Among the advertiser coveted demos for general interest cable networks, USA had 4 of the top 20 original shows in 2010 for adults 18-49, and 5 of the top 20 for adults 25-54, more than any other cable network.
Among those same demo groups, scripted and unscripted original programs split the top 20s quite evenly (10 each in adults 18-49, 11 scripted/ 9 unscripted in adults 25-54).
The numbers below are the season averages for the premiere episodes of each show. The numbers are "Most Current" ratings, which are primarily Live +7 days of DVR viewing, and Live +Same Day DVR viewing for the most recent two weeks.
| 2010 Basic Cable’s Top 20 Primetime Original Series: Total Viewers | |||
| 1 | Rizzoli & Isles | TNT | 8,773,000 |
| 2 | The Closer | TNT | 8,325,000 |
| 3 | Royal Pains | USA | 7,326,000 |
| 4 | Covert Affairs | USA | 7,051,000 |
| 5 | The Walking Dead | AMC | 6,644,000 |
| 6 | Burn Notice | USA | 6,592,000 |
| 7 | Jersey Shore | MTV | 5,992,000 |
| 8 | Pawn Stars | History | 5,526,000 |
| 9 | White Collar | USA | 5,379,000 |
| 10 | Deadliest Catch | Discovery | 5,279,000 |
| 11 | Life | Discovery | 4,954,000 |
| 12 | Memphis Beat | TNT | 4,711,000 |
| 13 | American Pickers | History | 4,564,000 |
| 14 | Psych | USA | 4,544,000 |
| 15 | In Plain Sight | USA | 4,510,000 |
| 16 | Project Runway | Lifetime | 4,423,000 |
| 17 | Keeping Up with the Kardashians | E! Entertainment | 4,404,000 |
| 18 | Leverage | TNT | 4,340,000 |
| 19 | After the Catch | Discovery | 4,299,000 |
| 20 | Sons Of Anarchy | FX | 4,288,000 |
| 2010 Basic Cable’s Top 20 Primetime Original Series: Adults 18-49 | |||
| 1 | The Walking Dead | AMC | 4,545,000 |
| 2 | Jersey Shore | MTV | 4,152,000 |
| 3 | Deadliest Catch | Discovery | 3,237,000 |
| 4 | Keeping Up with the Kardashians | E! Entertainment | 3,225,000 |
| 5 | Royal Pains | USA | 3,095,000 |
| 6 | Teen Mom | MTV | 2,994,000 |
| 7 | Sons Of Anarchy | FX | 2,993,000 |
| 8 | Burn Notice | USA | 2,992,000 |
| 9 | Pawn Stars | History | 2,980,000 |
| 10 | Covert Affairs | USA | 2,968,000 |
| 11 | South Park | Comedy Central | 2,957,000 |
| 12 | Rizzoli & Isles | TNT | 2,600,000 |
| 13 | After the Catch | Discovery | 2,584,000 |
| 14 | Project Runway | Lifetime | 2,511,000 |
| 15 | Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami | E! Entertainment | 2,466,000 |
| 16 | Real Housewives of New Jersey | Bravo | 2,393,000 |
| 17 | Life | Discovery | 2,392,000 |
| 18 | White Collar | USA | 2,287,000 |
| 19 | The Closer | TNT | 2,219,000 |
| 20 | Real Housewives of Atlanta | Bravo | 2,204,000 |
| 2010 Basic Cable’s Top 20 Primetime Original Series: Adults 25-54 | |||
| 1 | The Walking Dead | AMC | 4,007,000 |
| 2 | Deadliest Catch | Discovery | 3,508,000 |
| 3 | Royal Pains | USA | 3,502,000 |
| 4 | Rizzoli & Isles | TNT | 3,377,000 |
| 5 | Covert Affairs | USA | 3,220,000 |
| 6 | Burn Notice | USA | 3,206,000 |
| 7 | Pawn Stars | History | 3,093,000 |
| 8 | The Closer | TNT | 2,969,000 |
| 9 | Sons Of Anarchy | FX | 2,913,000 |
| 10 | After the Catch | Discovery | 2,869,000 |
| 11 | Jersey Shore | MTV | 2,673,000 |
| 12 | Project Runway | Lifetime | 2,607,000 |
| 13 | Keeping Up with the Kardashians | E! Entertainment | 2,557,000 |
| 14 | White Collar | USA | 2,414,000 |
| 15 | American Pickers | History | 2,371,000 |
| 16 | Life | Discovery | 2,308,000 |
| 17 | The Next Food Network Star | Food Network | 2,293,000 |
| 18 | Real Housewives of New Jersey | Bravo | 2,261,000 |
| 19 | Psych | USA | 2,181,000 |
| 20 | Hot in Cleveland | TV Land | 2,113,000 |
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All data is 12/28/09 – 12/12/10, and are "Most Current" measurements which include primarily Live+ 7 Day measurements, and Live + Same Day measurements when Live+7 is not yet available.
Courtesy of Turner Research, ©2010 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
