Any way you slice it, Thursday Night Football ratings were on the upswing in Week 6.
Eagles-Panthers earned an 8.9 rating and 14.6 million viewers on CBS and NFL Network Thursday night, up 20% in ratings and 21% in viewership from the third TNF simulcast last season, 49ers-Cardinals in Week 5 (7.4, 12.1M), but down 25% in both measures from the third simulcast in 2015, Ravens-Steelers in Week 4 (11.8, 19.4M).
Compared to last year’s Week 6 TNF game, Broncos-Chargers on CBS and NFL Network, ratings increased 2% from 8.7 and viewership 1% from 14.5 million.
The Eagles’ win, which peaked with 15.8 million TV viewers from 9:30-10 PM ET, was easily television’s top program of the night in ratings, viewership and adults 18-49 (4.6, +12%). It more-than-doubled the competing Cubs-Nationals MLB Division Series Game 5 on TBS (4.1, 7.0M, 2.0 A18-49).
Thursday’s game had a streaming audience of 498,000 across Amazon Prime and the various NFL and CBS digital platforms, bringing the total audience up to 15.1 million. Last year’s comparable digital figures were not available.
Thursday Night Football ratings have largely weathered the league’s overall decline. Whether comparing on a week-over-week or telecast-over-telecast basis, three of five windows have increased over last year.
[Thu. numbers from CBS Sports, with additional info from Son of the Bronx]
