While still considering giving Alex Rodriguez his own version of Peyton and Eli Manning’s Monday Night Football MegaCast during Sunday Night Baseball, ESPN has confirmed that the network’s “Manning Cast” format will be used for sports outside of football including UFC and golf.
In a release announcing an expansion of the agreement with the elder Manning’s Omaha Productions company, ESPN said alternative presentations of broadcasts of UFC, college football and golf will begin airing on the network. Though the Mannings won’t be the hosts of those alternative presentations, Omaha Productions will produce the broadcasts in collaboration with ESPN.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli and the partnership we’ve developed with Peyton, Eli and the team at Omaha Productions,” said ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “This new agreement allows us to deepen our relationship and explore original concepts to spread that magic to other sports and events. Ultimately, this will help grow our audience by providing fans with even more creative options that they crave.”
A departure from the standard MNF broadcast, Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli featured the two brothers offering commentary while watching the game and often attracted appearances from high-profile guests. A hit with viewers looking for something new, the show’s nine episodes averaged 1.6 million viewers and hit a regular-season high in Week 8 with 1.96 million viewers.
“I’ve always loved talking football with my brother, and it was even more fun to do it while watching ESPN’s Monday Night Football,” Peyton said. “Eli and I are excited to sign on for another season, and the entire Omaha team is looking forward to producing MegaCasts that celebrate other sports.”
New this season, Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli has already been extended through the 2024 season by ESPN.
Hosts for the alternative broadcasts for UFC, college football and golf will be named at a future date.
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