If you wondered why was monday night football not on abc, the usual reason is that ABC does not carry every Monday night game. ESPN is the primary home of the package, and ABC airs selected games rather than automatically simulcasting each one.
The exact channel depends on the game, the season’s broadcast schedule, and sometimes your local provider. Here’s how the ESPN–ABC arrangement works, how to find the right channel, and what to try if the listing and your TV disagree.
Why was monday night football not on abc?
Because the game may have been assigned to ESPN instead of ABC. Monday Night Football is an ESPN-produced NFL package. ESPN shows many of its games, while ABC carries selected broadcasts. A game appears on both channels only when it is scheduled for a simulcast.
ABC and ESPN are both part of Disney, but that does not mean they air identical programs every night. The networks decide how to distribute each game under their broadcast arrangement with the NFL. One Monday’s matchup might be on ESPN alone, another might appear on both networks, and an occasional game may be scheduled on ABC.
So, if ABC had regular programming while a game was underway on ESPN, that usually reflects the planned channel assignment—not a problem with the game or a last-minute removal from ABC. Without the date and matchup, there is no single event-specific explanation; checking the listing for that particular game will tell you which arrangement applied.
How ESPN and ABC split the broadcasts
Monday Night Football began on ABC in 1970. ESPN became the package’s primary broadcaster in 2006, and ABC later returned as a partner for selected games. The current arrangement gives the NFL and its broadcast partners flexibility to place games on ESPN, ABC, or both, depending on the schedule and programming plan.
A simulcast means the same live game is shown at the same time on more than one network. If ESPN and ABC are both listed, viewers can choose either channel. If only ESPN is listed, ABC may have a different program even though both networks belong to the same parent company.
Do not assume that ABC’s status as a broadcast network guarantees access to every game. Its local station can show a game only when the network schedules that broadcast. ESPN, by contrast, is a cable and satellite channel, so it is commonly the only traditional TV channel carrying a given Monday night matchup.
Why a game might appear on both channels
Simulcasts give viewers without a pay-TV subscription another way to watch selected games, since ABC is commonly available over the air with an antenna. They can also help the networks reach a broader audience. The NFL and its partners set the distribution for each broadcast; the choice is not necessarily the same from week to week.
Why ABC may have other programming
ABC has its own entertainment, news, and special-event schedule. A Monday game that is exclusive to ESPN leaves ABC free to air whatever it has planned for that time slot. That does not indicate that the game was postponed, canceled, or blacked out.
Which channel should you check first?
Start with ESPN when looking for a Monday night game. Then check ABC to see whether that matchup is also scheduled there. Listings can differ by date, provider, and market, so the channel for a previous week is not a reliable guide to the next one.
| Where you watch | What to check | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN on cable or satellite | Search your provider’s guide for the game and confirm the ESPN channel number. | Viewers whose package includes ESPN. |
| Local ABC station | Look up the local station listing for that date; ABC carries only games assigned to it. | Viewers using an antenna or a TV package with local channels. |
| ESPN app or a live-TV service | Check whether your subscription includes the live ESPN or ABC feed for that game. | Viewers who watch on a phone, tablet, computer, or connected TV. |
| NFL streaming options | Check the current service’s game availability and device limits before kickoff. | Viewers without access to the relevant TV channel. |
Streaming rights depend on the specific game and service. A subscription to one sports app does not automatically include every Monday night broadcast. Confirm that the service offers the live game in your location and that your account is eligible to watch it.
How to find the correct broadcast for a specific game
- Confirm the date and matchup. Make sure the listing is for the game you want, especially during weeks with multiple games or schedule changes.
- Check an official NFL or network schedule. Look at the listed broadcaster for that game. The schedule should identify whether it is on ESPN, ABC, or both.
- Search your provider’s guide. Enter the team names or game title, then check the channel and start time. Provider guides can be easier to use than scrolling through every channel.
- Check your local ABC listing. ABC is a local broadcast station, and the station’s schedule shows what it plans to air in your area.
- Verify your streaming access. If you plan to watch online, open the service before kickoff and confirm the live event appears under your subscription.
This process avoids a common mix-up: a general listing may say “Monday Night Football” without making clear whether it means the ESPN broadcast, an ABC simulcast, or a stream. Check the channel attached to the exact game, not just the program name.
