The 100 most-viewed sporting events on cable television during the 2010 calendar year. The NFL again dominated the list, taking up 29 spots — including the top fifteen.
The NBA was also well-represented, making up a quarter of the list. LeBron James’ The Decision was the top NBA broadcast, followed by James’ last game with the Cavaliers (CLE/BOS G6: 8.983 mil).
The top non-NFL broadcast of the year on cable belonged to Major League Baseball, with Game 6 of the ALCS putting up 11.863 million viewers on TBS — the second-largest MLB audience ever on cable. Baseball games took up fifteen spots on the list.
Even in a down year, NASCAR made thirteen appearances, though only three Chase for the Cup races made the list.
100 Most-Viewed Sporting Events of 2010 on Cable
|
#
|
Date
|
Sport | Game/Event | Net | Rating |
Viewers
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Mon., 12/27/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Saints/Falcons | ESPN |
11.2
|
19,137
|
|
2
|
Mon., 10/25/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Giants/Cowboys | ESPN |
11.2
|
17,953
|
|
3
|
Mon., 9/27/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Packers/Bears | ESPN |
10.8
|
17,454
|
|
4
|
Mon., 10/11/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Vikings/Jets | ESPN |
10.7
|
17,313
|
|
5
|
Mon., 12/20/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Bears/Vikings | ESPN |
9.9
|
17,094
|
|
6
|
Mon., 12/6/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Jets/Patriots | ESPN |
10.0
|
16,533
|
|
7
|
Mon., 9/20/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Saints/49ers | ESPN |
9.4
|
15,120
|
|
8
|
Mon., 11/15/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Eagles/Washington | ESPN |
9.3
|
15,032
|
|
9
|
Mon., 11/8/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Steelers/Bengals | ESPN |
9.2
|
15,016
|
|
10
|
Mon., 9/13/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Ravens/Jets | ESPN |
9.4
|
14,973
|
|
11
|
Mon., 10/4/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Patriots/Dolphins | ESPN |
9.0
|
13,971
|
|
12
|
Sun., 1/31/10 |
NFL
|
Pro Bowl | ESPN |
7.1
|
12,297
|
|
13
|
Mon., 12/13/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Ravens/Texans | ESPN |
7.7
|
11,927
|
|
14
|
Mon., 11/1/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Texans/Colts | ESPN |
7.4
|
11,911
|
|
15
|
Mon., 9/13/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Chargers/Chiefs | ESPN |
7.6
|
11,889
|
|
16
|
Fri., 10/22/10 |
MLB
|
ALCS: Yankees/Rangers Game 6 | TBS |
7.2
|
11,863
|
|
17
|
Mon., 11/22/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Broncos/Chargers | ESPN |
7.2
|
11,664
|
|
18
|
Mon., 11/29/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: 49ers/Cardinals | ESPN |
7.0
|
11,202
|
|
19
|
Thu., 7/8/10 |
NBA
|
The Decision | ESPN |
6.1
|
9,948
|
|
20
|
Mon., 9/6/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Regular Season: Boise State/Virginia Tech | ESPN |
6.3
|
9,888
|
|
21
|
Tue., 10/19/10 |
MLB
|
ALCS: Rangers/Yankees Game 4 | TBS |
6.3
|
9,846
|
|
22
|
Mon., 10/18/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Titans/Jaguars | ESPN |
6.2
|
9,666
|
|
23
|
Thu., 5/13/10 |
NBA
|
Second Round: Cavaliers/Celtics Game 6 | ESPN |
5.7
|
8,983
|
|
24
|
Thu., 5/27/10 |
NBA
|
WCF: Suns/Lakers Game 5 | TNT |
5.3
|
8,670
|
|
25
|
Sun., 5/23/10 |
NBA
|
WCF: Lakers/Suns Game 3 | TNT |
5.0
|
8,460
|
|
26
|
Sun., 2/21/10 |
Olympics
|
