The 100 most-viewed sporting events on broadcast television during the 2010 calendar year. The NFL dominated the list, taking up 65 of the top 100 spots — including 20 of the top 25. The 2010 Winter Olympics took up another 18 spots.
Of the seventeen non-NFL, non-Olympic telecasts to make the list, just two made the top 20 — January’s BCS National Championship Game (30.776 mil) and Game 7 of the Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals (28.203 mil).
Overall, those remaining seventeen events included six NBA games (all from the Lakers/Celtics NBA Finals), three World Cup games (Spain/Netherlands, USA/Ghana, USA/England) three college football games (the National Championship Game, Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl), two college basketball games (both from the Final Four), horse racing’s Kentucky Derby, and just one Major League Baseball game (Game 4 of the World Series).
The lone baseball game ranked 97th, with just over 15.5 million viewers.
Of note, final ratings/viewership were not available for the Week 16 NFL singleheader window on CBS and the Week 16 NFL regional window on FOX. Both of those events likely finished among the 100 most-viewed of 2010, and will be added when that information becomes available.
100 Most-Viewed Sporting Events of 2010 on Broadcast
|
#
|
Date
|
Sport
|
Game/Event | Net | Rating |
Viewers
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Sun., 2/7/10 |
NFL
|
Super Bowl XLIV: Saints/Colts | CBS |
45.0
|
106,480
|
|
2
|
Sun., 1/24/10 |
NFL
|
NFC Championship: Vikings/Saints | FOX |
30.6
|
57,933
|
|
3
|
Sun., 1/24/10 |
NFL
|
AFC Championship: Jets/Colts | CBS |
26.3
|
46,917
|
|
4
|
Sun., 1/17/10 |
NFL
|
NFC Divisional: Cowboys/Vikings | FOX |
22.0
|
37,669
|
|
5
|
Sun., 1/17/10 |
NFL
|
AFC Divisional: Jets/Chargers | CBS |
20.1
|
35,627
|
|
6
|
Sun., 1/10/10 |
NFL
|
NFC Wild Card: Packers/Cardinals | FOX |
19.6
|
34,406
|
|
7
|
Fri., 2/12/10 |
Olympics
|
Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony | NBC |
17.3
|
32,641
|
|
8
|
Sat., 1/9/10 |
NFL
|
NFC Wild Card: Eagles/Cowboys | NBC |
18.0
|
32,124
|
|
9
|
Thu., 11/25/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Saints/Cowboys | FOX |
13.9
|
31,874
|
|
10
|
Thu., 1/7/10 |
NCAA FB
|
BCS National Championship Game: Alabama/Texas | ABC |
17.2
|
30,776
|
|
11
|
Sat., 1/16/10 |
NFL
|
AFC Divisional: Ravens/Colts | CBS |
17.0
|
30,569
|
|
12
|
Sun., 12/12/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Patriots/Bears (or other regional action) | CBS |
17.5
|
30,468
|
|
13
|
Wed., 2/17/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
16.7
|
29,416
|
|
14
|
Thu., 6/17/10 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: Celtics/Lakers Game 7 | ABC |
15.6
|
28,203
|
|
15
|
Sun., 9/12/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Packers/Eagles (or other regional action) | FOX |
16.5
|
28,023
|
|
16
|
Sat., 1/16/10 |
NFL
|
NFC Divisional: Cardinals/Saints | FOX |
16.1
|
27,910
|
|
17
|
Sun., 11/7/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Colts/Eagles (or other regional action) | CBS |
16.3
|
27,789
|
|
18
|
Thu., 11/25/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Patriots/Lions | CBS |
13.4
|
27,753
|
|
19
|
Thu., 9/9/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Vikings/Saints | NBC |
16.5
|
27,485
|
|
20
|
Sun., 12/5/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Cowboys/Colts (or other regional action) | FOX |
16.3
|
27,428
|
|
21
|
Sun., 1/10/10 |
NFL
|
AFC Wild Card: Ravens/Patriots | CBS |
16.9
|
27,413
|
|
22
|
Sun., 9/19/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Patriots/Jets (or other regional action) | CBS |
16.2
|
27,010
|
|
23
|
Sat., 2/20/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
14.7
|
26,668
|
|
24
|
Sun., 11/28/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Eagles/Bears (or other regional action) | FOX |
15.3
|
26,610
|
|
25
|
Sun., 1/3/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Eagles/Cowboys (or other regional action) | FOX |
15.2
|
26,453
|
|
26
|
Sun., 2/14/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
14.3
|
26,372
|
|
27
|
Sun., 11/14/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Cowboys/Giants (or other regional action) | FOX |
