Ratings Review: THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (Fall 2014)

The NFL Network gave up the first seven weeks of the Thursday night package, to CBS, in order to help generate hype, buzz and a following for the night. But, the ratings were not that much better than the 2013 season.

Match ups and and close games generate ratings, for the most part. But even the best of match ups can not bring 10 million viewers to the the network. Yet, the worst of games (Tampa vs Atlanta) can bring in nearly 12 million viewers to CBS. The problem is not fans wanting to watch the games, it is network which broadcast the games, that is the problem. The NFL Networks needs to give up the package, to allow more fans access to the games.

For the season, The NFL Network averaged 7.19 million viewers and a 2.4 rating in Adults 18-49, for its exclusive games of the THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL package. That is just a little short of 10 million viewers less than what CBS hauled in for the first seven games.

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (Thursdays at 8:30 p.m., on NFL Network)

Date	Viewers*	A18-49	Teams
10/30/14	6.88	2.3	(NO v CAR)
11/06/14	9.31	2.9	(CLE v CIN)
11/13/14	7.79	2.8	(MIA v BUF)
11/20/14	7.65	2.7	(KC v OAK)
11/27/14	No Game
12/04/14	9.11	3.2	(DAL v CHI)
12/11/14	7.67	2.4	(ARZ v STL)
12/18/14	4.85	1.6	(JAX v TEN)
12/20/14	7.18	2.3	(PHI v WAS) 4:30 start
12/20/14	4.24	1.5	(SF v SD) 8:30 start **

* - in millions
** Simulcast on CBS