We typically don't post non-primetime broadcast sports ratings because they come on a different schedule from primetime ratings (Friday following the week), and when we used to post them regularly there was little reader interest.
However, so many people have contacted me about the numbers for the US v. Ireland Rugby World Cup match, I wanted to post them, and figured I'd include the entire list of the top 25 in the process. Note that the rating below is the household rating, not the more typical adults 18-49 rating we feature. No demo group ratings are available to us for this list.
And why Poker After Dark is considered sports is anybody's guess.
Enjoy!
Top 25 Broadcast TV Sports programs week ending September 12, 2011
| Rank | Program | Net | Teams | HH Rating | Viewers (000) |
| 1 | NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL-09/08 | NBC | NEW ORLEANS AT GREEN BAY | 16.0 | 27,169 |
| 2 | FOX NFL SUNDAY-NATIONAL-09/11 | FOX | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 15.3 | 25,802 |
| 3 | NBC Sunday Night Football-09/11 | NBC | Dallas AT NY JETS | 15.3 | 25,766 |
| 4 | CBS NFL SINGLE-09/11 | CBS | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 9.1 | 15,496 |
| 5 | FOX NFL SUNDAY-REGIONAL-09/11 | FOX | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 8.0 | 13,044 |
| 6 | NASCAR SERIES AT RICHMOND-09/10 | ABC | 3.7 | 6,167 | |
| 7 | ABC COLLEGE FTBL GM-LATE-09/10 | ABC | ALABAMA AT PENN STATE | 3.9 | 6,083 |
| 8 | US OPEN TEN-SUN-FINAL-09/11 | CBS | WOMEN'S FINAL | 3.3 | 4,927 |
| 9 | US OPEN TEN-SAT-SEMI-09/10 | CBS | WOMEN'S SEMI-FINAL | 2.3 | 3,523 |
| 10 | US OPEN TENNIS-SAT-1-09/10 | CBS | MEN'S SEMI-FINALS | 1.8 | 2,659 |
| 11 | US OPEN DAY-WK2-MON 2-09/05 | CBS | MEN & WOMEN FOURTH ROUND | 1.8 | 2,646 |
| 12 | US OPEN DAY-WK 2-MON 2-09/05 | CBS | MEN & WOMEN FOURTH ROUND | 1.8 | 2,636 |
| 13 | DEUTSCHE GOLF-MON-09/05 | NBC | 1.8 | 2,633 | |
| 14 | US OPEN SUN BONUS-09/11 | CBS | 1.5 | 2,027 | |
| 15 | US OPEN DAY-WK 2-MON 1-09/05 | CBS | MEN & WOMEN FOURTH ROUND | 1.4 | 1,921 |
| 16 | US OPEN DAY-WK 2-FRI-09/09 | CBS | MEN'S QUARTERFINALS | 1.4 | 1,871 |
| 17 | FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL-09/10 | FOX | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 1.1 | 1,632 |
| 18 | DIAMOND LEAGUE-09/10 | NBC | TRACK & FIELD AT ZURICH | 0.7 | 1,001 |
| 19 | POKER AFTER DARK MO-SAT-09/08 | NBC | 0.8 | 961 | |
| 20 | US OPEN-WK 2-MON BONUS-09/05 | CBS | 0.6 | 956 | |
| 21 | RUGBY WORLD CUP-09/11 | NBC | US VS IRELAND | 0.5 | 866 |
| 22 | NBC ACTION SPORTS TOUR-SA-09/10 | NBC | DEW TOUR | 0.5 | 841 |
| 23 | NBC ACTION SPORTS TOUR-SU-09/11 | NBC | DEW TOUR | 0.5 | 824 |
| 24 | FUTBOL LIGA MEXICANA SAT-09/10 | TF | SANTOS VS GUADALJARA | 0.4 | 762 |
| 25 | FUTBOL LIGA MEXICANA SUN-09/11 | UNI | AMERICA VS ATLANTE | 0.4 | 758 |
