For the first time this season, Thursday Night Football will be streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime. After reaching a record-setting deal in the NFL offseason, the broadcast crew has been assembled, the pregame show is ready, the theme song has been put together, and now we get to see what Amazon can do. So, why is Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime, and what led us to this point?
Why Is Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime?
From 2018 to 2021, NFL fans became accustomed to watching Thursday Night Football on FOX. However, early last year, FOX announced that they would be opting out of the final year of its contract rights deal with the NFL.
Of course, they decided to continue broadcasting NFL Sundays, including “America’s Game of the Week” every Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
According to FOX’s CEO Lachlan Murdoch, the decision to opt out of their Thursday Night Football contract was simply the right strategic move.
In came Amazon, who signed a deal to now be the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football from 2022 through 2033. Although the NFL declined to comment on the total amount of the agreement, according to people familiar with the matter, Amazon is paying about $1 billion per year for Thursday Night Football.
“NFL games are the most watched live programming in the United States, and this unprecedented Thursday Night Football package gives tens of millions of new and existing Prime members exclusive access to must-watch live football on Prime Video,” said Mike Hopkins, Senior VP of Prime Video and Amazon Studios, in a statement after the deal was announced.
Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football Broadcast Crew
When it was announced that Amazon Prime was getting Thursday Night Football, the first question many people had was surrounding the potential broadcast crew. Well, the streaming giant did not disappoint with the talent that they brought in.
The legendary Al Michaels will be doing play-by-play, which will allow fans to feel right at home. Michaels is off his 37th season as an NFL prime-time play-by-play voice. He’ll be joined by Kirk Herbstreit as a color commentator.
MORE: 2023 NFL Schedule
Herbstreit has been at ESPN since 1996 and is famous for his role on College GameDay. After holding positions with ABC, CNN, and ESPN, Kaylee Hartung will be making her return as Amazon Prime’s sideline reporter.
When it comes to pregame and halftime reporting, there are some impressive names as well. Charissa Thompson will be the host and is joined by former NFL players Richard Sherman, Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Andrew Whitworth.
How To Watch and Live Stream TNF on Amazon Prime
TV channel
Amazon Prime Video (available on TV in local markets)
Live stream
Amazon Prime Video
Want to stream NFL games at home or on the go this season? Check out Vidgo or fuboTV, two streaming platforms that provide you with live sports across multiple devices. Additionally, make sure to check out our comprehensive guide on how to live stream NFL games.
Complete Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football schedule
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles
Date: Sept. 14
New York Giants at Cleveland Browns
Date: Sept. 21
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Date: Sept. 28
Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders
Date: Oct. 5
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
Date: Oct. 12
Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints
Date: Oct. 19
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills
Date: Oct. 26
Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers
Date: Nov. 2
Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears
Date: Nov. 9
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
Date: Nov. 16
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
Date: Nov. 24
Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys
Date: Nov. 30
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
Date: Dec. 7
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
Date: Dec. 14
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams
Date: Dec. 21
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns
Date: Dec 28
