ESPN+ series Between the Lines will join ESPN’s comprehensive coverage of the 2021 Monday Night Football season. The fun starts with ESPN’s MegaCast of the week 1 matchup between the Ravens and Raiders on September 13th.
What’s Happening:
- ESPN and The Walt Disney Company have announced their kickoff to the 2021 Monday Night Football season will feature a multi-network presentation.
- With the addition of ESPN+ to a previously announced lineup, five networks will provide four distinct fan viewing options as part of ESPN’s MegaCast.
- The MegaCast will present the first NFL regular season game on September 13th at 8pm ET as the Baltimore Ravens face off against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Programming Highlights:
- Between the Lines on ESPN+ joins the traditional telecast (ESPN and ABC) along with the previously announced Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli (ESPN2) and the Spanish-language telecast (ESPN Deportes).
- Between the Lines will be hosted by the NFL Live and Daily Wager casts and will mark the first time a Monday Night Football presentation is available on ESPN+.
- Earth, Wind & Fire will star in the show’s open
- Drake, will work with ESPN throughout the entire NFL season to curate music for select Monday Night Football games
- Elements highlighting Las Vegas’ first game with fans will be featured.
Where to Watch:
- The Monday Night Football season debut will be streamed across devices on:
- ESPN
- ESPN Deportes
- ABC digital properties
- NFL digital properties
- The traditional English and Spanish-language telecasts and Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli will also be streamed on mobile via NFL and Verizon Media properties.
Other Monday Night Football Highlights:
Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli Debuts
- Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli is a new, casual, non-traditional remote telecast anchored by the Manning brothers set to air 10 times this season.
- Airing on ESPN2, the alternate telecast will combine in-the-moment analysis, big picture NFL dialogue and more. Plus, NFL stars, current athletes, and celebrities are expected to appear each week.
- For nearly all telecasts, Peyton will be in Denver and Eli from New Jersey; however, for the Ravens-Raiders matchup, both brothers will be in the ESPN Seaport Studios in New York City due to a previous scheduling commitment.
NFL Live and Daily Wager Cast Provide A Different Approach on ESPN+
- Between the Lines combines the cast of two daily ESPN shows, as Laura Rutledge, Mina Kimes, Dan Orlovsky and Marcus Spears from NFL Live and Doug Kezirian, Joe Fortenbaugh and Tyler Fulghum from Daily Wager join the telecast.
- The two groups will originate from their home studios, with NFL Live in Bristol and Daily Wager in Las Vegas.
Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown Return
- Fan favorite pregame shows, Sunday NFL Countdown (10 am – 1 pm) and Monday Night Countdown (6-8 pm), coming to audiences from the Seaport Studios in New York City and Allegiant Stadium.
- Sam Ponder hosts Sunday NFL Countdown and Suzy Kolber returns to Monday Night Countdown along with guests
- Randy Moss and Adam Schefter. Also joining the Sunday night programming are:
- Tedy Bruschi
- Matt Hasselbeck
- Rex Ryan
- Chris Mortensen
- Mondays will feature Steve Young and Booger McFarland.
- In addition to Monday Night Countdown, Monday Tailgate (7:30-8:30 pm ET) will be available on the ESPN App and ESPN’s Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter accounts.
Fantasy Football Now Adds to Sunday Morning Festivities
- Leading into week 1 and then continuing each Sunday, Fantasy Football Now (10 am – 1 pm) provides the landscape for fantasy football fans.
- Field Yates, Matthew Berry, and Stephania Bell all return to anchor the show joined by Adam Schefter, Damien Woody and ESPN’s team of NFL reporters.
- Mike Clay will also contribute to the show each week.
- In week 1, the award-winning pre-game show debuts September 12th on ESPNEWS at 10 am and will move to ESPN2 at approximately 10:50 am.