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NBC joins the mix for Thursday night football
By Chad Finn
Globe Staff

The NFL announced Monday it has reached a deal with CBS and NBC to share its “Thursday Night Football’’ package with the NFL Network for the next two seasons.

CBS exclusively shared the package with the NFL Network in 2014 and 2015, broadcasting eight games nation­ally in the first half of the schedule. Under the parameters of the new deal, CBS and NBC will each broadcast five Thursday night games. All Thursday night network broadcasts will continue to be simulcast on NFL Network.

Financial terms of the deal were not announced.

“We are continuing to make Thursday Night Football bigger and better,’’ said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement. “CBS has played an integ­ral role over the last two seasons in helping build Thursdays as a night for NFL football, and we’re excited to have them on board again.

“At the same time, we’re thrilled to add NBC to the Thursday Night Football mix, a trusted partner with a ­proven track record of success broadcasting NFL football in prime time.’’

NFL Network will also exclusively televise an eight-game schedule of regular-season games made up of Thursday games, late-season Saturday games, and games to be determined.

Both CBS and NBC will produce “Thursday Night Football’’ with their lead broadcasters and production teams, and both will contribute to the production of “Thursday Night Football’’ games exclusively on NFL Network.

The NFL is in discussions with prospective digital partners for streaming rights to “Thursday Night Football.’’ A deal is expected in the near future.

“Our mission when we first put games on Thursday nights in 2006 was to work strategically to make Thursdays a night for NFL football in the mold of what Monday and Sunday nights mean to millions of fans across the country,’’ said Patriots owner Robert Kraft, chairman of the NFL’s broadcast committee.

“We’ve made great strides since that point, and growing the base of games with CBS, now with NBC, and soon with digital streaming will only help us solidify this night in the consciousness of NFL fans here and globally.’’

For the 16 games of the 2015 schedule, “Thursday Night Football’’ on CBS and NFL Network averaged a 7.9 household rating and 13 million viewers.

Chad Finn can be reached at finn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeChadFinn.