Sun Suntinel
A television institution is moving. Monday Night Football will end a 36-year run on ABC when it switches to ESPN in 2006.
MNF, which made its debut in 1970, is the second-longest running prime-time network series. CBS's 60 Minutes began in 1968.
ESPN kickoffs will be at 8:40 p.m., 30 minutes earlier than ABC's MNF telecasts.
The Associated Press reported that ESPN will pay $1.1 billion per year over eight years to take over the Monday night package.
Meanwhile, NBC is taking over ESPN's Sunday night games.
NBC, which returns to the NFL for the first time in eight years, will get flexible scheduling over the final seven weeks, allowing it to air the most meaningful late-season matchups. NBC will also get the Thursday night season openers, and the Super Bowls in 2009 and 2012.
ABC, which was outbid by NBC, is the only major network without the NFL.
The NFL previously renewed Sunday afternoon deals with CBS and Fox for a total of $8 billion over six years. The NFL is still considering an eight-game late-season package of Thursday and Saturday night games.
あのカントリーおじさんのMNFのはじまりはなくなっちゃうんでしょうか??