Monday Night Football is on ESPN, which YouTube TV carries
Monday Night Football airs on ESPN every Monday during the NFL season, and YouTube TV includes ESPN in its standard package. If you have YouTube TV, you can watch MNF live on the ESPN channel without paying extra. The games typically start at 8:15 p.m. Eastern time.
YouTube TV's base plan costs the same whether you watch one channel or all of them, so there is no separate fee to unlock football. You can watch on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV through the YouTube TV app or website.
The one thing to confirm before the season starts: YouTube TV occasionally removes channels during contract disputes with networks. ESPN has stayed in the lineup for years, but if a dispute happens mid-season, MNF could go dark temporarily. You would see a notification in the app if that occurs.
Key Takeaways
- Monday Night Football broadcasts on ESPN, which is included in YouTube TV's standard subscription at no extra cost.
- Games air live at 8:15 p.m. Eastern time on Monday nights during the NFL regular season and playoffs.
- You can watch on any device — phone, tablet, computer, or TV — using the YouTube TV app or website.
- YouTube TV occasionally removes channels during contract negotiations, though ESPN has remained available for several years.
- If you want to watch other NFL games on different networks (like Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime or Sunday games on CBS and Fox), you will need separate subscriptions for those services.
What other NFL games are available on YouTube TV
YouTube TV carries CBS, Fox, and NBC, which means you can watch most Sunday NFL games on those channels. Sunday afternoon games split between CBS and Fox depending on your region, and Sunday night games air on NBC. These are all included in your YouTube TV subscription.
Thursday Night Football moved to Amazon Prime Video in 2022, so you cannot watch those games through YouTube TV. You would need a separate Prime Video subscription. Playoff games and the Super Bowl air on CBS, Fox, NBC, or ESPN depending on the year, and YouTube TV carries all of those networks.
How to find Monday Night Football in the YouTube TV guide
Open the YouTube TV app or go to youtube.com/tv on your computer. Search for "ESPN" in the channel guide or scroll to find it. During football season, ESPN will show upcoming MNF games in the schedule several days in advance.
You can also set a reminder for specific games. Tap or click on the game listing, then select "Add reminder." YouTube TV will notify you 15 minutes before the game starts, and you can jump straight to the broadcast from the notification.
Recording Monday Night Football on YouTube TV
YouTube TV lets you record games to watch later. Find the MNF game in the guide, tap or click it, and select "Add to library" or the record button. The recording saves to your library for up to nine months, and you can watch it anytime without ads.
If you want to record all Monday Night Football games automatically, you can add the ESPN channel itself to your library. YouTube TV will then record every MNF broadcast for the season without you having to select each one individually.
Streaming quality and device limits on YouTube TV
YouTube TV streams in up to 4K resolution if your internet connection supports it and you are watching on a compatible device. Most phones, tablets, and computers stream in standard or high definition. For the best picture on a TV, use a Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV device connected to your home network.
Your YouTube TV account can stream on up to three devices at the same time. If someone else in your household is watching a different channel while you try to watch MNF, that counts as one stream. Once you hit three simultaneous streams, the oldest one stops playing.
What to do if ESPN is not showing in your YouTube TV guide
If ESPN is missing from your channel list, first check whether YouTube TV and ESPN are in an active contract dispute. You can find this information on YouTube TV's status page or by searching "YouTube TV ESPN" online for recent news.
If there is no known dispute, restart the YouTube TV app or refresh your browser. Log out of your account and log back in. Check that your subscription is current and that you have not accidentally downgraded to a lower plan that excludes sports channels.
If ESPN still does not appear after those steps, contact YouTube TV support through the app. Go to Settings, then Help & Feedback, then Contact Us. They can tell you whether the channel is temporarily unavailable in your region or whether there is an issue with your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need YouTube TV Premium to watch Monday Night Football?
No. Monday Night Football on ESPN is included in YouTube TV's standard subscription. There is no premium tier or add-on required. You pay one monthly fee and get access to all included channels, including ESPN.
Can I watch Monday Night Football on YouTube TV if I am traveling?
Yes, as long as you are in the United States. YouTube TV works anywhere in the country. If you travel outside the U.S., you cannot stream YouTube TV content, even if you have an active subscription.
What happens if YouTube TV loses the ESPN contract?
If YouTube TV and ESPN end their contract, ESPN would disappear from your channel guide and you would not be able to watch MNF through YouTube TV. YouTube TV would notify you in advance. You would then need to find another way to watch, such as subscribing to ESPN+ or using another streaming service that carries ESPN.
Can I watch Monday Night Football on YouTube TV without an internet connection?
No. YouTube TV is a streaming service and requires an active internet connection to watch live games. You cannot read games to watch offline.
Is there a delay when watching Monday Night Football live on YouTube TV?
YouTube TV streams live games with a slight delay of a few seconds compared to cable TV, but the difference is usually not noticeable during gameplay. If you are watching on a phone or computer, the delay may be slightly longer than on a TV device.