It's become pretty clear that on cable this fall there's football and then there's everything else.
Football was by far the most dominant programming during November, according to monthly ratings released yesterday by Nielsen, leading ESPN to first place in primetime, ahead of the usually dominant USA.
The top six shows of the month in total viewers were all NFL games, including five "Monday Night Football" contests on ESPN. The NFL Network had the Nos. 5, 8 and 10 shows, two games and one pregame show.
ESPN averaged 2.4 million total viewers in primetime, edging No. 2 USA by just 24,000 viewers.
And the network's edge could be even bigger in the coming month, based on the most recent "MNF" game, which is on pace to break the all-time record for cable.
Monday's contest between the undefeated New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots, who went undefeated during the regular season two years ago, averaged a 14.4 metered-market household rating, the best since "MNF" moved to cable three years ago.
It was up slightly, 0.2, over the current record holder, the Minnesota Vikings-Green Bay Packers game in October, which averaged 21.8 million total viewers when final ratings were released. Final ratings for the Saints-Patriots game should be out today.
Even if the game does not break the record, it will be one of the top two or three shows on cable this year, continuing a huge season for the NFL.
Fox is having its best season of NFL coverage ever and NBC's "Sunday Night Football" is the No. 1 show on television.
Ratings should continue to be strong in the coming weeks, as there are still two undefeated teams, the Saints and the Indianapolis Colts, and popular Vikings quarterback Brett Favre is pushing to another Super Bowl.
***
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TOP 25 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE PROGRAMS
Ranked on Total Viewers
November 2009
|
|
Rank
|
Program
|
Net
|
Rating
|
(000)
|
|
1
|
STEELERS/BRONCOS
|
ESPN
|
6.3
|
16002
|
|
2
|
EAGLES/REDSKINS
|
ESPN
|
5.1
|
12788
|
|
3
|
FALCONS/SAINTS
|
ESPN
|
4.9
|
12400
|
|
4
|
TITANS/TEXANS
|
ESPN
|
4.8
|
12078
|
|
5
|
2009 - GIANTS VS. BRONCOS
|
NFLN
|
4.3
|
6105
|
|
6
|
RAVENS/BROWNS
|
ESPN
|
4.0
|
10196
|
|
7
|
SPONGEBOB TRUTH OR SQUARE
|
NICK
|
3.3
|
8387
|
|
8
|
SPONGEBOB TRUTH OR SQUARE
|
NICK
|
2.8
|
7272
|
|
8
|
2009 - BEARS VS. 49ERS
|
NFLN
|
2.8
|
3899
|
|
10
|
PRE-KICK
|
NFLN
|
2.7
|
3741
|
|
11
|
COLL FTBALL-THUR NIGHT
L
|
ESPN
|
2.6
|
6691
|
|
12
|
WHITE COLLAR
|
USA
|
2.5
|
6271
|
|
13
|
WWE ENTERTAINMENT
|
USA
|
2.4
|
5989
|
|
14
|
FANBOY & CHUM CHUM
|
NICK
|
2.3
|
5937
|
|
14
|
MONK
|
USA
|
2.3
|
5823
|
|
14
|
MONK
|
USA
|
2.3
|
5787
|
|
17
|
SPONGEBOB
|
NICK
|
2.2
|
5679
|
|
17
|
ICARLY
|
NICK
|
2.2
|
5669
|
|
17
|
WWE ENTERTAINMENT
|
USA
|
2.2
|
5653
|
|
17
|
SPONGEBOB
|
NICK
|
2.2
|
5509
|
|
17
|
POSTGUN
|
NFLN
|
2.2
|
3120
|
|
22
|
FANBOY & CHUM CHUM
|
NICK
|
2.1
|
5461
|
|
22
|
MONK
|
USA
|
2.1
|
5386
|
|
22
|
SPONGEBOB THE MOVIE
|
NICK
|
2.1
|
5375
|
|
22
|
WWE ENTERTAINMENT
|
USA
|
2.1
|
5329
|
|
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
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