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, July 9:
Home Run Derby (ESPN): 6.9 million viewers
The Bachelorette (ABC): 8.1 million viewers
Tuesday, July 10:
MLB All-Star Game (FOX): 10.8 million viewers
America's Got Talent (NBC): 10.6 million viewers
Note: Ratings for the MLB All-Star Game peaked at the time R.A. Dickey was pitching.
Wednesday, July 11:
ESPY Awards (ESPN): 2.4 million viewers
NCIS, rerun (USA): 3.8 million viewers
Thursday, July 12:
USA vs Dominican Republic men's basketball, pre-Olympic scrimmage (ESPN): 2.7 million viewers
Swamp People (History Channel): 5.1 million viewers
Friday, July 13:
No highly-rated sporting events.
Saturday, July 14:
Major League Lacrosse, Denver Outlaws vs Charlotte Hounds (ESPN2): 88,000 viewers
Cine de Impacto [Rambo: First Blood, en espanol] (Telemundo): 630,000 viewers
Sunday, July 15:
NASCAR Sprint Cup at New Hampshire (TNT): 4.7 million viewers
ESPN Sunday Night Baseball (ESPN): 1.8 million viewers
Big Brother (CBS): 6.2 million viewers
America's Funniest Home Videos, rerun (ABC): 5.2 million viewers