Cable/satellite networks had a strong showing for top programs in week two of the 2008-2009 television season. "Monday Night Football" on ESPN was the 4th rated show in the 18-49 demo for all of television. CNN’s coverage of the vice presidential debate just missed the top 10, coming in 11th. Here’s the weekly number crunch of both broadcast and cable/satellite data from the Nielsen Company by the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB).
Top 100 Programs on Broadcast and Subscription TV
Based on Primetime Adult 18-49 Ratings
Week ending October 5th, 2008
Week 2 of the 2008-2009 Broadcast Season
RANK | PROGRAMS | NETWORK | (START) DATE |
# TLCST |
P18-49 Live+SD US AA% |
1 | DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES | ABC | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 5.8 |
2 | NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | NBC | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 5.5 |
3 | HOUSE | FOX | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 5.4 |
4 | NFL REGULAR SEASON L | ESPN | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 5.0 |
5 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 4.7 |
6 | HEROES | NBC | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 4.5 |
7 | SURVIVOR: GABON | CBS | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 4.5 |
8 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 4.4 |
9 | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 4.4 |
10 | FAMILY GUY | FOX | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 4.3 |
11 | SR/VICE PRES DEBATE 2008(S)-10/02/2008 | CNN | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 4.3 |
12 | FRINGE | FOX | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 4.2 |
13 | CSI: NY | CBS | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 4.1 |
14 | 60 MINUTES | CBS | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 4.0 |
15 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 3.9 |
16 | EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P | ABC | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 3.9 |
17 | BROTHERS & SISTERS | ABC | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 3.8 |
18 | LAW AND ORDER:SVU | NBC | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 3.8 |
19 | DANCING W/STARS RESULTS | ABC | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 3.7 |
20 | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | CBS | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 3.7 |
21 | SIMPSONS | FOX | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 3.6 |
22 | DECISION ’08:VP ANALYS(S)-10/02/2008 | NBC | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 3.6 |
23 | MENTALIST, THE | CBS | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 3.6 |
24 | NCIS | CBS | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 3.5 |
25 | AMERICAN DAD | FOX | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 3.5 |
26 | AMAZING RACE 13 | CBS | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 3.4 |
27 | BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 3.3 |
28 | KING OF THE HILL | FOX | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 3.3 |
29 | PRIVATE PRACTICE | ABC | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 3.3 |
30 | AMERICA’S GOT TALENT-WED | NBC | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 3.3 |
31 | BONES | FOX | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 3.2 |
32 | BIGGEST LOSER 6 | NBC | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 3.0 |
33 | WORST WEEK | CBS | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 2.9 |
34 | COLD CASE | CBS | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 2.8 |
35 | WITHOUT A TRACE | CBS | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
35 | LIFE 9/29(S)-09/29/2008 | NBC | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
37 | MY NAME IS EARL | NBC | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
38 | CHUCK | NBC | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
39 | UNIT, THE | CBS | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
40 | AMER FUNN HOME VIDEOS | ABC | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 2.6 |
41 | UGLY BETTY | ABC | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
42 | GHOST WHISPERER | CBS | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
43 | KNIGHT RIDER | NBC | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 2.4 |
44 | DIRTY SEXY MONEY | ABC | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 2.4 |
45 | CAMPAIGN’08-VP DBATE AN-1(S)-10/02/2008 | CBS | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 2.4 |
46 | VP DEBATE(S)-10/02/2008 | FOXNC | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 2.4 |
47 | FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2 | NBC | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
48 | GARY UNMARRIED | CBS | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
49 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE TUE | UNI | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
50 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE WED | UNI | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
51 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE THU | UNI | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
52 | NUMB3RS | CBS | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
53 | SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL | ABC | 10/04/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
54 | PRISON BREAK | FOX | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
55 | PUSHING DAISIES | ABC | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
56 | TERMINATOR: SRH CNR CHRON | FOX | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
57 | AMW: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK | FOX | 10/04/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
58 | EX LIST, THE | CBS | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
59 | BOSTON LEGAL | ABC | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
60 | LIPSTICK JUNGLE | NBC | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
61 | CBS ELITEXC SAT NT FIGHTS(S)-10/04/2008 | CBS | 10/04/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
62 | OLD CHRISTINE | CBS | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
63 | KING OF HILL-SUN 7:30P | FOX | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
64 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE MON | UNI | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
65 | COPS 2 | FOX | 10/04/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
66 | 20/20-FRI | ABC | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
67 | ONE TREE HILL-MON | CW | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
68 | AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-5 | CW | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
69 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE FRI | UNI | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
70 | GOSSIP GIRL-MON | CW | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
70 | MLB DIVISION SERIES | TBSC | 10/01/2008 | 5 | 1.8 |
72 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL WED | UNI | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
73 | OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS | ABC | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
74 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | 09/29/2008 | 2 | 1.8 |
75 | 90210 | CW | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
76 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL TUE | UNI | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
77 | TIL DEATH | FOX | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
78 | LIFE | NBC | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
79 | HALF THEIR SIZE | ABC | 09/30/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
80 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL THU | UNI | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
81 | COPS | FOX | 10/04/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
82 | HOLE IN WALL THU-8:30P | FOX | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
82 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL MON | UNI | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
84 | SMALLVILLE | CW | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
85 | DEAL OR NO DEAL-FRI | NBC | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
86 | TIL DEATH-WED 9:30P | FOX | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
87 | ROSA DE GUADALUPE FRI | UNI | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
88 | ROSA DE GUADALUPE THU | UNI | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
89 | SUPERNANNY | ABC | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
90 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL FRI | UNI | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
91 | HOLE IN WALL THU-8P | FOX | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
92 | SUPERNATURAL | CW | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
93 | DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS | FOX | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
94 | SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER | FOX | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
95 | CRISTINA MON | UNI | 09/29/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
96 | LAW & ORDER:SVU-SAT | NBC | 10/04/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
97 | WIFE SWAP | ABC | 10/03/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
98 | KING OF HILL-SUN 7P | FOX | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
99 | DEBATE | MSNBC | 10/02/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
100 | DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE | UNI | 10/01/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
Source: 9/29 – 10/5/08 Nielsen Galaxy Explorer 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. |