Fox promised a better Thursday night schedule than in previous years and they sure delivered in their first week. The Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams squared off and for a Thursday night matchup, this is huge. Before the season, this would be a potential NFC Championship preview and even now, there’s still a chance of that happening.
The game didn’t disappoint. We had a shootout that featured two top teams that just kept scoring and scoring. Defense was optional and eventually, the Rams won 38-31.
That was perfect for Fox and the NFL Network because according to John Ourand of Sports Business Journal, the Week 4 contest brought in a 10.7 overnight rating. Compared to last year’s Bears/Packers Week 4 game when it was on CBS, an eight percent increase.
Fox/NFL Net pulled a 10.7 overnight, up 8% from the comp Thursday night game last season.
— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) September 28, 2018
Eight percent may not sound like much but it is an improvement that has maintained in previous weeks.
Ourand makes a great point that really went against the NFL on Thursday night. Cable news networks had high ratings on Thursday night that the combination of CNN, Fox News and MSNBC was up 77 percent, 84 percent and 144 percent from ratings in 2017, 2016 and 2015 respectively.
The "Thursday Night Football" overnight is even more impressive when you consider the competition last night. The combined overnight for CNN/Fox News/MSNBC was an 8.3, which is up 77% from '17, up 84% from '16 and up 144% from '15.
— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) September 28, 2018
Certainly makes the NFL’s number look even more impressive. Fox bet big on Thursday Night Football. After one week, they’re off to a great start.
About Phillip Bupp
Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.
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