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Top 100 Most-Watched Telecasts On Basic Cable For 2009

Categories: Cable TV,TV Ratings

Written By

December 29th, 2009

Here are the top 100 most-watched cable telecasts for 2009 through December 27 (so it won't include last night's Monday Night Football game which would've been number 3!).  Though the list is only for basic cable, I'm guessing none of the HBO/Showtime airings would've made this list for any single telecast.

Also note that this is a "most current" view which blends Live+7 ratings wherever they were available (December 29, 2008 to December 13, 2009) and is Live+7 where they weren't (December 14-27).

Not surprisingly ESPN and sports absolutely dominated.  Only the strong performance of  The Wizards of Waverly Place Movie kept the entire top 10 from being Monday Night Football.  But if you hunt around, you will find some scripted shows, and of course, Jon & Kate Plus 8...

Rank Date Shows NET DAY(S) Time Viewers (000)
1 10/5/2009 PACKERS/VIKINGS ESPN Mon 08:30P-11:56P 21,898
2 11/30/2009 PATRIOTS/SAINTS ESPN Mon 08:29P-11:37P 21,449
3 11/9/2009 STEELERS/BRONCOS ESPN Mon 08:30P-11:41P 16,069
4 9/28/2009 PANTHERS/COWBOYS ESPN Mon 08:30P-11:37P 15,735
5 9/21/2009 COLTS/DOLPHINS ESPN Mon 08:30P-11:36P 14,726
6 9/14/2009 BILLS/PATRIOTS ESPN Mon 07:00P-10:17P 14,021
7 8/28/2009 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY MOVIE DSNY Fri 08:00P-09:46P 13,499
8 12/7/2009 RAVENS/PACKERS ESPN Mon 08:30P-12:04A 13,506
9 10/19/2009 BRONCOS/CHARGERS ESPN Mon 08:30P-11:46P 13,500
10 10/12/2009 JETS/DOLPHINS ESPN Mon 08:30P-11:49P 13,163
11 12/14/2009 CARDINALS/49ERS ESPN Mon 08:30P-11:50P 13,077
12 10/26/2009 EAGLES/REDSKINS ESPN Mon 08:30P-11:49P 12,788
13 11/2/2009 FALCONS/SAINTS ESPN Mon 08:30P-12:17A 12,400
14 11/23/2009 TITANS/TEXANS ESPN Mon 08:30P-11:47P 12,103
15 9/14/2009 CHARGERS/RAIDERS ESPN Mon 10:17P-01:40A 11,992
16 12/21/2009 GIANTS/REDSKINS ESPN Mon 08:29P-11:37P 11,343
17 6/22/2009 JON & Kate Plus 8 TLC Mon 09:00P-10:00P 11,200
18 6/28/2009 BET AWARDS SHOW BET Sun 08:00P-11:44P 10,909
19 5/25/2009 JON & Kate Plus 8 TLC Mon 09:00P-10:13P 10,656
20 7/17/2009 WIZARDS ON DECK W/ HANNAH DSNY Fri 08:00P-09:30P 10,638
21 12/4/2009 MONK USA Fri 09:00P-10:00P 10,622
22 9/12/2009 COLL FTBALL-SAT PRIME L ESPN Sat 07:50P-11:36P 10,621
23 12/19/2009 2009 - COWBOYS VS. SAINTS NFLN Sat 08:22P-11:34P 10,497
24 11/16/2009 RAVENS/BROWNS ESPN Mon 08:30P-11:39P 10,214
25 5/26/2009 CAVALIERS/MAGIC TNT Tue 08:36P-11:52P 10,104
26 5/28/2009 MAGIC/CAVALIERS TNT Thu 08:34P-11:38P 10,016
27 12/5/2009 iCarly MOVIE: IQUITICARLY NICK Sat 08:00P-09:00P 9,903
28 6/26/2009 PRINCESS PROTECTION PROGR DSNY Fri 08:00P-09:45P 9,868
29 5/25/2009 LAKERS/NUGGETS ESPN Mon 08:56P-12:06A 9,764
30 9/13/2009 2009 VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS MTV Sun 09:00P-11:31P 9,352
31 5/27/2009 LAKERS/NUGGETS ESPN Wed 08:56P-11:50P 9,257
32 8/6/2009 Burn Notice USA Thu 09:00P-10:00P 9,103
33 5/24/2009 CAVALIERS/MAGIC TNT Sun 08:36P-11:45P 9,011
34 8/8/2009 iCarly MOVIE: SHELBY MARX NICK Sat 08:00P-09:00P 8,901
35 7/27/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 8,877
36 8/24/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 8,809
37 1/20/2009 OBAMA INAUG OATH/SPEECH CNN Tue 12:05P-12:27P 8,789
38 8/17/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 8,562
39 5/29/2009 LAKERS/NUGGETS ESPN Fri 08:56P-11:40P 8,490
40 6/8/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 8,448
41 9/7/2009 MIAMI/FLORIDA STATE ESPN Mon 08:00P-11:56P 8,426
42 9/12/2009 iCarly NICK Sat 08:00P-08:30P 8,412
