The NFL is considering bids in the high $200M range for the one-year package of Thursday night games it is selling to interested broadcast networks, according to several sources. The sources added that they ultimately expect the winning bidder to increase its bid to around $350M to complete a deal. The league still is considering bids from ABC/ESPN, CBS, Fox and NBC. Only Turner Sports has been told that its bid was not accepted, due in large part to the fact that the NFL is looking to place the Thursday night games on a broadcast network to help promote the package.
It is not clear when the league plans to announce the winning bidder, though network execs are prepared to hear something this week. As part of their bids, some of the networks included an option for a second year, though it is not known if the NFL will consider such an option since the league specifically asked for one-year bids.
It is difficult to handicap a favorite so far, though many sources describe the situation as a two-horse race between CBS and NBC. Many industry watchers expected the announcement to come last week in the run-up to the Super Bowl if Fox had the winning bid. Similarly, sources say ABC/ESPN's bid lagged behind CBS, NBC and Fox. It is not known how many games would be available for the package. The league has told the networks that it plans to simulcast the games on NFL Network.
