NFL Thursday Night Football: CBS Wins Bidding War To Air Games In 2014

NFL Thursday Night Football is headed to CBS in 2014 after the network won a bidding war of NFL partners to air the eight games up for grabs.

Under the broadcast deal, announced Wednesday by the NFL, CBS will televise eight Thursday Night Football games in the 2014 season. Those games will be simulcast on the NFL Network.

The final eight games leading up to the playoffs will be aired on NFL Network, though the games will be produced by CBS and head up by the network’s broadcast team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. NFL Network hosts and analysts will be featured in pregame, halftime, and postcame shows alongside CBS announcers.

“NFL Network built Thursday into a night for NFL fans,” said Commissioner Goodell. “Our goal is to bring these games to more fans on broadcast television with unprecedented promotion and visibility for Thursday Night Football on CBS.”

The first Thursday Night Football game of the year, part of the NFL’s kickoff weekend, will remain on NBC.

The Thursday Night Football deal is also seen as a boon for CBS.

“We are very pleased to build on our outstanding partnership with the NFL by expanding our coverage to Thursday nights,” said CBS president Les 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.”

With Thursday Night Football broadcasts up for grabs this year, the broadcasts were highly sought after by the networks. Reports said that 21st Century Fox, NBC, CBS, and ESPN were given a chance to bid on the games in what amounted to an auction.

Though a newer innovation to the league, Thursday Night Football games have drawn strong ratings. The Thursday Night Football contract with CBS goes through 2014 with an option to extend for 2015.