ESPN has a strong foothold in live sports by owning rights to numerous very expensive sporting events and leagues, including "Monday Night Football," with the NFL and the network agreeing in 2011 to a $15.2 billion contract that runs through 2021. "Monday Night Football" has regularly led all Monday shows in ratings for 2015, but the "Star Wars" trailer for the seventh film in the anthology will almost certainly boost the figures for the matchup between the Eagles and the Giants.

"Only a Star Wars trailer could generate this kind of excitement," Dergarabedian said. "People who don’t usually watch football could get locked in to watch the 'Star Wars' trailer and stay for the game. The reflected glory of both brands will feed of each other in a very positive way."

There is so much anticipation for "The Force Awakens" that viewers will likely be willing to watch the game clock at Lincoln Financial Field tick toward the big reveal. Ratings should spike as halftime approaches, with remotes that typically wander Mondays tuned in to ESPN, Brett Sappington, director of research at media market research and consulting company Parks Associates, said.

From the article "'Star Wars' Trailer, 'Monday Night Football' Combine For Boon To Disney, ESPN" by Tim Marcin.

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