For the second straight year, the number of U.S. television homes has declined.
The Nielsen Company has estimated that there will be 114.174 million U.S. television homes during the 2012-13 TV season, down less than one percent from the current season (114.649M), and down 2% from the 2010-11 season (115.905M).
This is the second straight year the number of television homes has declined. In addition, this marks the smallest Nielsen universe since the 2007-08 season (112.798M).
A few major league markets have changed ranks this season. Oklahoma City, home of the NBA’s Thunder, has jumped three spots from the #44 TV market to #41. New Orleans, home of the NBA’s Hornets and NFL’s Saints, rose one spot from the #52 market to #51. Finally, Buffalo — home of the NFL’s Bills — dropped one spot, from #51 to #52.
Of the 41 major league television markets, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale had the largest percentage increase in television homes (+2.4%), while Buffalo had the largest decrease (-2.0%). Both markets maintained the same ranking as last year.
Overall, only 15 major league markets gained homes compared to last year.
The smallest major league market remains Green Bay-Appleton, home of the NFL’s Packers, at #69.
List of Major League U.S. TV Markets
As of 2012-13 television season
* Because Green Bay-Appleton is not one of Nielsen’s 56 metered markets, Milwaukee is often used as the Packers’ home market.
| # | Market | # of TV Homes | NBA Teams | NFL Teams | MLB Teams | NHL Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
New York | 7,384,340 | Knicks | Giants | Yankees | Rangers |
| Jets | Mets | Devils | ||||
| Nets | ||||||
| Islanders | ||||||
|
2
|
Los Angeles | 5,613,460 | Lakers | none | Dodgers | Kings |
| Clippers | Angels | Ducks | ||||
|
3
|
Chicago | 3,484,800 | Bulls | Bears | White Sox | Blackhawks |
| Cubs | ||||||
|
4
|
Philadelphia | 2,949,310 | Sixers | Eagles | Phillies | Flyers |
|
5
|
Dallas-Ft. Worth | 2,588,020 | Mavs | Cowboys | Rangers | Stars |
|
6
|
SF/Oak/SJ | 2,502,030 | Warriors | 49ers | Giants | Sharks |
| Raiders | A’s | |||||
|
7
|
Boston | 2,366,690 | Celtics | Patriots | Red Sox | Bruins |
|
8
|
Washington, DC | 2,359,160 | Wizards | Washington | Nats | Caps |
|
9
|
Atlanta | 2,326,840 | Hawks | Falcons | Braves | none |
|
10
|
Houston | 2,215,650 | Rockets | Texans | Astros | none |
|
11
|
Detroit | 1,845,920 | Pistons | Lions | Tigers | Wings |
| 12 | Seattle-Tacoma | 1,818,900 | none | Seahawks | Mariners | none |
|
13
|
Phoenix | 1,812,040 | Suns | Cardinals | D’Backs | Coyotes |
| 14 | Tampa-St. Petersburg | 1,806,560 | none | Bucs | Rays | Lightning |
|
15
|
Minneapolis-St. Paul | 1,728,050 | Wolves | Vikings | Twins | Wild |
|
16
|
Miami-Ft. Lauderdale | 1,621,130 | Heat | Dolphins | Marlins | Panthers |
|
17
|
Denver | 1,566,460 | Nuggets | Broncos | Rockies | Avalanche |
|
18
|
Cleveland-Akron | 1,485,140 | Cavs | Browns | Indians | none |
|
19
|
Orlando-Daytona | 1,453,170 | Magic | none | none | none |
|
20
|
Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto | 1,387,710 | Kings | none | none | none |
| 21 | St. Louis | 1,243,490 | none | Rams | Cardinals | Blues |
|
22
|
Portland | 1,182,180 | Blazers | none | none | none |
| 23 | Pittsburgh | 1,165,740 | none | Steelers | Pirates | Penguins |
| 24 | Raleigh-Durham | 1,150,350 | none | none | none | Canes |
|
25
|
Charlotte | 1,136,420 | Bobcats | Panthers | none | none |
|
26
|
Indianapolis | 1,089,700 | Pacers | Colts | none | none |
| 27 | Baltimore | 1,085,070 | none | Ravens | Orioles | none |
| 28 | San Diego | 1,075,120 | none | Chargers | Padres | none |
| 29 | Nashville | 1,014,910 | none | Titans | none | Predators |
| 31 | Kansas City | 931,320 | none | Chiefs | Royals | none |
| 32 | Columbus | 930,460 | none | none | none | Jackets |
|
33
|
Salt Lake City | 917,370 | Jazz | none | none | none |
|
34
|
Milwaukee | 902,190 | Bucks | Packers* | Brewers | none |
| 35 | Cincinnati | 897,890 | none | Bengals | Reds | none |
|
36
|
San Antonio | 881,050 | Spurs | none | none | none |
|
41
|
Oklahoma City | 718,770 | Thunder | none | none | none |
|
49
|
Memphis | 662,830 | Grizzlies | none | none | none |
| 50 | Jacksonville | 659,170 | none | Jaguars | none | none |
|
51
|
New Orleans | 641,550 | Hornets | Saints | none | none |
| 52 | Buffalo | 632,150 | none | Bills | none | none |
| 69 | Green Bay-Appleton | 441,800 | none | Packers | none | none |
