almost never watch anything on the regular networks, less the news.
 
So that's why they had all of those clips of "Dandy" Don Meredith on last night. I was in a bar and could see the picture, but couldn't hear it. The only thing I really liked about MNF was the theme music.
 
I rarely watch TV, perhaps only when passing through the living room when it just happens to be on. In the past, I would listen to Public Broadcasting or one of the educational channels, e.g. Discovery or BBC, and be doing something else.

I get my news from NPR and the newspapers on-line. :biggrin:

And I spend my valuable time at E-S and PF. :-p :biggrin:

And if I am not online, I am reading one of textbooks, journals, or perhaps science-fiction novel (just started Ursala LaGuin's "Disposessed") or a non-fiction book (just started reading Scott Ritter's "Iraq Confidential").

I am afraid I find TV sports very boring. Besides I prefer to play rather than spectate.
 
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  • #10
Astronuc said:
I rarely watch TV, perhaps only when passing through the living room when it just happens to be on. In the past, I would listen to Public Broadcasting or one of the educational channels, e.g. Discovery or BBC, and be doing something else.
I get my news from NPR and the newspapers on-line. :biggrin:
And I spend my valuable time at E-S and PF. :-p :biggrin:
And if I am not online, I am reading one of textbooks, journals, or perhaps science-fiction novel (just started Ursala LaGuin's "Disposessed") or a non-fiction book (just started reading Scott Ritter's "Iraq Confidential").
I am afraid I find TV sports very boring. Besides I prefer to play rather than spectate.

No way, watching the NHL is one of the funnest things to do.

The World Juniors are on now though, which I also like.

Other than hockey, I pretty much watch no TV.
 
  • #11
JasonRox said:
No way, watching the NHL is one of the funnest things to do.
The World Juniors are on now though, which I also like.
Other than hockey, I pretty much watch no TV.
Very true. There are fewer things finer than HNiC and a non-left-wing-lock game on. Heaven.
 
  • #12
In addition to MNF moving to ESPN, I believe I heard that Sunday Night Football, which is currently on ESPN, will be moved to NBC next year.
 
  • #13
Wait... so what's going to happen to the famous Madden & Michaels? Are they moving with it? I really like Al Michaels and, dare I say, somedays John Madden too! :(
 
  • #14
I believe MNF will now be Michaels and Theismann, and Madden will be doing Sunday Night Football on NBC.
 
  • #15
Do we have any former Cosell fans?

..A lawyer by training, Cosell was arguably the best-known and most controversial sports broadcaster in the history of the medium, attacking the hottest subjects and helping attract a huge audience to ABC's "Monday Night Football." He was a lightning rod for criticism...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/1995/95pass12.htm

Also, a trivia question: MNF did displace and end one fairly well known TV series. I'm thinking it was either Maxwell Smart or Star Trek. Does anyone know?
 
  • #16
Janus said:
Hate to dash your hopes, but there will still be a "Monday Night Football", it will just be on ESPN now. So this will really only affect those that don't have cable or a dish, or those who actually watch ABC's regular Monday night programming. (What is ABC's regular Monday Night programming now? Is there anything even worth watching anyway?)
That's no problem. I already instinctively skip past ESPN when flipping channels, that's what it's for, to keep that sports stuff away from the rest of us. Who would know what their regular Monday programming is? It's always interrupted by football. Of course, if they just replace it with another reality show, they might as well bring back the football.
 
  • #17
Ivan said:
However, since ESPN is all sports anyways...who cares!
But it means less possibility that they may show Poker and Billiards on ESPN!
I need to find a provider that shows brit sports channels so I can watch snooker when ever I want.
 
  • #18
TheStatutoryApe said:
But it means less possibility that they may show Poker and Billiards on ESPN!
I need to find a provider that shows brit sports channels so I can watch snooker when ever I want.
When they first came up with the concept of ESPN, I actually thought that's what they'd fill up the time between games in the US with...well, not snooker, but other sports, like cricket, rugby, soccer, and whatever other odd sports they play in other countries :-p, but no, they put on poker and billiards! When did those become spectator sports anyway? :confused:
 
  • #19
I watched some texas hold em competition that lasted like 5 or 6 hours the other day on ESPN, it was actually quite entertaining.
 
  • #20
I didn't know they had football on Mondays? Well I guess I learned something.
 
  • #21
HEY! Poker and Billiards ROCK SOX!
Ofcourse I'd rather play than watch usually but I love to see how pros play in hopes that it will somehow improve my game by osmosis. :smile:
 
  • #22
Good riddance! Now if only they would move all sports programs to dedicated sports networks ...!
 

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