As usual, the Super Bowl was the top rated show of the past TV season, so CBS has the bragging rights for the 2009-2010 season. Data from The Nielsen Company for both broadcast and cable networks was merged by the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) to determine the top 100 in Household ratings for all of television. Two ESPN shows made the list, in positions #58, the September 21 regular season NFL Game, and #87, the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. At the bottom of the list of the top 100 are the eight additional cable/satellite shows which made the top 312.
Top-rated programs of 2009-10 in Households
Among Households, broadcast accounted for 302 of the top 312 programs; subscription TV’s highest-ranking program, the “NFL Regular Season” on ESPN came in at No. 58. Here below are the top 100 in broadcast and subscription TV for the full 2009-10 season. The top 10 subscription TV programs are in red (any shows that didn’t make the overall top 100 list are listed at the bottom of the chart).
| RANK | PROGRAM | NETWORK | (START) DATE |
TLC | US AA % LIVE+SD |
| 1 | SUPER BOWL XLIV (6:31P) | CBS | 2/7/10 | 1 | 45.1 |
| 2 | FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP (6:46P) | FOX | 1/24/10 | 1 | 30.7 |
| 3 | ACADEMY AWARDS | ABC | 3/7/10 | 1 | 23.7 |
| 4 | NBC NFL PLAYOFF GAME 2 | NBC | 1/9/10 | 1 | 18.1 |
| 5 | WNTR OLYM OPEN CEREM | NBC | 2/12/10 | 1 | 17.8 |
| 6 | 2010 CITI BCS NAT CHMP GM | ABC | 1/7/10 | 1 | 17.3 |
| 7 | AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF-SA | CBS | 1/16/10 | 1 | 17.0 |
| 8 | WNTR OLYM WED PRIME 1 | NBC | 2/17/10 | 1 | 17.0 |
| 9 | OSCAR’S RED CARPET 2010 | ABC | 3/7/10 | 1 | 15.3 |
| 10 | WNTR OLYM SAT PRIME 2 | NBC | 2/20/10 | 1 | 15.0 |
| 11 | WNTR OLYM THU PRIME 1 | NBC | 2/18/10 | 1 | 14.8 |
| 12 | GRAMMY AWARDS | CBS | 1/31/10 | 1 | 14.8 |
| 13 | WNTR OLYM SUN PRIME 1 | NBC | 2/14/10 | 1 | 14.5 |
| 14 | WNTR OLYM MON PRIME 1 | NBC | 2/15/10 | 1 | 14.4 |
| 15 | WNTR OLYM SAT PRIME 1 | NBC | 2/13/10 | 1 | 14.3 |
| 16 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHAMPSHIPS | CBS | 4/5/10 | 1 | 14.2 |
| 17 | WNTR OLYM FRI PRIME 2 | NBC | 2/26/10 | 1 | 14.0 |
| 18 | WNTR OLYM THU PRIME 2 | NBC | 2/25/10 | 1 | 13.9 |
| 19 | AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY | FOX | 1/12/10 | 20 | 13.7 |
| 20 | WNTR OLYM FRI PRIME 1 | NBC | 2/19/10 | 1 | 13.7 |
| 21 | FOX WORLD SERIES GAME 4 | FOX | 11/1/09 | 1 | 13.5 |
| 22 | WNTR OLYM SUN PRIME 2 | NBC | 2/21/10 | 1 | 13.4 |
| 23 | FOX WORLD SERIES GAME 6 (7:54P) | FOX | 11/4/09 | 1 | 13.4 |
| 24 | FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP-POST | FOX | 1/24/10 | 1 | 13.4 |
| 25 | AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY | FOX | 1/13/10 | 20 | 13.2 |
| 26 | WNTR OLYM TUE PRIME 2 | NBC | 2/23/10 | 1 | 12.8 |
