**Disney Expands "Monday Night Football" Simulcasts to ABC for Broader Reach**

Disney is revitalizing a successful strategy applied during recent Hollywood labor strikes by bringing additional "Monday Night Football" simulcasts from ESPN to its ABC network. This shift aims to boost viewership and ratings that outshine the typical Monday night reality shows and game shows, including "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune."

ABC will now air "Monday Night Football" on six additional dates: October 14 and 21; November 4, 18, and 25; and December 23. This is on top of the eight regular and post-season games already scheduled. This strategy follows a similar agreement made last year between Disney and the NFL, which safeguarded ABC against programming gaps due to writer and actor strikes. The NFL approved these schedule changes solely for the current TV season.

Although the move helps combat viewers' shift from traditional TV to streaming, sports remains a key genre drawing large live audiences, coveted by both advertisers and networks. The NFL continuously encourages media partners to extend the reach of broadcast games, according to sources familiar with the league's strategy.

The decision does come with trade-offs. ABC had invested in promoting new series like "Scamanda," a true-crime podcast adaptation initially slotted for Wednesday nights. Additionally, some final episodes of "Wheel of Fortune" with departing host Pat Sajak will be pushed back.

Ratings were a significant factor driving this decision. "Monday Night Football" experienced its highest viewership in 23 years last season, outperforming its last five seasons on ABC and the previous 18 seasons on ESPN. Offering these games on ABC allows the network to maintain its usual programming schedule, preventing disruptions due to the 2024 presidential election coverage.

Disney’s move also opens potentially lucrative advertising opportunities and could positively impact ABC's “Good Morning America” by retaining post-game viewers into the next broadcast day. The additional "Monday Night Football" slots equip Disney with an enhanced platform to promote its other shows during commercial breaks.