The NFL is considering a controversial move that could shake up the Monday night Wild Card game schedule. According to NFL executive Hans Schroeder, the league is exploring the possibility of selling the coveted Monday night window during the Wild Card round, which has been a staple of ESPN's programming for years. This potential shift could mean that ESPN, which has been guaranteed one Wild Card game each year, might not always get the coveted Monday night slot.
Schroeder revealed that the NFL is open to discussions with Disney (which owns ESPN) and other interested parties about the Monday night window. He emphasized that the league sees this as an opportunity to maximize the reach of its games, as Monday nights typically attract a larger audience compared to Saturday or Sunday afternoons. The NFL's decision to expand the playoffs from 12 to 14 teams has resulted in two additional Wild Card games, one of which has been assigned to Monday night.
This move could potentially lead to one of the broadcast partners (ESPN/ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Prime Video) having to air a different day of the week, or even losing the opportunity to air two games in a single season. The NFL's strategy is to create flexibility and generate additional revenue by selling the sixth Wild Card game to a bidder willing to pay for it. With the growing popularity of streaming services and the NFL's desire to reach a wider audience, this change could be a significant development in the league's broadcasting strategy.
The NFL has a history of selling additional games to partners outside its core five, such as Netflix for Christmas games and YouTube in Brazil. This move could potentially attract one of these companies to bid for the Monday night Wild Card game, marking a new era in the NFL's broadcasting partnerships.
