CBS ended its second — and perhaps final — season of Thursday Night Football with strong numbers.
The Week 13 Packers/Lions Thursday Night Football game drew an 11.0 final rating and 17.8 million viewers on CBS and NFL Network, up 38% in both measures from the networks’ final simulcast last season, Chargers/49ers on a Saturday night in Week 16 (8.0, 13.0M). There was no TNF game in Week 13 of last season due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Packers’ Hail Mary win earned the fifth-highest rating and viewership in the ten-season history of Thursday Night Football. Keep in mind it was just the 16th of the 101 TNF telecasts to air on a broadcast network.
Five of this year’s eight Thursday night games on CBS scored at least 17 million viewers, compared to two last year. That is still no match for NBC’s Sunday Night Football, which has topped the 18 million mark for each of its 14 telecasts.
Among adults 18-49, Packers/Lions had a 5.3 rating — up 36% from last year’s Week 16 game (3.9).
Ratings/Viewership For TNF Simulcasts on CBS and NFL Network
*: Comparison is to Week 16 last year
| 2015 | 2014 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WK | Game | Rtg. | Vwrs. | Game | Rtg. | Vwrs. |
| 2 | Broncos Chiefs |
12.9 | 21.1M | Ravens Steelers |
12.7 | 20.8M |
| 3 | Wash. Giants |
10.5 | 16.9M | Buccaneers Falcons |
7.5 | 11.9M |
| 4 | Ravens Steelers |
11.8 | 19.4M | Giants Wash. |
10.2 | 16.3M |
| 5 | Colts Texans |
9.5 | 15.1M | Vikings Packers |
9.8 | 16.5M |
| 6 | Falcons Saints |
9.3 | 14.8M | Colts Texans |
10.0 | 15.9M |
| 7 | Seahawks 49ers |
10.5 | 17.1M | Jets Patriots |
10.1 | 16.1M |
| 8 | Dolphins Patriots |
10.9 | 17.5M | Chargers Broncos |
12.3 | 20.2M |
| 13* | Packers Lions |
11.0 | 17.8M | Chargers 49ers |
8.0 | 13.0M |
(Thu. numbers via TV Media Insights)
