Presented are the 100 most-viewed sporting events of 2011 on broadcast and cable.
An astounding 75 of the 100 most-viewed events of the year were NFL games, including the top eighteen. Keep in mind this does not include Week 15 and Week 16 games on FOX and CBS (six telecasts combined), as final ratings and viewership for those events were not immediately available.
Of the mere 25 non-NFL sporting events to make the list, six were NBA games (all during the NBA Finals), six were Major League Baseball games (all during the World Series), six were NCAA Tournament telecasts, and four were college football games (three BCS bowls and LSU/Alabama in November). The remaining three events were the Daytona 500 (8.7, 15.597M), the final round of The Masters (9.5, 15.257M), and the race portion of the Kentucky Derby (8.5, 14.539M).
The top college football game ranked 18th (AUB/ORE: 15.3, 27.316M), the top Major League Baseball game ranked 24th (TEX/STL G7: 14.7, 25.403M), the top NBA game ranked 30th (DAL/MIA G6: 13.3, 23.880M), and the top college basketball game ranked 49th (CONN/BUT: 11.7, 20.055M).
100 Most-Viewed Sporting Events of 2011
* Featured games not available for CBS singleheader and regional telecasts.
|
#
|
Date
|
Sport
|
Game/Event
|
Net
|
U.S. Rating
|
Viewers (000)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Sun., 2/6/11 |
NFL
|
Super Bowl: GB 31, PIT 25 | FOX |
46.0
|
111,010
|
|
2
|
Sun., 1/23/11 |
NFL
|
NFL Playoffs: NYJ 19, PIT 24 | CBS |
28.3
|
54,850
|
|
3
|
Sun., 1/23/11 |
NFL
|
NFL Playoffs: GB 21, CHI 14 | FOX |
28.1
|
51,884
|
|
4
|
Sun., 1/16/11 |
NFL
|
NFL Playoffs: NYJ 28, NE 21 | CBS |
24.2
|
43,463
|
|
5
|
Sun., 1/9/11 |
NFL
|
NFL Playoffs: GB 21, PHI 16 | FOX |
22.1
|
39,274
|
|
6
|
Sat., 1/15/11 |
NFL
|
NFL Playoffs: BAL 24, PIT 31 | CBS |
19.4
|
34,009
|
|
7
|
Sat., 1/8/11 |
NFL
|
NFL Playoffs: NYJ 17, IND 16 | NBC |
18.7
|
33,350
|
|
8
|
Sun., 1/16/11 |
NFL
|
NFL Playoffs: SEA 24, CHI 35 | FOX |
19.1
|
32,493
|
|
9
|
Thu., 11/24/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: MIA 19, DAL 20 | CBS |
14.3
|
30,901
|
|
10
|
Sat., 1/15/11 |
NFL
|
NFL Playoffs: GB 48, ATL 21 | FOX |
17.0
|
30,569
|
|
11
|
Thu., 11/24/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: GB 27, DET 15 | FOX |
14.8
|
30,171
|
|
12
|
Sun., 12/4/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: GB 38, NYG 35 (77%) | FOX |
17.6
|
29,774
|
|
13
|
Sun., 10/16/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: DAL 16, NE 20 (88%) | FOX |
17.1
|
28,443
|
|
14
|
Sun., 1/9/11 |
NFL
|
NFL Playoffs: BAL 30, KC 7 | CBS |
17.1
|
28,384
|
|
15
|
Sat., 1/8/11 |
NFL
|
NFL Playoffs: NO 36, SEA 41 | FOX |
16.8
|
28,304
|
|
16
|
Sun., 11/6/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: NYG 24, NE 20 (55%) | FOX |
16.7
|
28,213
|
|
17
|
Thu., 9/8/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: NO 34, GB 42 | NBC |
16.0
|
27,169
|
|
18
|
Mon., 1/10/11 |
NCAAF
|
BCS Champ.: AUB 22, ORE 19 | ESPN |
15.3
|
27,316
|
|
19
|
Sun., 11/27/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: NE 38, PHI 20 (72%) | CBS |
15.5
|
26,246
|
|
20
|
Sun., 1/2/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: CHI 3, GB 10 (56%) | FOX |
14.7
|
26,147
|
|
21
|
Sun., 11/13/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: NYG 20, SF 27 (70%) | FOX |
15.6
|
25,938
|
|
22
|
Sun., 9/11/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: NYG 14, WSH 28 (63%) | FOX |
15.3
|
25,802
|
|
23
|
Sun., 9/11/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: DAL 24, NYJ 27 | NBC |
15.3
|
25,766
|
|
24
|
Fri., 10/28/11 |
MLB
|
World Series: TEX 2, STL 6 | FOX |
14.7
|
25,403
|
|
25
|
Sun., 10/30/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: NE 17, PIT 25 (85%) | CBS |
14.6
|
24,564
|
|
26
|
Sun., 12/11/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: NYG 37, DAL 34 | NBC |
14.9
|
24,516
|
|
27
|
