The 2010-’11 television season is in the history books, although summer programming continues until the new season begins in September. TVB has been crunching the numbers from The Nielsen Company and finds that broadcast TV network had the top eight shows in the big money 18-49 demo and 89 of the top 100.
Of course, #1 was the Super Bowl, which this year was on Fox. The NFL claimed the top four spots, in fact, with the Academy Awards at #5. The top scripted show was “Glee” on Fox – the special showing which followed (you guessed it) The Super Bowl. It was #7.
Sports also scored big for cable, accounting for all of the nine programs making the top 100 in all of television. The highest-rated cable program in 18-49 was the BCS Championship Game on ESPN, at #8.
Top 100 A18-49 Programming 2010-11 Season
Blue = Broadcast Red = Subscription TV
| RANK | PROGRAMS | NETWORK | (START) DATE |
# TLCST |
P18-49 Live+SD US AA% |
| 1 | FOX SUPER BOWL XLV(S)-02/06/2011 | FOX | 02/06/2011 | 1 | 39.9 |
| 2 | FOX SUPER BOWL POST GAME(S)-02/06/2011 | FOX | 02/06/2011 | 1 | 25.5 |
| 3 | AFC CHAMPIONSHIP ON CBS(S)-01/23/2011 | CBS | 01/23/2011 | 1 | 19.7 |
| 4 | ACADEMY AWARDS(S)-02/27/2011 | ABC | 02/27/2011 | 1 | 11.8 |
| 5 | NBC NFL PLAYOFF GAME 2(S)-01/08/2011 | NBC | 01/08/2011 | 1 | 11.7 |
| 6 | FOX NFC PLAYOFF-SAT(S)-01/15/2011 | FOX | 01/15/2011 | 1 | 11.2 |
| 7 | GLEE SP-2/6(S)-02/06/2011 | FOX | 02/06/2011 | 1 | 11.1 |
| 8 | BCS CHAMPIONSHIP L | ESPN | 01/10/2011 | 1 | 10.1 |
| 9 | GRAMMY AWARDS(S)-02/13/2011 | CBS | 02/13/2011 | 1 | 10.0 |
| 10 | NBC NFL TUESDAY SPECIAL(S)-12/28/2010 | NBC | 12/28/2010 | 1 | 8.1 |
| 11 | AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY | FOX | 01/19/2011 | 19 | 8.0 |
| 12 | NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | NBC | 09/26/2010 | 14 | 8.0 |
| 13 | AMERICAN IDOL TUE SP-3/1(S)-03/01/2011 | FOX | 03/01/2011 | 1 | 7.6 |
| 14 | OSCAR’S RED CARPET LIVE-3(S)-02/27/2011 | ABC | 02/27/2011 | 1 | 7.3 |
| 15 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHAMPSHIPS(S)-04/04/2011 | CBS | 04/04/2011 | 1 | 7.1 |
| 16 | AMERICAN IDOL-THURSDAY | FOX | 01/20/2011 | 18 | 6.9 |
| 17 | AMERICAN IDOL TUE SP-5/24(S)-05/24/2011 | FOX | 05/24/2011 | 1 | 6.4 |
| 18 | NFL REGULAR SEASON L | ESPN | 09/20/2010 | 15 | 5.9 |
| 19 | HAWAII FIVE-0 SP 1/23(S)-01/23/2011 | CBS | 01/23/2011 | 1 | 5.6 |
| 20 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHAMP SA-2(S)-04/02/2011 | CBS | 04/02/2011 | 1 | 5.4 |
| 21 | GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS(S)-01/16/2011 | NBC | 01/16/2011 | 1 | 5.2 |
| 22 | SUGAR BOWL L | ESPN | 01/04/2011 | 1 | 5.0 |
| 23 | VOICE | NBC | 04/26/2011 | 5 | 4.9 |
| 24 | FOX AFC-NFC PRO BOWL(S)-01/30/2011 | FOX | 01/30/2011 | 1 | 4.7 |
| 25 | CMA AWARDS(S)-11/10/2010 | ABC | 11/10/2010 | 1 | 4.7 |
| 26 | BACHELOR:AFTER FINAL ROSE(S)-03/14/2011 | ABC | 03/14/2011 | 1 | 4.7 |
| 27 | FOX WORLD SERIES GAME 1(S)-10/27/2010 | FOX | 10/27/2010 | 1 | 4.7 |
| 28 | OT, THE | FOX | 10/03/2010 | 8 | 4.6 |
