Thursday, September 3, 2026

Amazon’s ‘TNF’ Debut Tops Thursday TV Shows

  • Nielsen says Amazon Prime Video averaged 13M viewers, including local TV markets.
  • Monster numbers more than double some estimates for Amazon first exclusive stream.
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL already dominates TV — and it looks like streaming is next.

Based on its own first-party measurements and Nielsen, Amazon Prime Video announced that its first stream of “Thursday Night Football” averaged 15.3 million viewers.

Nielsen reported that the online giant’s stream of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 27-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers averaged 13 million viewers, but either way, the NFL and Amazon started their exclusive 11-year deal — worth $1 billion a year — with a splash.

Amazon’s live stream generated more viewers than any other show on broadcast or cable TV Thursday night.

  • Amazon says “TNF” drew a 4.25 rating among adults in the 18-34 age group, tops for the week in that coveted demographic — and 18% higher than any NFL game this season.
  • The average viewer age was lowered to 47 from 54 compared to last year’s tri-cast on Fox, NFL Network, and Amazon.
  • It was the most-watched program of the night on broadcast or cable, beating the No. 2 show, “Young Sheldon” on CBS, by 271%.
  • Local telecasts in Los Angeles and Kansas City averaged 602,00 and 550,000 viewers, respectively.

Sign-Up Here, Please

Jay Marine, Amazon’s vice president in charge of Prime Video, wrote in an internal memo that its first “TNF” stream drew in a record number of Prime subscriptions.

The game brought in more signups in a three-hour period than any other day in company history, including Cyber Monday, Black Friday, and Prime Day, said Marine.

Last year, the NFL accounted for 48 of the 50 most-watched shows on linear TV.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Netflix Secures Commercial Distribution for Expanded NFL Slate

The streaming giant’s full NFL slate will be shown in commercial establishments.
The OG Football Show
Exclusive

Trey Wingo Reuniting With Former ESPN Colleagues for New NFL Show

The show will air on YouTube and audio platforms every Monday.

Emmitt Smith Accused of Running $2.5M Scheme on Solar Deal

The former Cowboys star was sued over a solar deal gone sour.
Oct 16, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football game analyst Kirk Herbstreit stands on the field during halftime of the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The 2026 NFL Season’s 13 Most Intriguing Media Personalities

Kirk Herbstreit and Tony Romo are among the notable names.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

9/3/26 – Clippers-Kawhi Penalized, Tiger’s DUI Plea, Schrager’s ESPN Show

0:00

Featured Today

Teams Are Spending Millions to Build Luxury Locker Rooms

It’s a recruiting pitch, a retention tool, and a seven-figure line item.
September 1, 2026

High School Football Sidelines Are Clogged With Content Creators

Administrators call these amateur newcomers the “pajama paparazzi.”
Aug 3, 2026; Washington, D.C., USA; Alexandra Eala (PHI) kisses the championship trophy during the trophy ceremony after her match against Jessica Pegula (USA) (not pictured) in the women's singles final of the 2026 Mubadala DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
August 30, 2026

How Alex Eala Turned the Philippines Into a Tennis Nation

A December homecoming match could break tennis’s attendance record.
August 26, 2026

Deshaun Watson Has Done the Impossible: Unite Browns Fans

Watson was named the starter after complaining boos were “personal.”
August 23, 2026

Dan Snyder ‘Invisible’ in NFL Three Years After Commanders Sale

Snyder has had little to no contact with former NFL associates.
Sep 30, 2024; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) talks with team owner Steve Ballmer during media day at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Clippers Punishment Puts Disputed ESPN Report Under Spotlight

An NBA spokesperson previously called the ESPN report inaccurate.
Exclusive
September 2, 2026

New York Times Union Demands Company Abandon Kalshi Talks

The union is “deeply concerned” about deal discussions.
September 2, 2026

Streamer Victory+ Abruptly Collapses After Missing Payments

The free streamer had deals with NWSL, NHL, MLB, and WNBA teams.
Sponsored

Kerri Walsh Jennings’s Playbook for the Future of Volleyball

The former gold medalist talks NCAA, the Olympics, & investing in volleyball.
First at FOS
September 1, 2026

Massachusetts Reviewing Bill Simmons’s Proxy Betting Admission

Simmons said he had his daughter’s boyfriend place bets for him.
September 1, 2026

Tony Romo Indicates CBS Return and Pleads No Contest to OWI

Romo blamed an “over-reliance on alcohol.”
Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah on the SiriusXM NFL Radio set at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Exclusive
August 31, 2026

Daniel Jeremiah Launching Podcast With ESPN and Omaha

The show launches on Sept. 3.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Exclusive
August 28, 2026

Roxanna Scott Out As ESPN’s Top Editor After Less Than a Year

Scott was named ESPN’s editor-in-chief last December.