American football league the NFL is seeking to adopt a simulcast strategy for its new package of Thursday night games, according to multiple US media reports.
Earlier this month the NFL invited broadcasters to bid for the new rights package, including between six and eight games. The league is reported to be seeking a one-year deal, covering the 2014-15 season, with the option of extending the agreement. The deadline for bids is reported to be the end of this week.
League-owned pay-television channel NFL Network currently shows 13 Thursday night games per season.
However, the Los Angeles Times newspaper said that the NFL is asking its potential partner to also allow the NFL Network to simulcast those games. The league also wants the broadcast partner to be responsible for producing the games that would remain exclusive to the NFL Network.
The Broadcasting & Cable website added that the league is seeking to adopt the simulcast strategy in a bid to enhance the Thursday night football brand. Last season, Thursday Night Football on the NFL Network averaged 6.74 million viewers. This compared to the NBC network’s average of 21.75 million viewers for Sunday Night Football, while rival networks Fox and CBS averaged 21.12 million and 18.63 million viewers respectively for their Sunday packages. Sports broadcaster ESPN drew 13.68 million viewers for its Monday Night Football package.