Fox made its “TNF” debut last night, and combined with NFL Net’s audience, Vikings-Rams delivered a 10.7 overnight rating. That figure is up 8% from a 9.9 for Bears-Packers last year in Week 4, which aired on CBS and NFL Net. The increase comes despite a big uptick on Thursday night for MSNBC, CNN and Fox News in the wake of the hearings around Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The cable news nets averaged a combined 8.3 overnight in primetime, up 77% from the same night last year. Fox will still get a primetime win among all nets. Two years ago, the Week 4 “TNF” game aired solely on NFL Net. In ’15, CBS and NFL Net combined to draw a 13.0 overnight for Ravens-Steelers (Austin Karp, THE DAILY).
CONTINUING A GREAT RUN: ESPN's Max Kellerman notes Thursday night's matchup of two '17 playoff teams continues the "scintillating" run of "TNF" games, coming after Falcons-Eagles, Ravens-Bengals and Jets-Browns. Kellerman said, "I was riveted through all those games. I was entertained. As a consumer, I got value." He said last year's "TNF" slate was "garbage" and said of the better schedule, "You got to give credit where credit's due.” ESPN’s Louis Riddick said, “When you see Rams-Vikings on the ticker saying that's what's going to play tonight at 8:20, you're going to tune in. You don't care about who's traveling where." He said, "If you're not scoring and you don't have the marquee, high-powered teams that are going to light up the scoreboard or get people interested in their fantasy teams and sitting there watching, that's a problem. ... As a consumer, when I know it's Thursday and I know the football week is starting, give me all you got” (“First Take,” ESPN, 9/28).
