The Arizona Cardinals will play their first primetime game of the season on Monday. Arizona fans outside Phoenix will also need an ESPN+ subscription to tune into the game. On Monday, the NFL will feature two primetime games, featuring the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson visiting the red-hot Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield. Meanwhile, the Cardinals will host the Los Angeles Chargers, and the kickoff will happen just under an hour later. However, ESPN will televise the first game on their flagship channel, while the later contest will occur exclusively on ESPN+.
Arizona Cardinals fans and avid NFL devotees are putting the league on blast for airing the second of two cross-conference matchups exclusively on a pay-to-watch service. Although those local to the Arizona and Los Angeles markets can tune into the game on regional channels, many outside the conventional areas are irate about the decisions made by the NFL and their TV partners.
NFL Fans Angry with Arizona Cardinals Game Placed on ESPN+
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter:
MNF Doubleheader: Ravens-Bucs, 8:15 pm ET, ABC/ESPN Chargers-Cardinals, 9 pm ET, exclusively on ESPN+.
On Monday, ESPN will televise the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers game while posting the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers game on their subsidized package ESPN+, a pay-to-watch service. Last season, the NFL decided to have the Wild Card matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins air on Peacock, another pay-to-watch service.
The NFL will use more streaming options than usual this season, partnering with Amazon, Netflix, and Peacock, among others, for exclusivity rights. Just like the playoff incident last season, many fans took exception to the league pushing for posting a primetime game exclusively on a pay-to-watch channel, like ESPN Plus:
What we doing? Why is the game only on ESPN+?
— Millwright Mike (@droptaco) October 21, 2024
Planning on illegally streaming the game for sure
— ⚡️Bullmoose⚡️ (@452Bullmoose) October 20, 2024
"EXCLUSIVELY" like bro no one watching it then
— ND Insider (@barsstoolcfb) October 21, 2024
This really ticks me off. 😡
— Leanne (@leanneproelders) October 21, 2024
Chargers vs Cardinals being only on ESPN+ is BS.pic.twitter.com/kBXLMZTOHC
— ًBoltUpYo (@BoltUpYo) October 20, 2024
There are like 8 ESPN channels and it's only on ESPN+?
— Brent Bodziak (@Brent9716) October 21, 2024
Bless up for streameast being a thing
— MC3 (@mason_covelli) October 21, 2024
More Cardinals News by Gridiron Heroics
-
Cardinals Urged To Add Veteran Guard Now After 2-4 Start
-
Packers’ Matt LaFleur Makes Announcement Regarding Kicker Following Win Over Cardinals
-
Cardinals: Fans Erupt After State Farm Stadium Gets Flooded with Massive Washington Commanders Crowd
For More Football News:
For More Football News and to dive into the excitement, follow me on Twitter at @alec_musa. Let’s get the conversation rolling! I’m all ears for your thoughts and insights. You can also reach out to me via email at musaalec@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest college and NFL news, click here!