| 29 | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 09/20/2010 | 20 | 4.5 |
| 30 | AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS(S)-11/21/2010 | ABC | 11/21/2010 | 1 | 4.3 |
| 30 | FOX WORLD SERIES GAME 4(S)-10/31/2010 | FOX | 10/31/2010 | 1 | 4.3 |
| 32 | CBS NCAA BSKBL-BRIDGE(S)-04/02/2011 | CBS | 04/02/2011 | 1 | 4.2 |
| 33 | FOX WORLD SERIES GAME 5(S)-11/01/2010 | FOX | 11/01/2010 | 1 | 4.2 |
| 34 | SURVIVOR:NICARAGUA FINALE(S)-12/19/2010 | CBS | 12/19/2010 | 1 | 4.1 |
| 35 | SURVIVOR: RI FINALE(S)-05/15/2011 | CBS | 05/15/2011 | 1 | 4.0 |
| 36 | FOX WORLD SERIES GAME 2(S)-10/28/2010 | FOX | 10/28/2010 | 1 | 4.0 |
| 37 | 2011 NBA ALL STAR GAME(S)-02/20/2011 | TNT | 02/20/2011 | 1 | 4.0 |
| 38 | RUDOLPH RED-NOSE REINDEER(S)-11/30/2010 | CBS | 11/30/2010 | 1 | 3.9 |
| 39 | OSCAR’S RED CARPET LIVE-2(S)-02/27/2011 | ABC | 02/27/2011 | 1 | 3.9 |
| 40 | FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 | NBC | 09/26/2010 | 15 | 3.8 |
| 41 | MOBBED SP-3/31 9P(S)-03/31/2011 | FOX | 03/31/2011 | 1 | 3.8 |
| 42 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP FR 2(S)-03/25/2011 | CBS | 03/25/2011 | 1 | 3.8 |
| 43 | MODERN FAMILY | ABC | 09/22/2010 | 34 | 3.8 |
| 44 | MODERN FAMILY SP-11/24(S)-11/24/2010 | ABC | 11/24/2010 | 1 | 3.7 |
| 45 | DANCING W/STARS RESULTS | ABC | 09/21/2010 | 19 | 3.7 |
| 45 | NBA ALLSTAR SAT NIGHT(S)-02/19/2011 | TNT | 02/19/2011 | 1 | 3.7 |
| 47 | SURVIVOR: NICARAGUA | CBS | 09/22/2010 | 12 | 3.6 |
| 48 | ORANGE BOWL L | ESPN | 01/03/2011 | 1 | 3.6 |
| 49 | BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 09/23/2010 | 32 | 3.6 |
| 50 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP SA-2(S)-03/26/2011 | CBS | 03/26/2011 | 1 | 3.5 |
| 51 | NCIS | CBS | 09/21/2010 | 33 | 3.5 |
| 52 | FOX MLB NLCS GAME 5(S)-10/21/2010 | FOX | 10/21/2010 | 1 | 3.5 |
| 53 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 09/20/2010 | 33 | 3.5 |
| 54 | SURVIVOR: NICARAGUA RNION(S)-12/19/2010 | CBS | 12/19/2010 | 1 | 3.4 |
| 55 | VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION(S)-11/30/2010 | CBS | 11/30/2010 | 1 | 3.4 |
| 56 | NBA PLAYOFFS ON ABC-SA2(S)-05/07/2011 | ABC | 05/07/2011 | 1 | 3.4 |
| 57 | FOX MLB NLCS GAME 6(S)-10/23/2010 | FOX | 10/23/2010 | 1 | 3.4 |
| 58 | GLEE | FOX | 09/21/2010 | 34 | 3.4 |
| 59 | SURVIVOR: RI REUNION(S)-05/15/2011 | CBS | 05/15/2011 | 1 | 3.4 |
| 60 | GREY’S ANATOMY | ABC | 09/23/2010 | 30 | 3.3 |
| 61 | FAMILY GUY | FOX | 09/26/2010 | 23 | 3.3 |
| 61 | ACM AWARDS(S)-04/03/2011 | CBS | 04/03/2011 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 63 | FIESTA BOWL L | ESPN | 01/01/2011 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 64 | SING OFF 12/13(S)-12/13/2010 | NBC | 12/13/2010 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 65 | AMAZING RACE 17 | CBS | 09/26/2010 | 12 | 3.3 |
| 66 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP TH 2(S)-03/24/2011 | CBS | 03/24/2011 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 67 | BACHELOR, THE | ABC | 01/03/2011 | 10 | 3.2 |
