How dominant is the NFL on TV? Not only did it post nine of the 10 highest-rated network sports programs of the first quarter with its Super Bowl and playoff coverage — only the Rose Bowl prevented a sweep — but the league also scored the quarter’s top-rated cable show (rankings below) for a season-ending game on Jan. 1 that had no playoff implications.
| TOP 10 CABLE SHOWS |
Rank | Net | Program | Date (day) | Nat'l rating
(cov. area) / share | No. of HHs
(000s) |
| 1 | ESPN | NFL: St. Louis-Dallas | Jan. 1 (Sun.) | 6.0 (7.4)/12 | 6,653 |
| 2 | TNT | NBA All-Star Game | Feb. 19 (Sun.) | 4.3 (5.2)/8 | 4,689 |
| 3 | TNT | NASCAR: NCS Budweiser Shootout | Feb. 12 (Sun.) | 3.7 (4.5)/8 | 4,090 |
| 4 | ESPN | AFC/NFC Pro Bowl | Feb. 12 (Sun.) | 3.7 (4.5)/7 | 4,067 |
| 5 | TNT | NBA All-Star Tipoff | Feb. 19 (Sun.) | 3.0 (3.7)/6 | 3,295 |
| 6 | TNT | NBA All-Star Saturday Night | Feb. 18 (Sat.) | 2.9 (3.6)/6 | 3,210 |
| 7 | ESPN | NFL Prime Time | Jan. 1 (Sun.) | 2.9 (3.5)/6 | 3,185 |
| 8 | ESPN | NCAA Basketball: UNC-Duke | March 4 (Sat.) | 2.8 (3.5)/6 | 3,134 |
| 9 | ESPN | SportsCenter | Jan. 1 (Sun.) | 2.7 (3.3)/8 | 3,009 |
| 10 | TNT | NASCAR: Busch Series Hershey's Kissables 300 | Feb. 18 (Sat.) | 2.7 (3.3)/7 | 2,942 |
Sources: Nielsen Media Research, SportsBusiness Daily archives
Research by Katherine Johnson-Reid, SportsBusiness Daily