Men’s Hockey: United States/Canada | MSNBC |
4.3
|
8,221
|
|
27
|
Mon., 10/18/10 |
MLB
|
ALCS: Rangers/Yankees Game 3 | TBS |
5.2
|
8,214
|
|
28
|
Sat., 5/29/10 |
NBA
|
WCF: Lakers/Suns Game 6 | TNT |
4.8
|
8,154
|
|
29
|
Fri., 10/15/10 |
MLB
|
ALCS: Rangers/Yankees Game 1 | TBS |
5.0
|
8,111
|
|
30
|
Mon., 5/24/10 |
NBA
|
ECF: Magic/Celtics Game 4 | ESPN |
4.9
|
7,960
|
|
31
|
Sat., 12/25/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Cowboys/Cardinals | NFLN |
3.8
|
7,843
|
|
32
|
Sat., 1/2/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Alamo Bowl: Michigan St/Texas Tech | ESPN |
4.8
|
7,829
|
|
33
|
Fri., 11/26/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Regular Season: Arizona/Oregon | ESPN |
4.5
|
7,787
|
|
34
|
Tue., 5/25/10 |
NBA
|
WCF: Lakers/Suns Game 4 | TNT |
4.9
|
7,641
|
|
35
|
Fri., 5/28/10 |
NBA
|
ECF: Magic/Celtics Game 6 | ESPN |
4.6
|
7,538
|
|
36
|
Tue., 10/26/10 |
NBA
|
Regular Season: Heat/Celtics | TNT |
4.6
|
7,348
|
|
37
|
Thu., 4/22/10 |
NFL
|
NFL Draft: Round 1 | ESPN |
4.6
|
7,290
|
|
38
|
Sat., 10/16/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Regular Season: Wisconsin/Ohio State | ESPN |
4.3
|
7,271
|
|
39
|
Tue., 5/18/10 |
NBA
|
ECF: Celtics/Magic Game 2 | ESPN |
4.6
|
7,156
|
|
40
|
Sat., 9/11/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Regular Season: Penn State/Alabama | ESPN |
4.2
|
7,124
|
|
41
|
Mon., 5/17/10 |
NBA
|
WCF: Suns/Lakers Game 1 | TNT |
4.4
|
7,112
|
|
42
|
Thu., 11/25/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Bengals/Jets | NFLN |
3.4
|
7,106
|
|
43
|
Thu., 12/2/10 |
NBA
|
Regular Season: Heat/Cavaliers | TNT |
4.2
|
7,096
|
|
44
|
Wed., 5/19/10 |
NBA
|
WCF: Suns/Lakers Game 2 | TNT |
4.4
|
7,004
|
|
45
|
Wed., 10/6/10 |
MLB
|
ALDS: Yankees/Twins Game 1 | TBS |
4.3
|
6,914
|
|
46
|
Sun., 2/14/10 |
NBA
|
NBA All-Star Game | TNT |
3.8
|
6,846
|
|
47
|
Wed., 5/26/10 |
NBA
|
ECF: Celtics/Magic Game 5 | ESPN |
4.4
|
6,835
|
|
48
|
Tue., 5/11/10 |
NBA
|
Second Round: Celtics/Cavaliers Game 5 | TNT |
4.2
|
6,737
|
|
49
|
Sat., 1/2/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Liberty Bowl: Arkansas/ECU | ESPN |
3.8
|
6,449
|
|
50
|
Mon., 7/13/10 |
MLB
|
Home Run Derby | ESPN |
4.0
|
6,418
|
|
51
|
Tue., 10/12/10 |
MLB
|
ALDS: Rangers/Rays Game 5 | TBS |
4.1
|
6,410
|
|
52
|
Sun., 8/1/10 |
NASCAR
|
Sprint Cup: Pennsylvania 500 | ESPN |
3.8
|
6,202
|
|
53
|
Wed., 6/23/10 |
World Cup
|
United States/Algeria, match portion (also aired on broadcast net Univision) | ESPN |
4.0
|
6,161
|
|
54
|
Sat., 7/3/10 |
NASCAR
|
Sprint Cup: Coke Zero 400 | TNT |
3.6
|
6,127
|
|
55
|
Wed., 10/20/10 |
MLB
|
ALCS: Rangers/Yankees Game 5 | TBS |
4.1
|
6,107
|
|
56
|
Sat., 5/22/10 |
NBA
|
ECF: Magic/Celtics Game 3 | ESPN |
3.7
|
6,022
|
|
57
|
Sat., 10/16/10 |
MLB
|
ALCS: Yankees/Rangers Game 2 | TBS |
3.6
|
5,831
|
|
58
|
Sat., 9/11/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Regular Season: Miami/Ohio State | ESPN |
3.5
|
5,752
|
|
59
|
Thu., 8/26/10 |
NFL
|
Preseason: Colts/Packers | ESPN |
3.6
|
5,729
|
|
60
|
Sun., 7/5/10 |
NASCAR
|
Sprint Cup: Brickyard 400 | ESPN |
3.6
|
5,709
|
|
61
|
Sat., 5/1/10 |
NBA
|
Second Round: Celtics/Cavaliers Game 1 | TNT |
3.4
|
5,705
|
|
62
|
Fri., 1/1/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Outback Bowl: Auburn/Northwestern | ESPN |
3.5
|
5,685
|
|
63
|
Mon., 8/16/10 |
NFL
|
Preseason: Giants/Jets | ESPN |
3.6
|
5,614
|
|
64
|
Sun., 11/21/10 |
NASCAR
|
Sprint Cup: Ford 400 | ESPN |
