CBS to air NFL’s Thursday Night Football games
By Josh Sanchez
The NFL had been looking for a new home for Thursday Night Football and now they have found their partner. On Wednesday afternoon, it was announced that the NFL has partnered with CBS to split the Thursday Night Football package in 2014.
With sixteen Thursday night games to be played, CBS will air eight of the games, while the NFL Network will continue to air the other eight. The CBS games will also be simulcast on NFL Network, with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms calling the game in the booth.
“NFL Network built Thursday into a night for NFL fans,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement. “Our goal is to bring these games to more fans on broadcast television with unprecedented promotion and visibility for Thursday Night Football on CBS.”
“We are very pleased to build on our outstanding partnership with the NFL by expanding our coverage to Thursday nights,” said Moonves. “CBS is a premium content company and the NFL represents the best premium content there is. I look forward to all this new deal will do for us not only on Thursday nights, but across our entire schedule.”
“The NFL is the most powerful programming in television,” said McManus. “To add a primetime NFL package to our successful Sunday AFC package further strengthens our position in the sports marketplace. We look forward to having Jim and Phil and our top production team showcased in prime time on Thursday nights.”
The agreement is for the 2014 season with an additional year at the NFL’s option.