Officially announced by CBS Sports and NFL Network, we now know the official Thursday Night Football pregame show panel. The host will be James Brown and he’ll be joined by CBS’ Bill Cowher and NFL Network’s Deion Sanders. They’ll hit the air at 7:30 p.m. ET and go until kickoff at 8:25 p.m.
CBS/NFL Network will simulcast the pregame and Thursday Night Football from Weeks 2 through 8 and then NFL Network exclusively in Weeks 9-12 and 13-16. There will be a Saturday doubleheader with an NFL Network game at 4:30 p.m. and a CBS game at 8 p.m.
JB, Cowher and Sanders will not only host the pregame show, but the halftime program as well. They will be located at each game site inside the stadium.
In addition, there will be a second set located outside the stadium and the crew for that set has yet to be announced.
We have what CBS is saying about the new pregame for Thursday Night Football.
CBS SPORTS AND NFL NETWORK TEAM UP FOR EXTENSIVE ON-SITE COVERAGE OF THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Featuring Multiple Sets on Location, Pre-Game Coverage Begins at 6:00 PM ET and Concludes With Immediate Post-Game Show on CBS and NFL Network
James Brown, Deion Sanders, and Bill Cowher Anchor Prime Time Coverage at 7:30 PM, ET on CBS and NFL NetworkCBS Sports and NFL Network today announced plans for extensive on-site pre-game and post-game coverage for its broadcasts of Thursday Night Football. The networks team up for over two hours of coverage, featuring CBS Sports and NFL Network analysts and reporters, originating from the site of each game for all 15 weeks, beginning at 6:00 PM ET on NFL Network and continuing through kick-off at 8:25 PM ET.
At 7:30 PM ET, host James Brown is joined by analysts Deion Sanders and Bill Cowher. The show will air on CBS and be simulcast on NFL Network weeks 2-8, and on NFL Network during weeks 9-16. Brown, Cowher and Sanders will also provide halftime coverage.
Additionally, each week Thursday Night Football coverage will conclude with a live post-game show airing both on CBS and NFL Network.
The networks will utilize two sets each week on location to capture all the pre-game action and excitement, with the joint studio team contributing across all shows leading up to kick-off and post-game. One set will be positioned in the stadium, while the other set will be located outside the venue. The full talent lineup for the pre-game and post-game coverage of Thursday Night Football will be announced this summer.
The full slate of 16 regular-season Thursday Night Football games will be produced by CBS with its broadcasters and production team, including Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. The Thursday Night Football schedule kicks off on September 11 with Steelers vs. Ravens from Baltimore.
2014 Thursday Night Football Schedule
Kickoff times are 8:25 PM ET unless otherwise noted
Sept. 11 (Week 2): Steelers at Ravens Nov. 6 (Week 10): Browns at Bengals Sept. 18 (Week 3): Buccaneers at Falcons Nov. 13 (Week 11): Bills at Dolphins Sept. 25 (Week 4): Giants at Redskins Nov. 20 (Week 12): Chiefs at Raiders Oct. 2 (Week 5): Vikings at Packers Dec. 4 (Week 14): Cowboys at Bears Oct. 9 (Week 6): Colts at Texans Dec. 11 (Week 15): Cardinals at Rams Oct. 16 (Week 7): Jets at Patriots Dec. 18 (Week 16): Titans at Jaguars Oct. 23 (Week 8): Chargers at Broncos Dec. 20 (Week 16): Eagles at Redskins* Oct. 30 (Week 9): Saints at Panthers Dec. 20 (Week 16): Chargers at 49ers* Weeks 2-8 and one of the Saturday games from Week 16 will be broadcast by CBS and simulcast on NFL Network. Weeks 9-12 and 14-16, including one of the Saturday games during Week 16 will be televised by NFL Network.
*The kickoff times for each of the Saturday games – Philadelphia at Washington and San Diego at San Francisco – will be determined at a later date.
We’re done here.
