Tag: Prime Video

Nov 3, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) talks to head coach Jim Harbaugh during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Broncos-Chargers in, Browns-Bengals out in ‘TNF’ flex

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Week 16 contest between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers is moving game days and into prime time, the first-ever flex on the “Thursday Night Football” schedule on Amazon Prime Video.

Making way for the AFC West clash, which could have a bearing on the postseason schedule, is the AFC North game between the Cleveland Browns and the host Cincinnati Bengals. The two sub-.500 teams now will play Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. ET, flexed out of the Dec. 19 slot, giving the Broncos and Chargers the Thursday night spotlight from Inglewood, Calif.

The league announced the switch on Friday.

In May 2023, NFL owners approved moving a maximum of two Thursday night games scheduled in Weeks 13 through 17. It was to be a trial program for the 2023 season but extended to 2024 if no games were flexed in the earlier year. None were.

Entering Week 12 play, both the Chargers (7-3) and the Broncos (6-5) sit in wild-card position, with the Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) penciled into a spot as well as leaders of the AFC West.

The Bengals (4-7) have a playoff probability of 13 percent, while the chances of the Browns (3-8) stand at less than 1 percent, according to the NFL.

Both teams already have played a Prime Video game this season. The Bengals lost to the Baltimore Ravens 35-34 in a Lamar Jackson vs. Joe Burrow classic on Nov. 7, while the Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19 after scoring a touchdown on a snow-covered field in Cleveland on Thursday.

Under the agreement struck with owners, the NFL can flex games by giving teams at least 28 days’ notice.

The leaves only the Week 17 game scheduled between Seattle and Chicago on Dec. 26 eligible to be flexed. Entering Week 12 play, the Seahawks are 5-5 and the Bears sit 4-6.

The most attractive option on the schedule for a potential flex is the showdown between NFC North rivals Green Bay and Minnesota. The Packers (7-3) and Vikings (8-2) currently are in wild-card position.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Logo for Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football on television camera pictured at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Amazon’s ‘TNF’ debut drives record audience, Prime sign-ups

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Nielsen ratings are not yet out for Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” debut, but the company is already seeing benefits after one game.

Amazon vice president Jay Marine, the head of Prime Video, told employees in an internal memo this week that the company’s internal numbers were promising.

Last Thursday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers produced more new sign-ups for Amazon Prime in one three-hour period than the company had ever seen.

It also set a company record for primetime audience in the U.S., according to Marine, though that figure was not released.

“Thursday Night Football” averaged 13.2 million viewers on Fox last year.

Amazon is the first streaming service to wrest exclusive broadcast rights for NFL games away from traditional TV networks. The company took pains to produce a TV-quality broadcast, with legendary play-by-play announcer Al Michaels teaming up with ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit on the call.

The Chiefs beat the Chargers 27-24 in Amazon’s first game. Week 3’s Thursday game will see the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Cleveland Browns.

–Field Level Media