Sun., 10/23/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: GB 33, MIN 27 (83%) | FOX |
14.6
|
24,267
|
|
28
|
Sun., 12/25/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: CHI 21, GB 35 | NBC |
12.6
|
24,019
|
|
29
|
Sun., 9/25/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: GB 27, CHI 17 (81%) | FOX |
14.1
|
23,995
|
|
30
|
Sun., 6/12/11 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: DAL 105, MIA 95 | ABC |
13.3
|
23,880
|
|
31
|
Sun., 9/18/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: PHI 31, ATL 35 | NBC |
14.3
|
23,424
|
|
32
|
Sun., 10/2/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: DET 34, DAL 30 (35%) | FOX |
14.0
|
23,308
|
|
33
|
Sun., 10/2/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: DEN 23, GB 49 (59%) | CBS |
13.6
|
23,014
|
|
34
|
Sun., 10/30/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: DAL 7, PHI 34 | NBC |
13.8
|
22,994
|
|
35
|
Sun., 9/18/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: SD 21, NE 35 (74%) | CBS |
13.3
|
22,662
|
|
36
|
Sun., 10/9/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: NYJ 21, NE 30 (81%) | CBS |
13.6
|
22,598
|
|
37
|
Sun., 9/18/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: CHI 13, NO 30 (38%) | FOX |
13.2
|
22,530
|
|
38
|
Sun., 12/11/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: CHI 10, DEN 13 (42%) | FOX |
13.6
|
22,207
|
|
39
|
Sun., 11/6/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: BAL 23, PIT 20 | NBC |
13.3
|
22,121
|
|
40
|
Sun., 10/9/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: GB 25, ATL 14 | NBC |
13.4
|
22,046
|
|
41
|
Sun., 11/20/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: SD 20, CHI 31 (79%) | CBS |
13.0
|
21,462
|
|
42
|
Thu., 10/27/11 |
MLB
|
World Series: TEX 9, STL 10 | FOX |
12.7
|
21,065
|
|
43
|
Sun., 11/13/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: NE 37, NYJ 16 | NBC |
12.9
|
20,918
|
|
44
|
Sun., 12/11/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: National Window | CBS |
12.7
|
20,789
|
|
45
|
Sat., 1/1/11 |
NCAAF
|
Rose Bowl: TCU 21, WISC 19 | ESPN |
11.3
|
20,558
|
|
46
|
Sun., 9/25/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: PIT 23, IND 20 | NBC |
12.2
|
20,357
|
|
47
|
Sun., 11/27/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: PIT 13, KC 9 | NBC |
12.3
|
20,344
|
|
48
|
Sun., 11/20/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: PHI 17, NYG 10 | NBC |
12.5
|
20,305
|
|
49
|
Mon., 4/4/11 |
NCAAB
|
Final Four: CONN 53, BUT 41 | CBS |
11.7
|
20,055
|
|
50
|
Sun., 11/20/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: TB 26, GB 35 (39%) | FOX |
12.2
|
20,025
|
|
51
|
Sat., 11/5/11 |
NCAAF
|
Regular Season: LSU 9, ALA 6 | CBS |
11.5
|
20,011
|
|
52
|
Sun., 1/2/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: STL 6, SEA 16 | NBC |
11.3
|
19,357
|
|
53
|
Sun., 12/4/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Singleheader | CBS |
11.5
|
19,010
|
|
54
|
Sun., 11/13/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Singleheader | CBS |
11.5
|
19,003
|
|
55
|
Sun., 10/2/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: NYJ 17, BAL 34 | NBC |
11.5
|
18,900
|
|
56
|
Sun., 9/25/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Singleheader | CBS |
11.5
|
18,898
|
|
57
|
Sun., 12/4/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: DET 17, NO 31 | NBC |
11.5
|
18,896
|
|
58
|
Thu., 6/9/11 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: MIA 103, DAL 112 | ABC |
10.8
|
18,318
|
|
59
|
Sun., 11/27/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: CHI 20, OAK 25 (40%) | FOX |
10.4
|
17,245
|
|
60
|
Sun., 10/16/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: SF 25, DET 19 (33%) | FOX |
10.5
|
17,201
|
|
61
|
Sun., 10/30/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: DET 45, DEN 10 (29%) | FOX |
10.3
|
17,110
|
|
62
|
Mon., 9/26/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: WSH 16, DAL 18 | ESPN |
