First two TNF games of 2017 up 27% to comparable season average from 2016
The Thursday, September 21 Thursday Night Football thriller between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams averaged a 4.4 HH rating and 7.4M total viewers on TV nationally (just NFL Network – not including OTA), up +18% and +22% respectively versus 2016’s average across the 4 TNF games on NFL Network only (3.8 HH and 6.1M viewers). Through two NFL Network +OTA exclusive Thursday Night Football games, total viewers (7.8 M) are up +27% versus 2016’s average across the 4 Thursday NightFootball games on NFL Network only (6.1M viewers).
The game, won by the Rams 41-39, was the highest scoring game in Thursday Night Football history (80 combined points) besting the 73 points scored by the Chargers and 49ers in Week 16, 2014. (Chargers 38, 49ers 35)
The NFC West divisional matchup was seen exclusively on NFL Network and was also be available on local stations in Los Angeles (KNBC) and San Francisco (KNTV).
Next week, Thursday Night Football turns to the NFL’s tri-cast distribution model as the September 28th game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers will be see on CBS, NFL Network and streamed digitally on Amazon Prime Video.
Thursday Night Football Numbers from September 21:
· 2017’s Week # 3 Thursday Night Football game on NFL Network only, LA Rams @ San Francisco, averaged a 4.4 HH rating and 7.4M total viewers on TV nationally, up +18% and +22% respectively versus 2016’s average across the 4 TNF games on NFL Network only (3.8 HH and 6.1M viewers).
· Season to date, the two NFLN+OTA exclusive games averaged 7.8M total viewers, up +27% versus 2016’s average across the 4 TNF games on NFL Network only (6.1M viewers).
· Week # 3 TNF viewership peaked at 8.5M viewers during the 9:30p-9:45p quarter hour.
*NUMBERS DO NOT INCLUDE OVER-THE-AIR DATA
SOURCE: NFL