43 8/3/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 8,399
44 5/30/2009 CAVALIERS/MAGIC TNT Sat 08:35P-11:13P 8,394
45 11/6/2009 SpongeBob TRUTH OR SQUARE NICK Fri 08:00P-09:00P 8,387
46 5/17/2009 MAGIC/CELTICS TNT Sun 08:07P-10:46P 8,384
47 7/30/2009 Burn Notice USA Thu 09:00P-10:00P 8,321
48 8/10/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 8,288
49 7/13/2009 2009 STATE FARM HOME RUN ESPN Mon 08:18P-11:09P 8,276
50 7/16/2009 Burn Notice USA Thu 09:00P-10:00P 8,259
51 7/23/2009 Burn Notice USA Thu 09:00P-10:00P 8,215
52 8/6/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:00P 8,196
53 5/19/2009 NUGGETS/LAKERS ESPN Tue 08:57P-11:55P 8,131
54 7/20/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 8,054
55 7/5/2009 Hannah Montana DSNY Sun 08:00P-09:00P 7,983
56 10/21/2009 NLCS DODGERS-PHILLIES 5 TBSC Wed 08:00P-11:57P 7,980
57 7/16/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:00P 7,972
58 3/28/2009 S KIDS CHOICE 09 NICK Sat 08:00P-09:35P 7,966
59 8/31/2009 VIKINGS/TEXANS ESPN Mon 08:00P-11:00P 7,940
60 7/30/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:00P 7,939
61 1/20/2009 SR/INAUGURATION OF OBAMA CNN Tue 12:00P-12:38P 7,934
62 5/21/2009 NUGGETS/LAKERS ESPN Thu 08:56P-11:56P 7,908
63 7/13/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 7,873
64 7/23/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:00P 7,805
65 6/18/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:00P 7,731
66 6/22/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 7,708
67 6/29/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 7,695
68 6/15/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 7,695
69 2/15/2009 EAST VS WEST TNT Sun 08:25P-11:23P 7,691
70 6/22/2009 WWE Entertainment USA Mon 10:00P-11:08P 7,644
71 10/2/2009 Suite Life on Deck DSNY Fri 08:00P-09:00P 7,617
72 3/5/2009 Burn Notice USA Thu 10:00P-11:02P 7,613
73 12/26/2009 BOSTON COLLEGE/USC ESPN Sat 08:00P-11:26P 7,563
74 9/13/2009 2009 VMA POSTSHOW MTV Sun 11:31P-11:38P 7,539
75 12/7/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 7,504
76 6/4/2009 Burn Notice USA Thu 09:00P-10:00P 7,499
77 8/27/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:00P 7,445
78 5/14/2009 LAKERS/ROCKETS ESPN Thu 09:51P-12:35A 7,368
79 7/6/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 7,352
80 5/20/2009 MAGIC/CAVALIERS TNT Wed 08:36P-11:34P 7,333
81 8/13/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:00P 7,302
82 6/18/2009 Burn Notice USA Thu 09:00P-10:00P 7,298
83 1/26/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 7,293
84 11/7/2009 SpongeBob TRUTH OR SQUARE NICK Sat 09:30A-10:30A 7,272
85 7/9/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:00P 7,267
86 8/20/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:00P 7,257
87 6/25/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:00P 7,178
88 5/9/2009 iCarly MOVIE:DATEABADBOY NICK Sat 08:00P-09:00P 7,172
89 11/27/2009 MONK USA Fri 09:00P-10:00P 7,122
90 7/9/2009 Burn Notice USA Thu 09:00P-10:00P 7,046
91 5/2/2009 BULLS/CELTICS TNT Sat 08:04P-11:10P 7,011
92 2/23/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 6,994
93 5/22/2009 MAGIC/CAVALIERS TNT Fri 08:35P-11:41P 6,933
94 6/11/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:00P 6,916
95 1/20/2009 SR/INAUGURATION OF OBAMA CNN Tue 11:00A-12:00P 6,885
96 12/25/2009 2009 - CHARGERS VS. TITAN NFLN Fri 07:34P-10:30P 6,883
97 3/7/2009 iCarly NICK Sat 08:00P-08:30P 6,883
98 6/4/2009 Royal Pains USA Thu 10:00P-11:17P 6,856
99 2/16/2009 CLOSER, THE TNT Mon 09:00P-10:00P 6,848
100 6/1/2009 JON & Kate Plus 8 TLC Mon 09:30P-10:00P 6,841

(49) Comments - Add Yours!

