Monday Night Football moved to ESPN, not Paramount Plus

Monday Night Football is not on Paramount Plus. The show airs on ESPN and ESPN+, the streaming service owned by Disney. For the 2024 season and beyond, you cannot watch MNF through a Paramount Plus subscription.

This is a common point of confusion because Paramount Plus does carry other NFL games through its deal with the NFL. Specifically, Paramount Plus shows Thursday Night Football games throughout the season. But Monday Night Football remains separate and requires a different streaming service or cable package.

If you want to stream Monday Night Football, you need ESPN+ (the standalone streaming app), a cable or satellite subscription that includes ESPN, or a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling TV that carries ESPN as part of its channel lineup.

Key Takeaways

  • Monday Night Football airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+, not on Paramount Plus.
  • Paramount Plus carries Thursday Night Football games, which is the NFL content available on that platform.
  • To watch MNF, you need ESPN+, a cable subscription with ESPN, or a live TV streaming service that includes ESPN.
  • The rights to Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football are held by different broadcasters and streaming services.

What NFL games are actually on Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus holds the streaming rights to Thursday Night Football for the entire NFL season. This means select Thursday games are exclusive to Paramount Plus — you cannot watch them on ESPN, cable, or other streaming services. If you have a Paramount Plus subscription, you can watch these games through the app on your phone, tablet, computer, or connected TV.

The Thursday Night Football package includes roughly half the season's Thursday games. Not every Thursday game is on Paramount Plus; some air on other networks. The Paramount Plus app will show you which games are available each week, and you can check the NFL schedule to see which Thursday matchups fall under the Paramount Plus broadcast window.

How to watch Monday Night Football instead

ESPN+ is the primary streaming option for Monday Night Football. You can subscribe to ESPN+ as a standalone service through the ESPN app or website. This is a separate subscription from Paramount Plus and costs a monthly fee. ESPN+ also includes other sports beyond football, so you get access to college football, soccer, hockey, and more depending on the season.

If you already have a cable or satellite TV subscription that includes ESPN, you can watch Monday Night Football on the ESPN channel during the broadcast time. You can also stream it through the ESPN app by signing in with your cable credentials.

Live TV streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and FuboTV all carry ESPN as part of their channel packages. These services let you stream ESPN (and therefore Monday Night Football) on any device. Each service has different channel lineups and pricing, so compare them based on what other channels you want to watch.

The difference between MNF and Thursday Night Football rights

The NFL sells broadcasting rights to different games to different companies. Monday Night Football has been an ESPN property for decades, and ESPN renewed its rights through 2033. Thursday Night Football was added to Paramount Plus (then called CBS All Access) as part of a separate deal that began in 2022.

This split means you cannot watch all NFL games on one streaming service. If you want to follow your team throughout the season, you may need access to multiple services depending on which days and networks your team plays on. Some teams play more Thursday games than others, and some play more Monday games, so your viewing needs depend on your team's schedule.

Checking the NFL schedule for your team

The easiest way to know where to watch your team is to visit NFL.com and look up your team's schedule. Each game listing shows the network or streaming service that will broadcast it. You can also check the ESPN or Paramount Plus apps directly — they list upcoming games available on their platforms.

At the start of each week, both services publish which games are coming up. If your team plays Thursday night, check Paramount Plus. If they play Monday night, check ESPN+. For other days (Sunday, Sunday night, or Monday), the broadcast network depends on the specific game and may be CBS, Fox, NBC, or ESPN.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Monday Night Football with a Paramount Plus subscription?

No. Monday Night Football is only available on ESPN, ESPN+, cable subscriptions that include ESPN, or live TV streaming services that carry ESPN. Paramount Plus does not have the rights to broadcast Monday Night Football games.

Does Paramount Plus have any Monday games?

Paramount Plus does not carry Monday Night Football, but it does carry Thursday Night Football. If you want NFL games on Paramount Plus, you will see Thursday matchups throughout the season.

What is the cheapest way to watch Monday Night Football?

ESPN+ is the most direct option and costs a monthly subscription fee. Some live TV streaming services like Sling TV are cheaper than others, but they require a broader subscription. Compare the cost of ESPN+ against any live TV service you might already use or want to add.

Can I watch Monday Night Football on cable?

Yes. If your cable or satellite package includes ESPN, you can watch Monday Night Football on the ESPN channel during the broadcast. You can also stream it through the ESPN app using your cable login credentials.

Do all Monday games air on ESPN?

All Monday Night Football games air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+. Some games may also be available on other platforms depending on the specific broadcast agreement, but ESPN is the primary home for the Monday night slot.