via press release:
Packers-Bears on MNF: Fifth Most-Watched Program in Cable History, Cable’s Biggest Audience of 2010
ESPN’s Monday Night Football – a thrilling 20-17 Chicago Bears win over the Green Bay Packers – earned a 12.5 household coverage rating (10.8 US rating), representing an average of 12,482,000 households (17,454,000 viewers – P2+), making the telecast the fifth most-watched cable program in history among both households and viewers (excluding breaking news), and the biggest cable television audience of the year. To view the entire release, click here.
Following Monday’s record-setting rating, ESPN’s MNF now claims the top nine most-viewed cable programs in history among households, as well as eight of the top 10 spots among viewers since sports television’s signature series moved to ESPN in 2006. Both lists:
Top 10 Most-Viewed Programs in Cable Television History (Households):
| Rank | Date | Program | Network | HHs (000s) |
| 1. | 10/05/2009 | Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings | ESPN | 15,136 |
| 2. | 11/30/2009 | New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints | ESPN | 14,872 |
| 3. | 09/15/2008 | Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys | ESPN | 12,953 |
| 4. | 12/03/2007 | New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens | ESPN | 12,529 |
| 5. | 09/27/2010 | Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears | ESPN | 12,482 |
| 6. | 12/28/2009 | Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears | ESPN | 11,899 |
| 7. | 10/23/2006 | New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys | ESPN | 11,807 |
| 8. | 11/09/2009 | Pittsburgh Steelers-Denver Broncos | ESPN | 11,358 |
| 9. | 09/28/2009 | Carolina Panthers-Dallas Cowboys | ESPN | 11,354 |
| 10. | 11/09/1993 | Larry King (NAFTA Debate) | CNN | 11,174 |
Top 10 Most-Viewed Programs in Cable Television History (Viewers):
| Rank | Date | Program | Network | Viewers (000s) |
| 1. | 10/05/2009 | Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings | ESPN | 21,839 |
| 2. | 11/30/2009 | New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints | ESPN | 21,402 |
| 3. | 09/15/2008 | Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys | ESPN | 18,608 |
| 4. | 12/03/2007 | New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens | ESPN | 17,522 |
| 5. | 09/27/2010 | Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears | ESPN | 17,454 |
| 6. | 08/17/2007 | High School Musical 2 | Disney Channel | 17, 241 |
| 7. | 12/28/2009 | Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears | ESPN | 17,006 |
| 8. | 11/09/1993 | Larry King (NAFTA Debate) | CNN | 16,837 |
| 9. | 12/25/1994 | Detroit Lions-Miami Dolphins | ESPN | 16,063 |
| 10. | 10/23/2006 | New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys | ESPN | 16,028 |
Note: excludes breaking news; live + same day
