Turn Out the Lights the Party’s Over for MNF on ABC

In a bar somewhere in Texas I can hear Dandy Don Meridith crooning. Now I know I am getting old with this staple of my youth has forever been changed. After 35 of Monday Night Football on ABC after his season will be on ESPN.

Moving “Monday Night Football” to ESPN, which currently broadcasts Sunday night games, keeps the brand under The Walt Disney Co. umbrella. Disney owns both ESPN and ABC.

The deal will also bring the usual Sunday night football presently seen on ESPN to NBC.

ESPN, which has been broadcasting Sunday night games since 1998, will pay $1.1 billion a year over eight years for Monday night games, two sources familiar with the deals told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

NBC will broadcast Sunday night football for $600 million a year over six years, according to the sources. That annual figure is the same price ESPN paid for Sunday night football over the course of its current eight-year deal. NBC will also get the Super Bowl in 2009 and 2012.

So I guess it will not matter anymore if MNF does any pre-game lead ins like they did last year with T.O. and Nicollette Sheridan of ‘Desperate Housewives,’ Its CABLE.

One can only imagine what this means in the future for potential Super Bowls. This would be a football, sports fans greatest dream come true. A Super Bowl on ESPN. An entire network whose sole purpose is sports. Is America ready for a 24 hour Pre-Game Super Bowl Show?

Seems like Wizbang is on the right track with some of the financial motivations that may have driven this deal.

And … Monday Night Football Switches to ESPN [via OTB]