One of the major TV broadcast networks moves
this past fall will be repeated next year — the NFL and CBS will air more “Thursday Night Football” in 2015.
As with the initial 2014 season, the package of games will include 14
on Thursday nights and two late-season games on Saturday. CBS airs the first eight games simulcast with NFL Network; the NFL Network then airs the next eight exclusively.
Financial terms were
not disclosed.
The full slate of 16 regular-season games will be produced by CBS, with its lead broadcasters and production team on all Thursday night games. The pre-game, halftime and
post-game shows will continue to feature NFL Network and CBS Sports hosts and analysts.
"The benefits of ‘Thursday Night Football’ are evident across our corporation, including a
strengthened prime-time lineup that has built on its number one position,” stated Les Moonves, president/chief executive officer of CBS Corp.
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The agreement is for the 2015 season with an
additional year at the NFL’s option — similar to what CBS struck for the 2014. Next season CBS, which also airs a Sunday package of games featuring AFC contests, will air the Super
Bowl.
CBS is estimated to have paid around $275 million to $300 million for the new package of games this past season -- when it averaged 16.5 million for its first seven Thursday games,
which were also run on NFL Network.
For the entire 16 game packages, viewership averaged 12.3 million for the CBS and NFL Network for “Thursday Night Football” package -- up 52%
from the year before when it only ran on the NFL Network.