What’s with the MNF Double Headers?

[AROS]

I think I remember one double header MNF the past few years. But two? I was surprised to see it wasn’t just the Hawks and Lions next Monday but also Titans and Dolphins. Is this a new thing?

 

[Hawker]

The prestige of the prime-time, nationally televised game has somewhat lessened now that we have up to 4 primetime games each week. But the fantasy football fan in me loves the double headers - gives us fans the chance to tune into some games that otherwise, might not have been available in our local market had they been a regular 1pm Sunday game.

 

[kidhawk]

This is just another way to up the revenue stream. They throw in extra games and ABC/ESPN pays more

Whenever you think “why is the NFL doing this?” Just follow the smell of money.

 

[HawkFreak]

Well if nothing else - there's another game to turn to if one is a blow out.

 

[flv2]

It started off being a double-header on the opening Monday Night and the NFL is experimenting to see what maximises interest/revenue.

 

[Hawkinaz]

I like it more football it’s especially good when one of the games is a lopsided mess (Jacksonville/Buffalo)

 

[86Hawk]

I just wish they weren't on at the exact same time. Have one start at 2 or 3 and the other 5 or 6. That way you can actually watch both. Really doesn't make sense considering abc and espn are the same company. They would get more viewers.

 

[hgwellz12]

Well if nothing else - there's another game to turn to if one is a blow out.

This was me on Monday. Turned Bills jags off midway thru 2nd. Skins Bengals was actually a really fun game.

 

[bigskydoc]

Most people have Picture in Picture these days. No reason you can’t watch both, and zoom in on the parts of the games that look to be more interesting.

Though that does take away from the ability to evaluate each team’s strengths and weaknesses.

 

[cymatica]

I just wish they weren't on at the exact same time. Have one start at 2 or 3 and the other 5 or 6. That way you can actually watch both. Really doesn't make sense considering abc and espn are the same company. They would get more viewers.

Looks like we start 45 minutes after the other game.

 

[hgwellz12]

Most people have Picture in Picture these days. No reason you can’t watch both, and zoom in on the parts of the games that look to be more interesting.

Though that does take away from the ability to evaluate each team’s strengths and weaknesses.

That's how I'm livin'! No PIP 'round here!

 

[Fernie Hawks Fan]

View attachment 67560
That's how I'm livin'! No PIP 'round here!

We had one like that when I was a youngun....and I was the channel changer

 

[hgwellz12]

We had one like that when I was a youngun....and I was the channel changer

Man for real. That one is really similar to the one we had and when it came up in my query, I got a major nostalgic dopamine hit and chills! Really fond memories of watching "The Wiz" and eating Chilli Cheese Fritos, Kraft caramels, and diced Granny Smith apples on the couch with my folks! Simpler times, man. Simpler times.

 

[Palmegranite]

View attachment 67560
That's how I'm livin'! No PIP 'round here!

Wow, is that the Telefunken 2000?

 

[RiverDog]

When they started out with the MNF double headers, they had a 2.5 hour or so gap between kickoffs. Now, it's just 45 minutes, I suppose because it put the start time for the 2nd game too late on the east coast. I can multitask and have one game on my tablet and the other on my big screen, but it can get a little busy and I can miss things. I'd much prefer that they space out the kickoff times a little more.

 

[pmedic920]

I think I remember one double header MNF the past few years. But two? I was surprised to see it wasn’t just the Hawks and Lions next Monday but also Titans and Dolphins. Is this a new thing?

Ha.

I got schooled on this in GameDay Chat.
Evidently it’s be a Thor quite a while.

 

[Aircrew]

View attachment 67560
That's how I'm livin'! No PIP 'round here!

Holy sh*t, the USS Entertainment System!! We had one like that with a Zenith built in and I swear that TV had a good picture well into the 1990's. Moving it was a B though, I think my parents sold it with the house.

 

[fire_marshall_bill]

I just wish they weren't on at the exact same time. Have one start at 2 or 3 and the other 5 or 6. That way you can actually watch both. Really doesn't make sense considering abc and espn are the same company. They would get more viewers.

I agree.

When I was more into the NFL, I'd try to watch at least parts of both.

I believe they used to start the season with a MNF double-header, and it was on the same channel, usually BSPN.

 

[DarkVictory23]

I'm pretty sure some of this has to do with putting the games on ABC/ESPN+.

With this current NFL programming lineup, Sunday Night Football moved to NBC from ESPN and Monday Night Football moved to ESPN from ABC.

SNF on NBC was supposed to be the 'broadcast' primetime game while ESPN got the cable primetime game on Mondays.

But as NFL ratings have gone up, ABC has wanted to get more NFL games back onto their broadcast network (where they can charge through the nose for commercials) instead of just on ESPN, including even wanting some 'exclusive' games. I imagine part of NFL's deal with not pissing off their other broadcast partners (especially NBC), ABC probably is limited to putting games mostly on Monday nights (even if it's against their 'own' MNF programming on ESPN).

Cable carriers who are paying big money to carry ESPN are equally not wanting to see their games going free over the air on ABC (or to folks with an ESPN+ subscription instead of a cable subscription), so making sure there are still ESPN cable exclusive games helps keep those guys happy. Thus... more doubleheaders.