ABC will now air a total of 17 NFL games this season – with 14 of those games being simulcasts with ESPN.
The expansion, which includes six additional Monday Night Football games, was decided in unison by the NFL and Disney, the parent company of both TV networks. The networks announced the changes on Friday afternoon through ESPN 's initial report. ESPN Insider reporter Adam Schefter then shared the information.
The games include several matchups, including the two-time defending Super Bowl champions . The Baltimore Ravens in a road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct.21, Tampa Bay traveling to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 4, the Houston Texans at Dallas against the Cowboys on Nov. 18, Baltimore against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 25, and the New Orleans Saints facing the Green Bay Packers right before Christmas on Dec. 23.
The additional broadcasts reflect the increasing demand for NFL coverage and the strong partnership between the NFL and Disney, bringing more prime-time football action to viewers across both ABC and ESPN platforms. The increase also bings ABC closer to last season's tally of having NFL games on the network for each week of the regular season.
The sentiment among fans was largely positive, with many appreciating the added exposure to key matchups. Some football lovers voiced a negative opinion about the move, sharing their belief that ABC has run out of competitive primetime TV shows and is using the NFL as a crutch to boost ratings.
ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky joined the conversation , adding his thoughts by saying, "More double headers, please," referencing the excitement of Week 3, where two primetime games overlapped on TV. That week featured the Jacksonville Jaguars suffering a 47-10 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills , followed by Jayden Daniels' standout performance that led the Washington Commanders to a thrilling 38-33 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in a nail-biter.
The 2024 NFL season kicked off with historic viewership numbers, adding some of the most positive combined ratings in recent memory. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Week 1 saw an average of 21 million fans tune in across all networks, showcasing the league's continued dominance in primetime television.
The opening Monday Night Football matchup was also strong, drawing 20.5 million viewers across the ESPN family of channels, including ABC. In addition to the direct action on gameday, ESPN's NFL content includes the Manningcast and pre and postgame programming.
ESPN has added additional analysts this season to spice up their coverage. Former NFL MVP Cam Newton joined the company to report on First Take alongside Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe, while retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce continues to entertain NFL fans on Monday Night Countdown.
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