Ratings Review: CBS THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (2014)

CBS paid $275 million for the rights to air seven NFL games, on Thursday nights, plus produce all Thursday games, as they shift exclusively to the NFL Network. Was this a wise investment by CBS?

For the most part, most of the games on TNF, or any primetime game, have been blowouts. Blowouts shed viewers early, thus bringing down the ratings. This is best seen in the second week of TNF, when the Bucs played the Falcons. Atlanta was up 28-0 by the second quarter and Tampa showed no signs of competitiveness to even look at a possible comeback.

For the season, THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL on CBS averaged 16.81 million viewers and a 5.9 rating in Adults 18-49. The contract was for just one season, with a second optional season, by the NFL. It would be smart of the NFL to continue the relationship with CBS. The ratings are higher and the TV product is far superior to what the NFL Network has produced, in the past.

CBS Thursday Night Football (Thursdays at 8:30 p.m., on CBS)

Date	Viewers*	A18-49	Game	L+7
09/11/14	20.77	7.5	PIT v BAL
09/18/14	11.88	4.5	TB v ATL
09/25/14	16.29	6.0	NYG v WAS
10/02/14	16.54	5.9	MIN v GB
10/09/14	15.85	5.4	IND v HOU
10/16/14	16.09	5.4	NE v NYJ
10/23/14	20.22	6.7	DEN v SD

* - in millions