ESPN and ESPN2 rank 12th and 13th, respectively, in distribution among all U.S. cable networks during the month of April with just over 100 million homes each. Among Nielsen-rated networks, ESPN Classic's distribution is higher than only the Outdoor Channel (34.975 million) and Fuel TV (31.196 million). Listed below is U.S. distribution for cable sports networks during the month of April, with comparisons to the same period in previous years (THE DAILY).
CABLE SPORTS NETWORK DISTRIBUTION
AMONG U.S. HOUSEHOLDS IN APRIL |
| NETWORK | '11 (000) | '10 (000) | '09 (000) | '08 (000) | '07 (000) | '06 (000) |
| ESPN | 100,122 | 99,341 | 98,262 | 96,318 | 93,052 | 90,617 |
| ESPN2 | 100,044 | 98,820 | 97,916 | 95,982 | 92,579 | 90,043 |
| Golf Channel | 83,562 | 83,535 | 80,817 | 74,000 | 74,692 | 68,524 |
| Speed | 78,502 | 75,255 | 73,332 | 72,044 | 69,970 | 66,239 |
| Versus | 76,056 | 63,793 | 75,298 | 72,516 | 71,749 | 63,956 |
| ESPNews | 73,953 | 72,668 | 68,081 | 63,374 | 56,435 | 48,495 |
| ESPNU | 72,570 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| NFL Network | 56,853 | 56,467 | 41,741 | 42,192 | 41,450 | n/a |
| MLB Network | 55,559 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| NBA TV | 55,175 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Fox Soccer | 38,616 | 36,233 | 34,313 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| ESPN Classic | 35,879 | 56,673 | 63,369 | 62,473 | 65,089 | 60,596 |
NOTE: Distribution not listed for networks that do not subscribe to daily Nielsen Co. ratings, including NHL Network, Universal Sports, CBS Sports Network, Tennis Channel and Fox College Sports.
