NFL Network is in 61.2 million U.S. homes in September as the channel gets set for its earliest start to live regular season games yet. The net previously began its slate of live games in early November. The mark of 61.2 million homes is up from 56.5 million at the same point last year and up from 57.4 million in Nov. ’11. No U.S. cable nets are in over 100 million homes in September, the first time a channel has failed to hit the mark since March. The Weather Channel tops all U.S. nets with 99.6 million homes. ESPN is in 98.3 million homes this month, tops among all sports-specific cable nets, but down slightly from 98.8 million in Sept. ’11.

Listed below is U.S. distribution for the top 10 cable TV nets in September, with comparisons to previous years. Also listed is distribution for cable nets with significant sports content.

NOTES: Figures not available for nets that do not subscribe to regular Nielsen ratings, including Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, Fox College Sports, Longhorn Network, NHL Network, Tennis Channel and Universal Sports.