10.6
|
17,104
|
|
63
|
Mon., 11/7/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: CHI 30, PHI 24 | ESPN |
10.7
|
16,847
|
|
64
|
Sun., 1/2/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: TEN 20, IND 23 (71%) | CBS |
9.7
|
16,766
|
|
65
|
Sat., 4/2/11 |
NCAAB
|
Final Four: CONN 56, UK 55 | CBS |
9.5
|
16,715
|
|
66
|
Mon., 12/19/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: PIT 3, SF 20 | ESPN |
10.1
|
16,677
|
|
67
|
Sun., 12/18/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: BAL 14, SD 34 | NBC |
10.1
|
16,578
|
|
68
|
Sun., 10/16/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: MIN 10, CHI 39 | NBC |
10.1
|
16,568
|
|
69
|
Mon., 10/10/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: CHI 13, DET 24 | ESPN |
10.3
|
16,378
|
|
70
|
Sun., 11/6/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Singleheader | CBS |
9.8
|
16,160
|
|
71
|
Tue., 6/7/11 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: MIA 83, DAL 86 | ABC |
9.6
|
16,126
|
|
72
|
Sun., 1/2/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: TB 23, NO 13 (70%) | FOX |
9.6
|
16,083
|
|
73
|
Sun., 10/9/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: PHI 24, BUF 31 (29%) | FOX |
9.9
|
16,006
|
|
74
|
Sun., 3/20/11 |
NCAAB
|
NCAA Rd. 3: OSU 98, GMU 66 |
CBS
|
9.9
|
15,886
|
| NCAA Rd. 3: ARIZ 70, TEX 69 | TNT | |||||
| NCAA Rd. 3: VCU 94, PUR 76 | TBS | |||||
|
75
|
Sun., 10/23/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Singleheader | CBS |
9.7
|
15,803
|
|
76
|
Mon., 12/26/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: ATL 16, NO 45 | ESPN |
9.2
|
15,638
|
|
77
|
Sun., 2/20/11 |
NASCAR
|
Sprint Cup: Daytona 500 | FOX |
8.7
|
15,597
|
|
78
|
Sun., 11/27/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Regional | CBS |
9.9
|
15,568
|
|
79
|
Thu., 6/2/11 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: DAL 95, MIA 93 | ABC |
9.3
|
15,522
|
|
80
|
Sun., 9/11/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Singleheader | CBS |
9.1
|
15,496
|
|
81
|
Sun., 6/5/11 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: MIA 88, DAL 86 | ABC |
9.1
|
15,338
|
|
82
|
Sun., 4/10/11 |
Golf (M)
|
The Masters: Final Round | CBS |
9.5
|
15,257
|
|
83
|
Tue., 5/31/11 |
NBA
|
NBA Finals: DAL 84, MIA 92 | ABC |
9.0
|
15,171
|
|
84
|
Sun., 10/23/11 |
MLB
|
World Series: STL 0, TEX 4 | FOX |
9.2
|
15,156
|
|
85
|
Sun., 3/27/11 |
NCAAB
|
Elite Eight: UK 76, UNC 69 | CBS |
8.9
|
15,082
|
|
86
|
Mon., 9/12/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: MIA 38, NE 24 | ESPN |
9.1
|
14,568
|
|
87
|
Sat., 5/7/11 |
Horse
|
Kentucky Derby, Race Portion | NBC |
8.5
|
14,539
|
|
88
|
Sun., 12/11/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Regional | CBS |
9.3
|
14,535
|
|
89
|
Sun., 10/16/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Singleheader | CBS |
8.8
|
14,533
|
|
90
|
Sun., 12/4/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: DEN 35, MIN 32 (61%) | FOX |
8.8
|
14,453
|
|
91
|
Mon., 11/28/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: NYG 24, NO 49 | ESPN |
9.3
|
14,423
|
|
92
|
Mon., 10/24/11 |
MLB
|
World Series: STL 2, TEX 4 | FOX |
8.8
|
14,324
|
|
93
|
Thu., 10/20/11 |
MLB
|
World Series: TEX 2, STL 1 | FOX |
8.9
|
14,280
|
|
94
|
Sun., 11/6/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: TB 16, NO 27 (41%) | FOX |
8.6
|
14,194
|
|
95
|
Sat., 4/2/11 |
NCAAB
|
Final Four: BUT 70, VCU 62 | CBS |
8.3
|
14,189
|
|
96
|
Mon., 11/14/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: MIN 7, GB 45 | ESPN |
8.7
|
14,188
|
|
97
|
Wed., 10/19/11 |
MLB
|
World Series: TEX 2, STL 3 | FOX |
8.7
|
14,174
|
|
98
|
Sun., 10/30/11 |
NFL
|
Regular Season: Regional | CBS |
9.1
|
13,942
|
|
99
|
Fri., 3/25/11 |
NCAAB
|
Sweet Sixteen: UK 62, OSU 60 | CBS |
8.4
|
13,824
|
| Sweet Sixteen: VCU 72, FSU 71 | TBS | |||||
|
100
|
Tue., 1/4/11 |
NCAAF
|
Sugar Bowl: OSU 31, ARK 26 | ESPN |
8.2
|
13,635
|
