ESPN led all cable sports nets and channels with heavy sports content in primetime viewership last year, averaging 2.3 million viewers. The net ranked third overall among all cable channels, coming in behind USA Network and Disney Channel. The 2.3 million average primetime viewers was down 2% from last year, as the net's marquee property, "MNF," saw a 10% drop in audience. ESPN2 also saw primetime audience drop last year (-15%), while ESPNews saw its average viewership climb 9%. Among sports nets, Golf Channel had the biggest primetime gains (+28%). Fox Soccer, MLB Network and NFL Network also posted double-digit percentage gains. TBS also saw a double-digit percentage drop last year in primetime (-10%), while still ranking seventh overall. Fuel TV ranked last among all cable nets in primetime audience.
ON A 24-HOUR BASIS: In terms of total-day audience, ESPN's 1.037 million average viewers were down 4% from '10. The net ranked 10th overall among all cable channels in 24-hour audience. Similar to primetime audience, Golf Channel also led all sports cable nets in total-day audience growth (+28%), while MLB Network showed 20% growth. FX, which began airing college football this past season, saw total-day viewership grow 17% in '11.
| PRIMETIME CABLE NET VIEWERSHIP |
| NET | '11 (000) | '10 (000) | % +/- |
| ESPN | 2,342 | 2,401 | -2% |
| TNT | 2,232 | 2,259 | -1% |
| TBS | 1,614 | 1,802 | -10% |
| FX | 1,532 | 1,273 | 20% |
| Spike TV | 904 | 923 | -2% |
| ESPN2 | 541 | 635 | -15% |
| NBC Sports Network (Versus) | 293 | 279 | 5% |
| NFL Network | 284 | 258 | 10% |
| Speed | 237 | 228 | 4% |
| Galavision | 195 | 163 | 20% |
| Golf Channel | 152 | 119 | 28% |
| MLB Network | 109 | 95 | 15% |
| ESPNews | 95 | 87 | 9% |
| NBA TV* | 79 | n/a | n/a |
| Fox Soccer | 46 | 39 | 18% |
| Fuel TV | 15 | n/a | n/a |
| TOTAL-DAY CABLE NET VIEWERSHIP |
| NET | '11 (000) | '10 (000) | % +/- |
| TNT | 1,223 | 1,339 | -9% |
| ESPN | 1,037 | 1,083 | -4% |
| TBS | 832 | 925 | -10% |
| FX | 819 | 699 | 17% |
| Spike TV | 546 | 590 | -7% |
| ESPN2 | 310 | 338 | -8% |
| Speed | 138 | 138 | 0% |
| NFL Network | 128 | 114 | 12% |
| Galavision | 126 | 109 | 16% |
| NBC Sports Network (Versus) | 95 | 98 | -3% |
| Golf Channel | 91 | 71 | 28% |
| ESPNews | 61 | 64 | -5% |
| MLB Network | 49 | 41 | 20% |
| NBA TV* | 38 | n/a | n/a |
| Fox Soccer | 29 | 28 | 4% |
| Fuel TV | 10 | n/a | n/a |
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NOTES: * = No comparison for NBA TV as the net did not become rated until Oct. '10. 1.) Figures not available for nets that do not subscribe to regular Nielsen ratings, including ESPNU, NHL Network, Universal Sports, Tennis Channel, ESPN Classic, Fox College Sports, Big Ten Network, Longhorn Network and CBS Sports Network. 2.) The '11 period is measured as Dec. 27, 2010 through Dec. 25, 2011. The similar period for '10 is measured as Dec. 28, 2009 through Dec. 26, 2010.
