Packers fans frustrated by ABC-ESPN split screens during 'Monday Night Football' game broadcast
Green Bay Packers fans were certainly upset throughout the team's error-filled 24-22 loss to the New York Giants on Monday night.
But fans’ frustrations went beyond the play on the field. It extended to the ABC broadcast.
For the first time this season the NFL aired two Monday night games at the exact same time. The Packers-Giants game was on ABC, while the Tennessee Titans-Miami Dolphins contest aired on ESPN.
From the reaction on social media, the experiment needs some work just like the Packers' rush defense, special teams and ball protection.
Both games had a ticker graphic in the upper left of the screen that showed the score of the other MNF game and there were several instances of split screens, allowing viewers to check in on the action of the other contest without flipping the channel. It’s safe to say fans hated it.
The timing didn’t help, either. For example, ABC decided to add the Titans-Dolphins game to the screen on this big run by Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito in the third quarter.
Tommy DeVito on the run!
📺: #GBvsNYG on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/0LeBKvPPxF pic.twitter.com/Y4HANcKAuR— NFL (@NFL) December 12, 2023
The split screen experience simply ruined the broadcast for fans. Here’s a sampling of the reaction.
Dear ABC/ESPN: We prefer to watch one horrible game at a time, so please ditch the split-screen for the rest of the evening.
Signed,
Everyone— Drew Olson (@DrewOlsonMKE) December 12, 2023
For god sake ABC, this isn't REDZONE
— JR Radcliffe (@JRRadcliffe) December 12, 2023
Dear @ESPN,
This is not the red zone channel.
I don't care about Titans-Dolphins.
I just want to watch the #Packers game.
Please stop the split screen.
Thank you.
PS: I don't think Giants fans care about Dolphins-Titans, either.— Bruce Irons (@BruceIronsNFL) December 12, 2023
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY @espn, TAKE THE SPLIT SCREEN OFF.
— 🧀 Packers #1 Fan™ (@ParkerMoes) December 12, 2023
I’m begging ESPN to stop the split screen. We turned on the Packers for a reason. We’ll check the highlights on the other game later.
— Greg Meinholz 🧀 (@gmeinholz) December 12, 2023
ESPN - Can we drop the split screen? I'm trying to watch the Packers. Don't care about the other game. If I did, I'd watch that. #Packers #GBvsNYG #GoPackGo
— Lombardi’s Legends Podcast (@lombardilegends) December 12, 2023
Fans watching the Titans-Dolphins game also didn't want to see the Packers-Giants game on their screens.
Dear @ESPN,
We are choosing to watch Dolphins vs Titans. We don’t want to see Packers vs Giants split screen.
If you want that for Manning Cast then do another broadcast.— Dave Krupinski (@DaveKrupinski) December 12, 2023
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NFL fans frustrated by 'Monday Night Football' split screen broadcasts