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  1. Drew C.
    Posted December 29, 2009 at 7:32 PM

    The highest ranked episode of TB, which of course is the top show on premium cable, had “only” 5.7 million viewers so your instinct is right.

    And the list is double posted, at least on Blackberry.

  2. Robert Seidman
    Posted December 29, 2009 at 7:58 PM

    It’s not double posted, but it could be how the blackberry handles the width of the table.

    On the iPhone version of the site the table just cuts off. Not happy about it, but at least iPhone/iPod Touch folks can go look at the page in normal web mode and see all the data.

    I’m sure handling tables with more than a a few columns of data isn’t a priority for the software we use to make the mobile version of the site, so the tables don’t play very nicely with mobile devices.

    Unfortunately, in order to make the table readable for the mobile devices I have to scrunch the table up so much it’s harder to read via a normal web browser, and at least for now, normal web browsing is our presentation priority.

  3. Drew C.
    Posted December 29, 2009 at 8:09 PM

    OK. Just thought it was strange, since the BB shows the full table, then goes right through the exact same lines and columns again.

    I could try switching Javascript on and see what that does.

  4. Chuck Collins
    Posted December 30, 2009 at 7:11 AM

    A theatrical “Wizards Of Waverly Place” movie seems to be in order.

  5. Joe Jackson
    Posted December 30, 2009 at 7:47 AM

    Nothing from FX in the top 100 but SOA was the #1 cable show?

  6. J.R. Herbaugh
    Posted December 30, 2009 at 8:02 AM

    37 1/20/2009 OBAMA INAUG OATH/SPEECH CNN Tue 12:05P-12:27P 8,789
    61 1/20/2009 SR/INAUGURATION OF OBAMA CNN Tue 12:00P-12:38P 7,934

  7. bruce
    Posted December 30, 2009 at 8:03 AM

    Let’s just say anything “sports” in 2009 and leave it at that.

  8. johnthemon
    Posted December 30, 2009 at 9:24 AM

    with Royal Pains and especially Burn Notice tearing it up in the ratings this year, how does this bode for Psych?

  9. Delsy
    Posted December 30, 2009 at 11:40 AM

    Its kind of weird to think if a WOWP movie would do good on theatres because it was obvoiusly going to get high ratings because it was a movie a speacail event but i notice how there isn’t an actual episode on there while Hannah and iCarly have episode on there.

  10. JR
    Posted December 30, 2009 at 1:49 PM

    At least the ratings dropped drastically for that ridiculous Jon + Kate- when will Americans tire of these crappy reality shows?

  11. Jason
    Posted December 30, 2009 at 2:16 PM

    No surprise that ESPN is dominating, and all those games were worth it.

    iCarly did REALLY well this year. Chalk it up to Nickelodeon.

    Also, Disney did really well this year too. Wizards of Waverly Place is a strong show, as is Selena Gomez in any movie for Disney (as she starred in both the WOWP movie and the Princess movie). Kind of shocked that the Suite Life on Deck: Lost at Sea special is up there, caught me by suprise.

  12. DW
    Posted December 30, 2009 at 3:42 PM

    This is the most depressing list I’ve ever seen.

  13. Dario
    Posted December 31, 2009 at 3:43 AM

    the closer 16 times, royal pains 12, burn notice 8 ,monk 2 times…hmm

  14. Cimmer
    Posted December 31, 2009 at 12:14 PM

    So the top 20 basically (aside from a couple of Jon and Kate’s) consist of the Mouse House and sports? We are a strange country. On the other hand, USA has got to be over the moon with that list.

  15. Robert Seidman
    Posted December 31, 2009 at 1:04 PM

    BTW, Drew C., if you see this, i figured out the double-table problem. Though most browsers wouldn’t have displayed it, it was definitely not your Blackberry. Though it didn’t display in WYSIWYG mode of the WordPress editor, in the code the table was indeed there twice. Some glitches with the way copy/paste work in the latest update to WordPress.

  16. Moon Goddess
    Posted January 3, 2010 at 10:42 AM

    Thats the problem with America…just look at what they do with there time…..

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