Thursday Night Football has become a tradition that football fans eagerly await every week as the NFL schedule is always packed with thrill. In the midweek primetime game, fans get a sneak peak at what to expect from some of the top teams come this weekend. One of the few reasons for TNF being positive is that this slate brings in more than a million views each week and practically becomes mandatory programming for NFL’s broadcasting slate. Thursday Night Football is must-see television for football fans, and here are all the details on what you need to know about why it’s one of the most hyped events every week in NFL.
1. What is Thursday Night Football?
Thursday Night Football (TNF) is a weekly NFL regular season game that airs on Thursday nights and here fans can catch an added night of primetime football during the week. TNF as a concept was first floated in 2006, and has since blossomed into one of the signature parts of any NFL season. While TNF originally had just a few games at the end of each season, it now typically folds nearly every week and unlike when first introduced by ABC and NFL Network in 2006.
2. History of Thursday Night Football
TNF was introduced in 2006 with the intention of helping cross-promote other primetime games from Sunday to Thursday. Originally composed of only eight late-season games, the concept was later used for many decades in MLB with rival leagues nationalists using such games to prove which league’s style and talent level were superior. Thursday Night Football has spread to the point where it is a near week-long staple of NFL games due in large part to its popularity and desire for more midweek NFL action. Thursday Night Football: A game in each Thursday during the regular season from Week 2 through end of NFL’s Week
TNF has been a hot commodity for broadcast rights over the years, and in that time CBS, NBC Fox And Amazon Prime have all secured deals to carry these games at one point of another. The battle for the distribution rights only serves as further proof of how much on demand this program is with a huge fanbase that probably tunes in every Thursday to watch!
3. Key Aspects of Thursday Night Football
TNF is special compared to the other weekly NFL games for multiple reasons. Here are a few of my favorite highlights:
Short Turnaround Time for Teams:
Thursday Night Football has always been a running joke among coaches who have to follow typically four days after playing Sunday or Monday. It means a shorter recovery period for the players in question, and it also can force teams into making some changes to their game plans — that being said this is how shock results happen.
Special Uniforms and Color Rush:
The “Color Rush” uniform has been a huge selling point for TNF and the tradition started back in 2015. These bright, bold uniforms represent a colorful splash on the slate of TNF games — creating an added element to take in for fans. The new uniforms became an integral part of the Thursday night spectacle, called “Color Rush”.
Prime-Time Viewing and Access:
Thursday Night Football is a quick-and-easy-to-watch prime-time game that millions of fans tune into each week. The NFL has made it available on a multitude of platforms over the years, from local TV stations to streaming services like Amazon Prime in order for fans to tune into games.
4. The Impact of TNF on the NFL and Fanbase
Thursday Night Football has reshaped the rhythm of a typical NFL week, giving fans an early taste to tide them over. Why is it a benefit to add TNF?
- Increased Viewership: NFL games stretch over three days, which means fans always have something to look forward to throughout the week. This makes football part of the sports conversation every day, with TNF appealing to both die-hards and casual viewers.
- Boost in Revenue: TNF, like MNF and SNL before it, has become incredibly popular — leading advertisers and broadcasters to pour resources into the primetime slot. The rise in broadcasting fees driven by the competition for rights has poured millions into league coffers.
- Enhanced Fan Engagement: So, TNF has made new selfie moments at home, gathering in sports bars or sharing confessions and debates on social media.
5. The Most Memorable Thursday Night Football Games
Some Tennessee began an annual rivalry with Georgia Tech, and also had soft spots on its schedule for several years. These are some of the games that we have played:
1. Packers vs. Seahawks (2014):
This was the matchup that started off the NFL season, providing fans with a nail biter contest resulting in hard fought victory — basically what set TNF as must-watch event of football (apologies if you are salary man).
2. Cowboys vs. Vikings (2016):
Austin, TEXAS – The Cowboys and Vikings faced off showcasing great plays on either side of the ball that led to an exciting but close contest.
3. Patriots vs. Buccaneers (2017):
There was 1 thrilling game featuring every future Hall Of Fame quarterback by both camel and the Colts ( more on their win against Minnesota), but when Tom Brady played with Buccaneers it had been a marquee match showcasing his field generalship that yanked in countless.
4. Chiefs vs. Chargers (2021):
The pair of young phenoms made a TNF showdown with enormous stakes and even higher wattage look like the Main Event, but this matchup was exactly as advertised — high-energy football from two aspiring AFC powerhouses.
6. How to Watch Thursday Night Football
TNF is one of the most watched NFL slates, and that means there are several ways for you to catch the action:【2018 Thursday Night Football Schedules】
- Television Broadcasts: Since then, TNF has hopped from NBC to CBS and Fox with each taking turns airing games making it widely available across the country.
- Streaming Services: As it stands, streaming rights to TNF games exclusively belong to Amazon Prime Video. To that end, Amazon has worked to enhance its streaming options as well with unique in-game features such as alternative commentary and comprehensive statistics.
- NFL Network: The NFL has it’s own network that also airs TNF games so avid fans can dive in and get some pre-game perspective.
7. The Future of Thursday Night Football
With the NFL fan base maturing each new season, it seems as though Thursday Night Football has even brighter days ahead. A recent agreement by the NFL to provide Amazon with game streams represents a huge move toward digital streaming as well, which is indicative of how willing the league may be in evolving its broadcast options. → With the millennials expected to be largest group of NFL fans in coming years, and a migration from traditional broadcast models toward streaming solutions like DAZN or Amazon Prime (especially for international games), we will see TNF becoming more digital with virtual fan experiences, interactive content through APIs and possibly even VR viewing alternatives.
Potential Expansion
Sure, TNF goes on for most of the season right now but that could change down the road. If it’s additional pre-season games, a new playoff-specific programming, or something else along those same lines to occur throughout the season -the NFL wants fans watching.
8. Why Thursday Night Football Matters
This version of the NFL is more than an extra game — it’s a critical piece in the league’s strategy to continue maintaining fan engagement, increasing revenue and growing its audience. TNF is an increased excitement quotient leading to the weekend, which makes sure talk of football gains some momentum for all fans. With frequent match ups, the game is never really over even when one player has four lives: an unexpected sudden-death loss to a side 3 stocks down can suddenly turn things around.
Conclusion
So in 2014, by a narrow vote of owners (31-1), the NFL attempted to make TNF not only an American pastime but also part of its fabric. Monday or Thursday night you can count on some excitement, prime time action and a good old tradition of throwback unis that really made TNF cool these past weeks. Available on pretty much every platform, TNF is here and has millions of hearts waiting for its presence Thursday night to set the scene up great NFL action packed weekend. No matter if you are a fair weather fan or one of those crazed fools that mark the start, ‘TNF’ (Thursday Night Football) is an old fashion to bring people together; continuing to provide us with highlights we won’t forget from season-to-season.
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