Are you ready for some more football?
CBS has struck a deal with the National Football League to produce and televise “Thursday Night Football” for the 2014 season, with CBS and NFL Network both airing games.
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CBS will air eight early season games that will also be simulcast on NFL Network, with the NFL Network televising eight late-season games in the run-up to the playoffs. All told, the mix of games between CBS and NFL Network will comprise 14 Thursday night games and two late-season games on Saturday.
The new agreement comes with an additional season at the NFL’s option.
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CBS will produce the slate of games with its lead broadcasters and production team, including Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. NFL Network hosts and analysts will also weigh in on the pregame, halftime and postgame shows, along with CBS Sports announcers.
“NFL Network built Thursday into a night for NFL fans,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said of the new agreement. “Our goal is to bring these games to more fans on broadcast television with unprecedented promotion and visibility for Thursday Night Football on CBS.”
“We are very pleased to build on our outstanding partnership with the NFL by expanding our coverage to Thursday nights,” added CBS Corporation President and CEO Leslie 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.”