Honestly, trying to figure out what channel is the monday night football on used to be a lot simpler. You just turned on ABC, watched the highlights with Howard Cosell, and called it a night. But now? It’s a bit of a moving target.
Between the "ManningCast," those random ABC simulcasts, and games that only live on streaming apps, you basically need a map and a compass just to find kickoff. If you're staring at your remote right now wondering why the game isn't where you left it last week, don't worry. You've got options, but they change depending on the week and who’s playing.
The Short Answer: Start With ESPN
For the vast majority of the schedule, ESPN is the primary home for Monday Night Football. If you have a standard cable package or a live TV streaming service like Fubo or Hulu + Live TV, that's your first stop.
Most games start at 8:15 p.m. ET, but the NFL has started messing with the "doubleheader" format. On those nights, you might have one game starting at 7:00 p.m. ET and another at 9:00 p.m. ET. It's a lot of football, which is great, until you realize you're flipping between three different channels just to see a touchdown.
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Is the Game on ABC Tonight?
This is where people get tripped up. While ESPN owns the rights, they've been leaning heavily into ABC simulcasts.
Basically, for the big-ticket matchups—think Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, or late-season playoff races—the game is often broadcast on both ESPN and ABC simultaneously. This is a huge win for anyone with a digital antenna because it means you can watch for free without a monthly subscription.
Why the Channel Flips
- The Disney Connection: Since Disney owns both networks, they move games around to chase the highest ratings.
- Monday Night Doubleheaders: When two games happen at once, one usually goes to ABC and the other stays on ESPN.
- Late-Season Flex: The NFL can "flex" better games into the Monday night slot starting around Week 12. If a game gets moved to Monday, it’s almost always going to be on a "big" network to justify the move.
Watching Without a Cable Box
If you've cut the cord, you aren't out of luck. You’ve actually got more ways to watch now than you did five years ago, though it might cost you a few extra bucks in monthly subs.
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- ESPN+: This is the big one. Most (but not all) Monday night games are now streamed live here. If you already pay for the Disney Bundle, you're likely covered.
- NFL+: This is the league’s own app. It’s great if you’re okay watching on a phone or tablet. The catch? You can't usually "cast" the live primetime games to your big-screen TV unless you have a specific tier or setup.
- Hulu + Live TV & YouTube TV: These are basically cable via the internet. They carry ABC and ESPN, so you’ll never miss a snap.
- Sling TV: If you want the cheapest "official" way to get ESPN, the Sling Orange package is usually the move. Just keep in mind that Sling Orange doesn't always include your local ABC station, so you might need an antenna for those specific weeks.
The ManningCast Factor
You’ve probably heard people talking about Peyton and Eli Manning. Their broadcast, officially called Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, usually airs on ESPN2.
It’s not a traditional play-by-play. It’s more like sitting on a couch with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks who spend half the time analyzing defensive coverages and the other half making fun of each other's foreheads. They only do about 10–12 games a year, so it’s not an every-week thing. If you want a serious broadcast with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, stick to the main ESPN channel.
What to Check Before Kickoff
Don't wait until 8:14 p.m. to start searching. Check the official NFL schedule or the ESPN app about an hour before. Because of the "Flex Scheduling" rules that kicked in recently, the NFL can actually change which teams are playing on Monday night with only 12 days' notice.
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If you're using an antenna, do a quick scan of your channels earlier in the day. Sometimes weather or local interference can mess with your ABC signal, and you don’t want to be troubleshooting while the opening kickoff is in the air.
To make sure you're ready for the next game, verify if your streaming login is still active and check the "Upcoming" tab on your ESPN app. If the game is an ABC exclusive, make sure your antenna is positioned toward the nearest broadcast tower. For those using a mobile device, download the NFL+ app and sign in early to avoid the last-minute "forgot my password" panic that ruins the first quarter.