Monday Night Football moved to ESPN, not Paramount Plus

Monday Night Football is not on Paramount Plus. The games air on ESPN and stream through the ESPN app or ESPN+, a separate subscription service from Paramount Plus. This changed in 2022 when ESPN regained the rights to broadcast Monday Night Football after Amazon Prime Video held them for one season.

If you have a cable or satellite subscription that includes ESPN, you can watch through the ESPN app by signing in with your provider credentials. If you do not have cable, ESPN+ is the streaming option — it costs around $11 per month on its own, or you can bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for a lower combined price.

Paramount Plus does carry other live sports, including NFL games on Thursday nights and some playoff games, but Monday Night Football is not part of that package. The confusion often arises because Paramount Plus is a major sports streaming service, but the Monday night slot belongs to ESPN.

Key Takeaways

  • Monday Night Football airs on ESPN and streams through ESPN+ or the ESPN app, not through Paramount Plus.
  • You can watch on ESPN+ for around $11 per month, or bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for a lower price.
  • If you have cable with ESPN included, you can stream games free through the ESPN app using your provider login.
  • Paramount Plus carries other NFL games on Thursday nights and select playoff matchups, but not the Monday night slot.

How to watch Monday Night Football without cable

ESPN+ is the main streaming option for Monday Night Football if you do not have a cable subscription. You sign up directly through the ESPN app or ESPN.com, and games are available to stream live and on demand. The service also includes college football, NBA games, NHL games, and other sports content beyond football.

The bundle option — ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu together — often costs less than paying for ESPN+ alone. Pricing changes periodically, so check the ESPN website for current rates. Some bundle tiers include ads, while others do not.

A few games each season are exclusive to ESPN+ and do not air on cable ESPN, so if you want to watch every Monday night game, a subscription is necessary even if you have other streaming services.

What Paramount Plus actually offers for NFL games

Paramount Plus holds the rights to Thursday Night Football, which means most Thursday night NFL games stream there throughout the regular season. Some games air on CBS (the broadcast channel) instead of streaming, depending on the week and matchup.

Paramount Plus also carries playoff games and the Super Bowl in certain years as part of its sports rotation. The service costs around $6 per month with ads or $12 per month without ads, though prices vary by region and promotional offers.

If you want to watch both Monday and Thursday night games, you would need both ESPN+ and Paramount Plus. Neither service alone covers both nights.

Other ways to watch Monday Night Football

Cable and satellite providers that include ESPN in their package allow you to stream Monday Night Football through the ESPN app. You log in with your provider account, and the game streams live. This option works if you already pay for cable but prefer to watch on a phone, tablet, or streaming device instead of your TV.

Some sports bars and restaurants show Monday Night Football, and you can watch there without a subscription. This is useful if you want to watch with others or do not want to pay for a streaming service.

Sling TV and YouTube TV are live TV streaming services that include ESPN in their packages. Both charge a monthly fee and let you stream ESPN and other channels. These work as cable alternatives if you want access to multiple channels beyond just sports.

Why the confusion between Paramount Plus and ESPN

Paramount Plus is owned by Paramount Global, which also owns CBS. CBS broadcasts some NFL games on Sunday afternoons and evenings, which can make it seem like Paramount Plus has all the football. However, the streaming rights and broadcast rights are separate — CBS broadcasts some games, but Paramount Plus does not stream all of them.

The NFL's broadcasting contracts are split among multiple networks: CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video each hold different time slots and games. This fragmentation means no single streaming service carries all NFL games, and knowing which network has which game requires checking the schedule ahead of time.

Paramount Plus is still a solid choice for football fans because Thursday Night Football is a full season of games, but it does not replace ESPN+ if Monday night games matter to you.

Checking the Monday Night Football schedule

The NFL schedule is published before each season starts, usually in May. You can find it on NFL.com, ESPN.com, or the ESPN app. The schedule shows which network broadcasts each game and whether it streams on a specific service.

Most Monday Night Football games are on ESPN, but occasionally a game moves to a different network or streams exclusively on ESPN+. Checking the schedule for the specific week you want to watch prevents surprises on game day.

Setting a reminder on your phone or calendar for games you want to watch is helpful, especially if you need to sign up for a service first. Most streaming services let you start and cancel subscriptions month to month, so you can sign up for a single month if you only want to watch a few games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Monday Night Football on Paramount Plus?

No. Monday Night Football streams on ESPN+ and airs on ESPN. Paramount Plus carries Thursday Night Football and select playoff games, but not the Monday night slot.

Do I need cable to watch Monday Night Football?

No. ESPN+ is a standalone streaming service that costs around $11 per month and includes Monday Night Football games. You can also bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for a lower combined price. If you have cable with ESPN, you can stream games free through the ESPN app.

What is the cheapest way to watch Monday Night Football?

If you have cable with ESPN, the ESPN app is free. If you do not have cable, ESPN+ costs around $11 per month on its own, or you can bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu. Prices vary by region and change periodically, so check ESPN.com for current rates.

Does Paramount Plus have any NFL games?

Yes. Paramount Plus streams Thursday Night Football throughout the regular season, plus select playoff games and the Super Bowl in certain years. It does not have Monday Night Football.

Can I watch Monday Night Football on my phone?

Yes. The ESPN app works on phones, tablets, and streaming devices. You can stream live or watch on demand if the game has already aired. You need either an ESPN+ subscription or a cable login to access the games.