| 68 | AT&T COTTON BOWL(S)-01/07/2011 | FOX | 01/07/2011 | 1 | 3.2 |
| 69 | 20/20 SPECIAL EDITION-3/1(S)-03/01/2011 | ABC | 03/01/2011 | 1 | 3.2 |
| 70 | BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS(S)-12/09/2010 | ABC | 12/09/2010 | 1 | 3.2 |
| 71 | OFFICE | NBC | 09/23/2010 | 34 | 3.1 |
| 72 | SURVIVOR: REDEMPTION ISLD | CBS | 02/16/2011 | 13 | 3.1 |
| 73 | DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES | ABC | 09/26/2010 | 25 | 3.1 |
| 74 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | CBS | 09/21/2010 | 31 | 3.1 |
| 75 | MLB ALCS | TBSC | 10/15/2010 | 4 | 3.1 |
| 76 | DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES-4/24(S)-04/24/2011 | ABC | 04/24/2011 | 1 | 3.1 |
| 77 | HOUSE | FOX | 09/20/2010 | 31 | 3.0 |
| 78 | TWO AND A HALF MEN SP(S)-02/21/2011 | CBS | 02/21/2011 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 79 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 09/22/2010 | 33 | 3.0 |
| 80 | SIMPSONS | FOX | 09/26/2010 | 26 | 3.0 |
| 81 | NCIS 9P-SPECIAL(S)-11/30/2010 | CBS | 11/30/2010 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 82 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES 10P SP(S)-09/21/2010 | CBS | 09/21/2010 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 83 | MIKE & MOLLY | CBS | 09/20/2010 | 35 | 3.0 |
| 84 | UNDERCOVER BOSS | CBS | 09/26/2010 | 23 | 3.0 |
| 85 | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | CBS | 09/20/2010 | 35 | 3.0 |
| 86 | BARBARA WALTERS SP-12/9(S)-12/09/2010 | ABC | 12/09/2010 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 87 | BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS(S)-05/22/2011 | ABC | 05/22/2011 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 88 | FOX WORLD SERIES GAME 3(S)-10/30/2010 | FOX | 10/30/2010 | 1 | 2.9 |
| 89 | FOX MLB NLCS GAME 4(S)-10/20/2010 | FOX | 10/20/2010 | 1 | 2.9 |
| 90 | HOME DEPOT PRIME CLG FTBL(S)-10/02/2010 | CBS | 10/02/2010 | 1 | 2.9 |
| 91 | NFL DRAFT L | ESPN | 04/28/2011 | 1 | 2.9 |
| 92 | NBA PLAYOFFS-CONF FNLS L | ESPN | 05/17/2011 | 5 | 2.9 |
| 93 | SING OFF 12/15(S)-12/15/2010 | NBC | 12/15/2010 | 1 | 2.9 |
| 94 | BCS BOWL STUDIO L | ESPN | 01/01/2011 | 4 | 2.9 |
| 95 | BIGGEST LOSER 11 | NBC | 01/04/2011 | 21 | 2.9 |
| 96 | APPRENTICE 11 | NBC | 03/06/2011 | 12 | 2.8 |
| 97 | BONES | FOX | 09/23/2010 | 26 | 2.8 |
| 98 | CLEVELAND SP-12/5 9P(S)-12/05/2010 | FOX | 12/05/2010 | 1 | 2.8 |
| 99 | SING OFF 12/6(S)-12/06/2010 | NBC | 12/06/2010 | 1 | 2.8 |
| 100 | BACHELORETTE, THE | ABC | 05/23/2011 | 1 | 2.8 |
*Subscription TV is programming delivered to the household by wired cable, telco or alternate delivery systems (ADS) such as satellite.
Source: The Nielsen Company, 9/20/10-5/25/11
Ranked by average audience % (ratings). In the event of a tie, impressions (000’s) are used as the tiebreaker.
Ad-Supported Subscription television only.
Programming under 25 minutes excluded.
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