15.5
|
26,226
|
|
28
|
Sat., 2/13/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
14.0
|
26,189
|
|
29
|
Sun., 10/17/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Cowboys/Vikings (or other regional action) | FOX |
15.7
|
25,980
|
|
30
|
Sun., 12/12/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Eagles/Cowboys | NBC |
15.2
|
25,728
|
|
31
|
Sun., 12/19/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Jets/Steelers (or other regional action) | CBS |
15.0
|
25,677
|
|
32
|
Sun., 10/24/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Vikings/Packers | NBC |
15.4
|
25,675
|
|
33
|
Sun., 9/12/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Cowboys/Washington | NBC |
15.0
|
25,262
|
|
34
|
Mon., 2/15/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
14.2
|
25,224
|
|
35
|
Sun., 10/31/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Vikings/Patriots (or other regional action) | FOX |
15.2
|
25,221
|
|
36
|
Sat., 1/9/10 |
NFL
|
AFC Wild Card: Jets/Bengals | NBC |
15.2
|
25,048
|
|
37
|
Thu., 2/18/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
14.5
|
24,782
|
|
38
|
Fri., 2/26/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
13.9
|
24,522
|
|
39
|
Sun., 12/26/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Giants/Packers (or other regional action) | FOX |
13.6
|
24,300
|
|
40
|
Sun., 7/11/10 |
World Cup
|
Spain/Netherlands, match portion | ABC |
8.1
|
24,300
|
| Univ. |
—
|
|||||
|
41
|
Sun., 12/19/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Packers/Patriots | NBC |
14.0
|
24,166
|
|
42
|
Fri., 1/1/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Rose Bowl: Ohio State/Oregon | ABC |
13.2
|
24,025
|
|
43
|
Mon., 4/5/10 |
NCAA BB
|
National Championship Game: Duke/Butler | CBS |
14.2
|
23,994
|
|
44
|
Tue., 12/28/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Vikings/Eagles | NBC |
13.8
|
23,700
|
|
45
|
Sun., 11/21/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Colts/Patriots (or other regional action) | CBS |
14.2
|
23,596
|
|
46
|
Fri., 2/19/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
13.4
|
23,304
|
|
47
|
Sun., 2/21/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
13.2
|
23,294
|
|
48
|
Sun., 11/21/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Giants/Eagles | NBC |
13.9
|
23,204
|
|
49
|
Sun., 9/26/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Colts/Broncos (or other regional action) | CBS |
14.0
|
23,134
|
|
50
|
Sun., 10/3/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Washington/Eagles (or other regaionl action) | FOX |
13.8
|
23,134
|
|
51
|
Sun., 9/19/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Giants/Colts | NBC |
13.8
|
23,100
|
|
52
|
Thu., 2/25/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
13.6
|
22,920
|
|
53
|
Sun., 12/5/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Ravens/Steelers | NBC |
13.4
|
22,509
|
|
54
|
Sun., 9/26/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Cowboys/Texans (or other regional action) | FOX |
12.8
|
22,237
|
|
55
|
Sun., 10/24/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Patriots/Chargers (or other regional action) | CBS |
13.1
|
21,918
|
|
56
|
Sun., 12/19/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Eagles/Giants (or other regional action) | FOX |
13.0
|
21,881
|
|
57
|
Sun., 10/17/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Ravens/Patriots (or other regional action) | CBS |
12.8
|
21,484
|
|
58
|
Sun., 2/28/10 |
Olympics
|
Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony | NBC |
12.1
|
21,403
|
|
59
|
Tue., 2/23/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
12.6
|
21,279
|
|
60
|
Sun., 11/14/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Patriots/Steelers | NBC |
12.8
|
21,182
|
|
61
|
Sun., 10/3/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Bears/Giants | NBC |
12.5
|
20,929
|
|
62
|
Mon., 2/22/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
12.5
|
20,926
|
|
63
|
Sun., 10/10/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Titans/Cowboys (or other regional action) | CBS |
12.7
|
20,787
|
|
64
|
Sat., 2/27/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
11.7
|
20,630
|
|
65
|
Tue., 2/16/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
