ABC will air ten more Monday Night Football games due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes stripping the fall schedule.
Although the WGA confirmed today that they would be restarting talks with the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers), networks are still scrambling to fill their fall schedule. For ABC, this means a lot more Monday Night Football.
Per The Associated Press, ABC will air an additional ten Monday Night Football games that were originally set to appear only on ESPN. Most networks will be struggling this fall with fewer scripted originals due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but live sports still bring in viewers, so networks will be leaning on those pretty hard. This means that ABC will have a game all 18 weeks of the regular football season, as well as simulcasts of two playoff games.
Variety added that audiences who tune in to Monday Night Football on ESPN will see a new music video featuring Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg, and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana performing Phil Collins’ In The Air Tonight. The long-time Heavy Action theme will still remain a part of the show.
The WGA officially went on strike on May 2nd, with SAG-AFTRA following suit on July 14th. There have been several failed attempts at reaching a new agreement with the studios, but little progress has been made. The news that talks will resume is promising, so hopefully this is the first stage towards WGA and SAG-AFTRA members receiving a fair deal.
“The WGA and AMPTP now have a confirmed schedule to bargain this week, starting on Wednesday,” reads the WGA statement. “You might not hear from us in the coming days while we are negotiating, but know that our focus is getting a fair deal for writers as soon as possible. We’ll reach out again when there is something of significance to report. In the meantime, please continue to demonstrate your commitment and unity by coming out to the picket lines – for yourselves and fellow writers, SAG-AFTRA, other unions’ members, and all those in our community who are impacted by the strikes.“