For the first time, Thursday Night Football had a year-over-year decline on CBS.
The Week 5 Colts/Texans Thursday Night Football game had a 9.5 final rating and 15.1 million viewers on CBS and NFL Network, down 3% in ratings and 9% in viewership from Vikings/Packers last year (9.8, 16.5M) but up 107% and 98%, respectively, from Bills/Browns on NFL Network and local affiliates in 2013 (4.6, 7.6M).
The Colts’ win was the first TNF telecast on CBS to have a year-over-year decline (12 telecasts dating back to last year). All eight of last year’s windows increased, thanks to a shift from cable to broadcast, and so did the first three of this season — thanks to higher quality games.
Of the 12 TNF games to have aired on CBS, Colts/Texans ranks tenth in ratings and viewership — ahead of only Falcons/Buccaneers in Week 3 last year (7.5, 11.9M) and a Saturday night Chargers/49ers matchup in Week 16 the same season (8.0, 13.0M).
Thursday’s game also marked the first decline of the season for primetime NFL coverage on broadcast, ending a streak of eight straight increases.
Among adults 18-49, TNF scored a 5.0 rating — down 15% from last year (5.9).
(Thu. numbers via TV Media Insights)