| 27 | WNTR OLYM MON PRIME 2 | NBC | 2/22/10 | 1 | 12.8 |
| 28 | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 9/21/09 | 20 | 12.6 |
| 29 | WNTR OLYM TUE PRIME 1 | NBC | 2/16/10 | 1 | 12.4 |
| 30 | WNTR OLYM CLOSE CEREM | NBC | 2/28/10 | 1 | 12.3 |
| 31 | WNTR OLYM WED PRIME 2 | NBC | 2/24/10 | 1 | 12.1 |
| 32 | AMERICAN IDOL THU SP-3/4 | FOX | 3/4/10 | 1 | 12.1 |
| 33 | AMERICAN IDOL THU SP-3/11 | FOX | 3/11/10 | 1 | 12.0 |
| 34 | FOX WORLD SERIES GAME 1 (7:57P) | FOX | 10/28/09 | 1 | 11.9 |
| 35 | WNTR OLYM SAT PRIME 3 | NBC | 2/27/10 | 1 | 11.9 |
| 36 | FOX WORLD SERIES GAME 2 (7:55P) | FOX | 10/29/09 | 1 | 11.7 |
| 37 | NCIS | CBS | 9/22/09 | 35 | 11.4 |
| 38 | NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | NBC | 9/27/09 | 14 | 11.3 |
| 39 | AMERICAN IDOL THU SP-2/25 | FOX | 2/25/10 | 1 | 11.3 |
| 40 | DANCING W/ THE STARS-9/22 | ABC | 9/22/09 | 1 | 10.7 |
| 41 | FOX WORLD SERIES GAME 5 (7:53P) | FOX | 11/2/09 | 1 | 10.6 |
| 42 | CMA AWARDS | ABC | 11/11/09 | 1 | 10.5 |
| 43 | MENTALIST, THE | CBS | 9/24/09 | 28 | 10.5 |
| 44 | DANCING W/STARS RESULT SP | ABC | 9/23/09 | 1 | 10.4 |
| 45 | VANCOUVER GOLD | NBC | 2/28/10 | 1 | 10.3 |
| 46 | GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS | NBC | 1/17/10 | 1 | 10.1 |
| 47 | BCS CHAMPIONSHIP PRE-GAME | ABC | 1/7/10 | 1 | 9.9 |
| 48 | UNDERCOVER BOSS | CBS | 2/7/10 | 9 | 9.8 |
| 49 | DANCING W/STARS RESULTS | ABC | 9/29/09 | 18 | 9.8 |
| 50 | CSI | CBS | 9/24/09 | 27 | 9.7 |
| 51 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | CBS | 9/22/09 | 34 | 9.7 |
| 52 | BARBARA WALTERS SP-3/7 | ABC | 3/7/10 | 1 | 9.6 |
| 53 | NCIS 9P SPECIAL | CBS | 12/1/09 | 1 | 9.6 |
| 54 | FOX MLB ALCS GAME 6 | FOX | 10/25/09 | 1 | 9.4 |
| 55 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHAMP SA-2 | CBS | 4/3/10 | 1 | 9.3 |
| 56 | BACHELOR:AFTER FINAL ROSE | ABC | 3/1/10 | 1 | 9.3 |
| 57 | FOX WORLD SERIES GAME 3 | FOX | 10/31/09 | 1 | 9.1 |
| 58 | NFL REGULAR SEASON | ESPN | 9/21/09 | 15 | 9.1 |
| 59 | AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS | ABC | 11/22/09 | 1 | 8.9 |
| 60 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 9/21/09 | 34 | 8.9 |
| 61 | GREY’S ANATOMY-THU 9PM | ABC | 9/24/09 | 28 | 8.9 |
| 62 | DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES | ABC | 9/27/09 | 24 | 8.8 |
| 63 | ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL | FOX | 1/1/10 | 1 | 8.5 |
| 64 | BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 9/21/09 | 35 | 8.5 |
| 65 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 9/23/09 | 33 | 8.4 |
| 66 | GOOD WIFE, THE | CBS | 9/22/09 | 34 | 8.4 |
| 67 | 60 MINUTES | CBS | 9/27/09 | 31 | 8.4 |
| 68 | UNDERCOVER BOSS – SPECIAL | CBS | 4/4/10 | 1 | 8.3 |
| 69 | TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL | FOX | 1/4/10 | 1 | 8.3 |
