ESPN and ESPN2 saw double-digit percentage declines in primetime viewership in October, down 16% and 14%, respectively. As the '11-12 NHL season got underway, Versus also saw a drop in primetime audience (-6%). Speed led all sports cable networks with a 28% gain in primetime audience, led by increases for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events. NFL Network also saw a healthy year-over-year increase (+25%). The net saw a 21% gain for viewership on a 24-hour basis (total day). Golf Channel led all sports cable nets with a 21% gain in total-day viewership, fueled by the net's best audience ever for the PGA Tour Fall Series events. Listed below is primetime and total-day viewership for cable sports nets during October, compared to the same period last year. See tomorrow's issue of THE DAILY for the top individual sports telecasts during October.
| CABLE SPORTS NETWORKS' PRIMETIME VIEWERSHIP DURING OCTOBER |
| NET | '11 (000) | '10 (000) | % +/- |
| ESPN | 3,070 | 3,642 | -16% |
| ESPN2 | 648 | 752 | -14% |
| Speed | 192 | 150 | 28% |
| Versus | 189 | 201 | -6% |
| NFL Network | 152 | 122 | 25% |
| Golf Channel | 106 | 105 | 1% |
| ESPNews | 95 | 87 | 9% |
| MLB Network | 62 | 59 | 5% |
| Fox Soccer | 36 | 34 | 6% |
| NBA TV | 29 | n/a | n/a |
| Fuel TV | 14 | n/a | n/a |
| | | | |
| CABLE SPORTS NETWORKS' TOTAL-DAY VIEWERSHIP DURING OCTOBER |
| NET | '11 (000) | '10 (000) | % +/- |
| ESPN | 1,289 | 1,421 | -9% |
| ESPN2 | 346 | 375 | -8% |
| Speed | 122 | 115 | 6% |
| NFL Network | 118 | 101 | 17% |
| Golf Channel | 69 | 57 | 21% |
| Versus | 69 | 74 | -7% |
| ESPNews | 68 | 67 | 1% |
| MLB Network | 40 | 35 | 14% |
| Fox Soccer | 29 | 25 | 16% |
| NBA TV | 17 | n/a | n/a |
| Fuel TV | 7 | n/a | n/a |
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NOTE: Measurement period for this year was from Sept. 26-Oct. 30. The same period last year measured from Sept. 27-Oct. 31. Viewership not listed for networks that do not subscribe to daily Nielsen Co. ratings. Among those networks not listed are ESPNU, NHL Network, Universal Sports, CBS Sports Network, Tennis Channel, Fox College Sports and the Big Ten Network.
