Introduction

In an exciting development for sports fans, ABC has announced that it will simulcast an additional six 'Monday Night Football' games this season, starting with the highly anticipated AFC East matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets.

Broadcasting Details

This strategic move will bring the total number of games aired by ABC to 17 for the current season — a mix of 14 simulcasts in collaboration with ESPN, including two playoff games, and three exclusively broadcasted games on ABC.

Partnerships and New Games

This decision comes as a result of a partnership between the NFL and The Walt Disney Company, which owns both ABC and ESPN. The newly added games are set to include thrilling contests such as Baltimore at Tampa Bay on October 21, Tampa Bay at Kansas City on November 4, Houston at Dallas on November 18, Baltimore at Los Angeles Chargers on November 25, and a matchup between New Orleans and Green Bay on December 23.

Scheduling Insights

Interestingly, there will only be two Mondays left in the regular season without any games scheduled on ABC — November 11 and December 2.

Viewership Trends

Last season, due to the Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes resulting in a lack of new fall programming, ABC aired games throughout all 18 weeks, leading to an impressive average of 17.36 million viewers across networks, marking a 29% increase from 2022 and the highest viewership for this prime-time package since 2000!

Ratings Impact

The significance of this broadcasting expansion can also be seen in the ratings impact. For instance, Kansas City’s 26-13 win over New Orleans on ESPN averaged 15.91 million viewers, making it the fourth-most-watched Monday night game not aired on ABC. However, it should be noted that this number falls short of the prior season's Week 5 game, which managed to attract 17.38 million viewers.

Future Plans

Moreover, this move aligns with Disney's ongoing strategy to enhance sports programming on ABC. The network is not stopping at 'Monday Night Football'; in 2027, it will also feature Super Bowl LXI from Los Angeles and the College Football Playoff Championship game.

Conclusion

With increased visibility on network television, fans can expect more thrilling NFL matchups to captivate audiences, setting the stage for a record-breaking season in terms of viewership. Don't miss out on what promises to be one of the most exciting seasons yet!