| 70 | XMAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE | ABC | 12/13/09 | 1 | 8.1 |
| 71 | CBS NCAA BSKBL-BRIDGE | CBS | 4/3/10 | 1 | 8.1 |
| 72 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 9/21/09 | 35 | 8.1 |
| 73 | SURVIVOR: SAMOA FINALE | CBS | 12/20/09 | 1 | 8.0 |
| 74 | 45TH ANNUAL ACM AWARDS | CBS | 4/18/10 | 1 | 7.9 |
| 75 | SURVIVOR: HEROES-VILLAINS | CBS | 2/11/10 | 12 | 7.9 |
| 76 | CSI: NY | CBS | 9/23/09 | 33 | 7.9 |
| 77 | BACHELOR, THE | ABC | 1/4/10 | 9 | 7.8 |
| 78 | SURVIVOR: SAMOA | CBS | 9/24/09 | 12 | 7.8 |
| 79 | OT, THE | FOX | 10/4/09 | 7 | 7.7 |
| 80 | SURVIVOR:HEROES-VILL-FNL | CBS | 5/16/10 | 1 | 7.7 |
| 81 | B. WALTERS: 10 MOST FASCINATING PEOPLE ’09 | ABC | 12/9/09 | 1 | 7.6 |
| 82 | LOST: THE END | ABC | 5/23/10 | 1 | 7.5 |
| 83 | BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP | ABC | 12/5/09 | 1 | 7.5 |
| 84 | HOUSE | FOX | 9/21/09 | 29 | 7.4 |
| 85 | CBS SUNDAY MOVIE-SPECIAL | CBS | 12/27/09 | 2 | 7.4 |
| 86 | SURVIVOR: HEROES-VILL-WED | CBS | 3/24/10 | 1 | 7.3 |
| 87 | 2010 AFC-NFC PRO BOWL | ESPN | 1/31/10 | 1 | 7.1 |
| 88 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP TH 2 | CBS | 3/25/10 | 1 | 7.1 |
| 89 | V | ABC | 11/3/09 | 5 | 7.1 |
| 90 | BROTHERS & SISTERS | ABC | 9/27/09 | 23 | 7.0 |
| 90 | PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS | CBS | 1/6/10 | 1 | 7.0 |
| 92 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP FR 2 | CBS | 3/26/10 | 1 | 7.0 |
| 93 | SUPER BOWL GREAT COMMRCLS | CBS | 2/3/10 | 1 | 7.0 |
| 94 | SURVIVOR: SAMOA REUNION | CBS | 12/20/09 | 1 | 6.9 |
| 95 | COLD CASE – SPECIAL | CBS | 4/4/10 | 1 | 6.9 |
| 96 | AMAZING RACE 15 | CBS | 9/27/09 | 11 | 6.8 |
| 97 | LOST | ABC | 2/2/10 | 16 | 6.8 |
| 98 | CASTLE | ABC | 9/21/09 | 32 | 6.8 |
| 99 | FEDEX ORANGE BOWL | FOX | 1/5/10 | 1 | 6.8 |
| 100 | HALLMARK HALL OF FAME | CBS | 11/29/09 | 2 | 6.5 |
| 223 | NBA PLAYOFFS-CONF FNLS | ESPN | 5/18/10 | 4 | 4.4 |
| 252 | KIDS CHOICE 10 | NICK | 3/27/10 | 1 | 4.1 |
| 265 | BIG TIME RUSH | NAN | 1/18/10 | 1 | 4.0 |
| 270 | 2010 NBA ALL STAR GAME | TNT | 2/14/10 | 1 | 3.9 |
| 281 | MLB NLCS | TBSC | 10/18/09 | 3 | 3.8 |
| 309 | STATE OF THE UNION 2010 | FXNC | 1/27/10 | 1 | 3.6 |
| 311 | NBA PLAYOFFS-CONF SEMIS | ESPN | 5/6/10 | 3 | 3.5 |
| 312 | 2009 HEISMAN TROPHY | ESPN | 12/12/09 | 1 | 3.5 |
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Source: The Nielsen Company
9/21/09-5/26/10 Nielsen Galaxy Lightning estimates. Ranked by average audience % (ratings) In the event of a tie, impressions (000’s) are used as a tiebreaker. Ad-Supported Subscription television only. Programming under 25 minutes excluded. Total shows: 4665 |
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More at TVB.org
Click here for the top 100 in Adults 18-49.
Click here for the top 100 in Adults 25-54.