What if the game is listed but ABC is not showing it?
If the schedule lists the game on ESPN only, ABC is behaving as planned. If the schedule says ABC should carry it but your station is showing something else, first check whether you are watching the correct local affiliate. ABC’s national feed is delivered through local stations, and a provider guide can occasionally display incomplete or outdated information.
Next, check the network’s schedule and your provider’s listing again. Then try the ABC station’s own channel number rather than a saved favorite or an old guide entry. If the game is also listed on ESPN and your subscription includes ESPN, that may be the quickest alternative.
There are several distinct issues that can look like an ABC broadcast problem:
- The game is ESPN-exclusive: ABC was never scheduled to carry that matchup.
- The wrong station is selected: Your local ABC affiliate may be on a different channel than the national channel number shown online.
- The guide is stale: A TV or streaming guide may not have updated its schedule.
- Your package does not include the channel: A service may offer local ABC but not ESPN, or the reverse.
- A temporary reception or service issue: An antenna signal, internet connection, or provider outage can interrupt a channel that is supposed to carry the game.
Local station scheduling can also affect what appears in a guide, but that is different from a national decision to put the game on ESPN instead of ABC. Check the specific game’s official listing before assuming your station has preempted it.
Can you watch if you do not have ESPN?
Sometimes. If ABC is carrying that game, you may be able to watch through your local ABC station, including with an antenna where reception is available. If the matchup is ESPN-only, you will need a TV or streaming option that carries ESPN, or another service with the rights to that particular live game.
Do not rely on a service simply because it carries some NFL games. Streaming packages vary: one may include ESPN, another may provide local channels, and a separate service may have only certain games or limited device access. Check the listing for the exact matchup and your location before paying for a subscription.
Also distinguish live access from replays. A service might offer game highlights or a replay without carrying the live broadcast. If watching in real time matters, look specifically for the live event and check any local-market or device restrictions shown by the provider.
Does ABC show every Monday Night Football game?
No. ABC carries selected Monday night games, but ESPN remains the primary channel for the package. Some games are shown on both networks, while others are shown on ESPN without an ABC broadcast. ABC’s schedule can also include a game that is not simulcast on ESPN, depending on the season’s arrangement.
That is why checking the weekly schedule matters more than relying on a general rule such as “MNF is on ABC” or “MNF is only on ESPN.” Both statements can be wrong for a particular game. The matchup’s listing is the practical answer.
What viewers often get wrong about the schedule
The biggest misconception is that ABC and ESPN must show the same game because they share a parent company. They are separate channels with separate schedules, and the broadcast rights determine where a game appears. A game can be available on one, both, or—through authorized streaming—another platform.
Another frequent mistake is confusing a schedule change with a channel change. NFL games can be moved or adjusted in the schedule, but a game that is not appearing on ABC may simply have been assigned to ESPN from the start. Confirm the date and broadcaster before troubleshooting your television.
One practical tip: check the broadcast listing the day of the game, then save the correct channel or stream in advance. This is especially useful if you use a provider guide, because a saved channel number or old search result may not reflect the current listing.
Why the channel arrangement can change during a season
The NFL’s schedule is planned with its broadcast partners, and the partners distribute games across their channels and platforms. The exact lineup can vary by season, week, and special programming arrangement. A schedule announcement for one year should not be treated as a permanent promise about later seasons.
Other networks also carry NFL games on different days, which can make the overall broadcast map feel confusing. Sunday games, Thursday games, and playoff games may have different broadcasters and streaming options. Monday night coverage follows its own schedule, so the channel for another NFL game does not tell you where a Monday matchup will air.
If a specific Monday game is missing from ABC, the safest explanation is not that ABC has stopped carrying football. It is that ABC is not the scheduled outlet for that particular broadcast, unless the official listing shows otherwise. The schedule and your local provider guide together will clarify whether the issue is rights, channel access, or reception.
The short answer to why was monday night football not on abc is that ABC does not broadcast every game in the ESPN-led Monday Night Football package. Some matchups air on ESPN alone, while selected games are simulcast or scheduled on ABC.
Before the next kickoff, check the broadcaster for the exact matchup, then confirm the channel or live stream in your provider’s guide. That quick check can tell you whether you need ESPN, a local ABC station, or another authorized viewing option.