A weekly feature wherein we contextualize TV ratings for national sports broadcasts. Data via Nielsen and Sports Business Journal's John Ourand. 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, Aug. 20:
Monday Night Football; Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots, preseason (ESPN): 5.0 million viewers
Major Crimes (TNT): 5.3 million viewers
Tuesday, Aug. 21:
No highly rated sporting events
Wednesday, Aug. 22:
No highly rated sporting events
Thursday, Aug. 23:
NFL preseason football; Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans (ESPN): 3.4 million viewers
Burn Notice (USA): 5.0 million viewers
Friday, Aug. 24:
NFL preseason football; Chicago Bears at New York Giants (CBS): 5.2 million viewers
Jessie (Disney Channel): 4.4 million viewers
Saturday, Aug. 25:
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Bristol (ABC): 5.9 million viewers
NFL preseason football; Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints (CBS): 5.1 million viewers
Mexican soccer; Club Tijuana at Club América (Univision): 1.0 million viewers
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, rerun (NBC): 2.9 million viewers
SpongeBob SquarePants, rerun (Nickelodeon): 3.2 million viewers
Sunday, Aug. 26:
Sunday Night Football; Carolina Panthers at New York Jets, preseason (NBC): 9.8 million viewers
True Blood, season finale (HBO): 5.0 million viewers