Another Thursday Night Football blowout generated another big increase on CBS and NFL Network, but the numbers remained soft for primetime NFL on broadcast TV.
The Week 5 Vikings/Packers Thursday Night Football game drew a 10.4 overnight rating on CBS and NFL Network, up 53% from Bills/Browns on NFL Network and local affiliates last year (5.3). The 10.4 is the third-highest ever for Thursday Night Football (dates back to 2006), trailing only Steelers/Ravens in Week 1 (13.7) and Giants/Washington in Week 3 (11.2).
The Packers won Thursday’s game by 32 points, the third straight TNF rout. The Giants won the previous week by 31 points and the Falcons blew out the Buccaneers by 42 in Week 2.
Though up big from last year, Thursday’s 10.4 overnight is nothing to brag about for the NFL on primetime broadcast TV. Only one Sunday Night Football game had a lower overnight last year — Packers/Vikings opposite the World Series in Week 8 (9.9).
(Thu. numbers from CBS Sports)
