A weekly feature wherein we contextualize TV ratings for national sports broadcasts. Data via Nielsen, Sports Business Journal's John Ourand and @TVSportsRTGS. Viewership numbers represent approximate number of persons tuned to a given program; ratings share refers to the percentage of all households using a television who are turned into that program.
Monday, Dec. 10:
Monday Night Football: Houston Texans at New England Patriots (ESPN): 14.5 million viewers
Two Broke Girls (CBS): 11.0 million viewers
Tuesday, Dec. 11:
No highly rated sporting events.
Wednesday, Dec. 12:
No highly rated sporting events.
Thursday, Dec 13:
Thursday Night Football: Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles (NFL Network): 5.5 million viewers
NBA basketball: Los Angeles Lakers at New York Knicks (TNT): 3.0 million viewers
NCIS, rerun (USA): 3.2 million viewers
The Big Bang Theory (CBS): 17.8 million viewers
Friday, Dec. 14:
No highly rated sporting events.
Saturday, Dec. 15:
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Toledo vs. Utah State (ESPN): 2.8 million viewers
Gildan New Mexico Bowl: Nevada vs. Arizona (ESPN): 2.6 million viewers
International women's soccer: U.S. vs. China (NBCSN): 178,000 viewers
Home Alone, en espanol (Telemundo): 974,000 viewers
Sunday, Dec. 16:
Sunday Night Football: San Francisco 49ers at New England Patriots (NBC): 23.2 million viewers [Note: 1.4 million viewers switched to the simulcast on CNBC when President Obama's speech in Newtown preempted coverage on NBC. 1.2 million viewers watched on NCBSN.]
60 Minutes (CBS): 20.0 million viewers