last MNF for ABC

[joatmon]

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=1443576Quote »ABC Bids Farewell to Monday Night Football Tonight After 35 YearsEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Dec 26, 2005 — If you were ready for some football, it was the place to be for 35 seasons on Monday nights. Tonight, the NFL bids farewell to ABC, with the New England Patriots playing the New York Jets.The second longest-running series on network TV shifts to ESPN beginning next season.The series began in 1970, with Keith Jackson handling the play-by-play.ESPN is paying about $1.1 billion over eight seasons for the Monday night contract.$1.1 billion !!!

[Kari]

Isn't ESPN a relative of ABC though? Doesn't make much sense that they're having to buy rights from a station that they work so closely with...odd.

[jwalcik]

according to tivo and my local time warner guide, kickoff is at 8pm central, which is 9pm in jersey. is kickoff really that late?

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by jwalcik »according to tivo and my local time warner guide, kickoff is at 8pm central, which is 9pm in jersey. is kickoff really that late?yes, every monday night football game starts at 9 PM eastern time

[jwalcik]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »yes, every monday night football game starrts at 9 PM eastern timethat's nuts. silly time zones.

[Mavrik]

Well ESPN lost the rights to make footballs games to EASports who are now the only ones allowed to make a football game. So I guess they might as well get their hands on the sport itself lol.

[AKLGT]

wow. damn cable! they sure like to screw you so now you gotta pay to watch football too!