12.2
|
20,330
|
|
66
|
Sun., 11/21/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Packers/Vikings (or other regional action) | FOX |
11.9
|
20,283
|
|
67
|
Wed., 2/24/10 |
Olympics
|
Primetime Winter Olympics | NBC |
11.9
|
19,808
|
|
68
|
Sat., 6/26/10 |
World Cup
|
Ghana/United States, match portion | ABC |
8.5
|
19,400
|
| Univ. |
—
|
|||||
|
69
|
Sun., 11/7/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Cowboys/Packers | NBC |
11.6
|
19,368
|
|
70
|
Sun., 10/10/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Packers/Washington (or other regional action) | FOX |
11.6
|
19,314
|
|
71
|
Sun., 10/17/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Colts/Washington | NBC |
11.7
|
19,115
|
|
72
|
Sun., 11/28/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Chargers/Colts | NBC |
11.4
|
19,100
|
|
73
|
Sun., 1/3/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Steelers/Dolphins (or other regional action) | CBS |
11.2
|
18,844
|
|
74
|
Sun., 6/13/10 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: Lakers/Celtics Game 5 | ABC |
10.8
|
18,654
|
|
75
|
Sun., 2/28/10 |
Olympics
|
Afternoon Winter Olympics (includes USA/Canada Men’s Hockey Gold Medal Game, which drew 27.6 million) | NBC |
10.4
|
18,313
|
|
76
|
Sun., 9/26/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Jets/Dolphins | NBC |
11.3
|
18,147
|
|
77
|
Sun., 10/31/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Steelers/Saints | NBC |
10.7
|
18,106
|
|
78
|
Tue., 6/15/10 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: Celtics/Lakers Game 6 | ABC |
10.4
|
17,960
|
|
79
|
Sun., 9/19/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Bears/Cowboys (or other regional action) | FOX |
10.6
|
17,769
|
|
80
|
Sun., 10/3/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Ravens/Steelers (or other regional action) | CBS |
10.6
|
17,606
|
|
81
|
Sun., 12/12/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Packers/Lions (or other regional action) | FOX |
10.5
|
17,490
|
|
82
|
Sat., 6/12/10 |
World Cup
|
United States/England, match portion | ABC |
7.4
|
17,100
|
| Univ. |
—
|
|||||
|
83
|
Sun., 10/10/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Eagles/49ers | NBC |
10.3
|
16,856
|
|
84
|
Sun., 11/28/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Packers/Falcons (or other regional action) | FOX |
9.9
|
16,681
|
|
85
|
Sun., 4/11/10 |
Golf (M)
|
The Masters, Final Round | CBS |
10.7
|
16,676
|
|
86
|
Sat., 5/1/10 |
Horse Racing
|
Kentucky Derby, race portion | NBC |
9.8
|
16,540
|
|
87
|
Thu., 6/10/10 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: Lakers/Celtics Game 4 | ABC |
9.9
|
16,371
|
|
88
|
Sun., 1/3/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Jets/Bengals | NBC |
10.0
|
16,333
|
|
89
|
Sun., 11/7/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Giants/Seahawks (or other regional action) | FOX |
9.8
|
16,279
|
|
90
|
Sun., 9/12/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Bengals/Patriots (or other regional action) | CBS |
9.7
|
16,175
|
|
91
|
Tue., 6/8/10 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: Lakers/Celtics Game 3 | ABC |
9.6
|
15,959
|
|
92
|
Sat., 4/3/10 |
NCAA BB
|
Final Four: Duke/West Virginia | CBS |
9.2
|
15,823
|
|
93
|
Sun., 12/5/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Washington/Giants (or other regional action) | FOX |
9.8
|
15,768
|
|
94
|
Sun., 6/6/10 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: Celtics/Lakers Game 2 | ABC |
9.2
|
15,718
|
|
95
|
Sun., 11/14/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Jets/Browns (or other regional action) | CBS |
9.6
|
15,676
|
|
96
|
Sun., 1/3/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Giants/Vikings (or other regional action) | NFL |
9.6
|
15,617
|
|
97
|
Sun., 10/31/10 |
MLB
|
World Series: Giants/Rangers Game 4 | FOX |
9.0
|
15,537
|
|
98
|
Fri., 1/1/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Sugar Bowl: Florida/Cincinnati | FOX |
8.5
|
15,533
|
|
99
|
Sun., 12/12/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Bengals/Steelers (or other regional action) | CBS |
9.6
|
15,498
|
|
100
|
Sun., 11/28/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Jaguars/Giants (or other regional action) | CBS |
9.3
|
15,420
|
