Ratings Review: THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (2013)

Thursday Night Football on the NFL Network is the lowest rated TV package airing NFL games. The main reason for that distinction is that the NFL Network airs a lot of the games that meet the requirement of every NFL team getting at least one primetime game. Why else would you have Bills vs. Browns or a Bengals vs Dolphins match up. Heck, it is bad enough to see a national game for the Texans and the hapless Jaguars.

As I write this review, the NFL is looking for a new, one year, TV partner to broadcast some part of this package. It is unclear if the new TV partner will take eight of the games, or if they will be simulcast by the NFL Network and the new network partner. The reason is to help pump up the Thursday games, get more exposure and demand for the night.  Better match ups would go a long way of doing that.

For the season, the NFL Network averaged 7.06 million viewers and a 2.8 rating in Adults 18-49, for it's 13 NFL games. Just three games draw over 8 million viewers, which feature five of the ten teams that made the playoffs and aired on the NFL Network.

We should not have to wait too long to discover what the new Thursday Night package(s) will be. But the one thing is certain, the NFL Network will still be a player in airing NFL games.

Date	Viewers*	A18-49
09/12/13	8.79	3.8	NYJ vs NE
09/19/13	9.37	4.0	KC vs PHI
09/26/13	7.61	3.2	SF vs STL
10/03/13	6.87	2.8	BUF vs CLE
10/10/13	7.91	3.1	NYG vs CHI
10/17/13	6.05	2.3	SEA vs ARI
10/24/13	4.60	1.8	CAR vs TB
10/31/13	6.48	2.5	CIN vs MIA
11/07/13	6.47	2.4	WAS vs MIN
11/14/13	6.42	2.4	IND vs TEN
11/21/13	7.68	2.9	NO vs ATL
11/28/13			Thanksgiving game on NBC
12/05/13	4.63	1.7	HOU vs JAX
12/12/13	8.94	3.3	SD vs DEN

* - in millions