3.3
|
5,605
|
|
65
|
Sun., 9/5/10 |
NASCAR
|
Sprint Cup: Emory Healthcare 500 | ESPN |
3.4
|
5,517
|
|
66
|
Mon., 5/3/10 |
NBA
|
Second Round: Celtics/Cavaliers Game 2 | TNT |
3.5
|
5,499
|
|
67
|
Fri., 11/26/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Regular Season: Boise State/Nevada | ESPN |
3.4
|
5,449
|
|
68
|
Sat., 2/13/10 |
NBA
|
NBA All-Star Saturday Night | TNT |
3.1
|
5,441
|
|
69
|
Thu., 11/18/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Bears/Dolphins | NFLN |
3.3
|
5,418
|
|
70
|
Wed., 12/22/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Maaco Bowl Las Vegas: Boise State/Utah | ESPN |
3.3
|
5,360
|
|
71
|
Thu., 12/2/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Texans/Eagles | NFLN |
3.3
|
5,406
|
|
72
|
Thu., 12/9/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Colts/Jaguars | NFLN |
3.3
|
5,394
|
|
73
|
Thu., 10/7/10 |
MLB
|
ALDS: Yankees/Twins Game 2 | TBS |
3.5
|
5,341
|
|
74
|
Sat., 10/9/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Regular Season: Florida/LSU | ESPN |
3.1
|
5,321
|
|
75
|
Fri., 6/18/10 |
World Cup
|
United States/Slovenia, match portion (also aired on broadcast net Univision) | ESPN |
3.4
|
5,200
|
|
76
|
Sun., 10/31/10 |
NASCAR
|
Sprint Cup: Amp Energy Juice 500 | ESPN |
3.1
|
5,177
|
|
77
|
Sun., 6/6/10 |
NASCAR
|
Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 | TNT |
3.1
|
5,097
|
|
78
|
Mon., 5/10/10 |
NBA
|
Second Round: Lakers/Jazz Game 4 | TNT |
3.2
|
5,079
|
|
79
|
Mon., 8/23/10 |
NFL
|
Preseason: Titans/Cardinals | ESPN |
3.4
|
5,060
|
|
80
|
Fri., 10/8/10 |
MLB
|
NLDS: Reds/Phillies | TBS |
3.1
|
5,024
|
|
81
|
Thu., 11/11/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Ravens/Falcons | NFLN |
3.1
|
5,008
|
|
82
|
Thu., 4/8/10 |
Golf (M)
|
The Masters: First Round | ESPN |
3.4
|
4,936
|
|
83
|
Sun., 8/8/10 |
NASCAR
|
Sprint Cup: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen | ESPN |
3.2
|
4,932
|
|
84
|
Sun., 8/15/10 |
NASCAR
|
Sprint Cup: Carfax 400 | ESPN |
3.1
|
4,917
|
|
85
|
Sun., 6/27/10 |
NASCAR
|
Sprint Cup: Lenox Industrial Tools 301 | TNT |
3.0
|
4,909
|
|
86
|
Thu., 12/16/10 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: 49ers/Chargers | NFLN |
2.9
|
4,890
|
|
87
|
Thu., 10/7/10 |
MLB
|
NLDS: Braves/Giants | TBS |
3.1
|
4,888
|
|
88
|
Thu., 11/25/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Regular Season: Texas/Texas A&M | ESPN |
2.5
|
4,886
|
|
89
|
Sun., 11/7/10 |
NASCAR
|
Sprint Cup: AAA Texas 500 | ESPN |
2.9
|
4,846
|
|
90
|
Fri., 4/30/10 |
NBA
|
First Round: Lakers/Thunder Game 6 | ESPN |
3.1
|
4,833
|
|
91
|
Sat., 10/9/10 |
MLB
|
ALDS: Twins/Yankees Game 3 | TBS |
3.0
|
4,810
|
|
92
|
Fri., 10/8/10 |
MLB
|
NLDS: Braves/Giants Game 2 | TBS |
3.0
|
4,774
|
|
93
|
Tue., 4/27/10 |
NBA
|
First Round: Thunder/Lakers Game 5 | TNT |
3.1
|
4,685
|
|
94
|
Tue., 5/4/10 |
NBA
|
Second Round: Jazz/Lakers Game 2 | TNT |
3.0
|
4,668
|
|
95
|
Mon., 10/11/10 |
MLB
|
NLDS: Giants/Braves Game 4 | TBS |
3.0
|
4,667
|
|
96
|
Sat., 7/10/10 |
NASCAR
|
Lifelock.com 400 | TNT |
2.8
|
4,608
|
|
97
|
Sun., 5/9/10 |
NBA
|
Second Round: Suns/Spurs Game 4 | TNT |
2.8
|
4,577
|
|
98
|
Sun., 6/20/10 |
NASCAR
|
Toyota/Save Mart 350 | TNT |
2.7
|
4,479
|
|
99
|
Sat., 10/23/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Regular Season: Alabama/Tennessee | ESPN |
2.5
|
4,371
|
|
100
|
Sat., 11/13/10 |
NCAA FB
|
Regular Season: Florida/South Carolina | ESPN |
2.5
|
4,351
|
