CBS will produce and televise Thursday Night Football for the 2014 season, the NFL and CBS announced today.
CBS will air eight early season games that also will be simulcast on NFL Network. NFL Network will also televise eight late-season games in the run-up to the playoffs. The mix of games will include 14 on Thursday nights and two late-season games on Saturday.
The full slate of 16 regular-season games will be produced by CBS with its lead broadcasters and production team, including JIM NANTZ and PHIL SIMMS, on all Thursday night games. In a new twist, NFL Network hosts and analysts will be featured in the pregame, halftime and postgame shows along with CBS Sports announcers.
It’s unknown what CBS paid for the package, but Sports Business Daily reported that initial bids were in the high $200 million range.
“Our goal is to bring these games to more fans on broadcast television with unprecedented promotion and visibility for Thursday Night Football on CBS,” Goodell said in a statement.
The 2014 NFL schedule will likely be released in mid-to-late April.