NFL-ESPN Monday Night Football Deal Includes ESPN Mobile

From paidContent.org’s Staci D Kramer: No details yet but the historic shift of iconic Monday Night Football to ESPN in 2006 from the only home it’s ever known on ABC crosses ESPN’s platforms including ESPN Mobile, video game and data feed. NBC picks up the Sunday night primetime package but no mention of non-broadcast rights…
Update:Conflicting messages on the mobile rights. I’m hearing from one source that ESPN is getting a tiny piece of rights but George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and co-chairman of the Disney Media Networks told reporters in his conference call “we’ve achieved some wireless rights in this agreement which will fuel ESPN Mobile.” Of course, both could be true. No word yet on whether ESPN will be able to continue — or will want to — ABC’s Enhanced TV MNF offering; Enhanced TV syncs computer activities with the action on tv. CBS Sportsline produces NFL.com and it’s not clear that ESPN will have any online rights.
The bare bones of the deal: ESPN gets the Monday night package for eight years effective the 2006-07 season. NBC rejoins the NFL fold with a six-season Sunday night package that execs there promise will eclipse ESPN’s ratings during its current Sunday night package and on Mondays.
The ink is barely dry so the focus for now remains on the fact that deals have been reached after years of speculation. We’ll have more on the non-broadcast rights for you as soon as the back-patting winds down …

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