A very nice top 10 for USA Network with TNT and NICK sneaking in the usual suspects.
Notably, three of Bill O’Reilly’s The O’Reilly factor made the top 20, and all five days made the top forty. I don’t watch cable news channels at all unless there is a major, major breaking news story so I have no idea if there were special guests or if his contingency just can’t get enough now that Obama is in office. I don’t have a horse in the cable news race (I truly couldn’t care less) but the best performance of Countdown with Keith Olbermann could do was a tie for 316th (in viewer P2+ rating).
I’ve included that and many other airings that were outside the top 20 and while they are sorted by viewers, they are not ranked. Thousands of shows were left off, but I included all four airings of the two hour Puppy Bowl that looped on Animal Planet on Sunday night.
Battlestar Galactica ratings dived, and I’m not surprised really because the second episode sort of stunk it up. Last week’s third episode was much better, but there were still fewer people around to see it. Damages popped back up over a million.
Please note, the data here is only for advertising supported cable, I will try to add in anything from HBO and Showtime if I see it later.
Update Feb 4: Big Love drew 1.5 million on Sunday, additionally it has been renewed for another season.
Full top twenty cable programs (and others) for the week ending February 1, 2009:
| Rank | Shows | NET | DAY | Time | Viewers Live+SD (000) |
| 1 | CLOSER, THE | TNT | Mon | 09:00P-10:00P | 6,243 |
| 2 | MONK | USA | Fri | 09:00P-10:00P | 5,393 |
| 3 | BURN NOTICE | USA | Thu | 10:00P-11:00P | 5,376 |
| 4 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | Mon | 10:00P-11:06P | 5,310 |
| 5 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | Mon | 09:00P-10:00P | 5,028 |
| 6 | SPONGEBOB | NICK | Sat | 09:30A-10:00A | 4,432 |
| 7 | PSYCH | USA | Fri | 10:00P-11:00P | 4,319 |
| 8 | NCIS | USA | Wed | 07:00P-08:00P | 4,285 |
| 9 | NCIS | USA | Tue | 07:00P-08:01P | 4,200 |
| 10 | NCIS | USA | Mon | 07:00P-08:00P | 4,196 |
| 11 | NCIS | USA | Thu | 07:00P-08:00P | 4,159 |
| 12 | THE OREILLY FACTOR | FOXN | Mon | 08:00P-09:00P | 3,963 |
| 13 | SPONGEBOB | NICK | Sat | 09:00A-09:30A | 3,893 |
| 14 | THE OREILLY FACTOR | FOXN | Wed | 08:00P-09:00P | 3,891 |
| 15 | NCIS | USA | Mon | 08:00P-09:00P | 3,855 |
| 16 | THE OREILLY FACTOR | FOXN | Thu | 08:00P-09:00P | 3,816 |
| 17 | SUITE LIFE ON DECK | DSNY | Fri | 08:00P-08:30P | 3,751 |
| 18 | JON & KATE PLUS 8 | TLC | Mon | 09:00P-09:31P | 3,735 |
| 19 | SPONGEBOB | NICK | Sat | 11:30A-12:00P | 3,649 |
| 20 | BACK AT THE BARNYARD | NICK | Sat | 10:00A-10:30A | 3,648 |
| Other Shows | |||||
| ICARLY | NICK | Wed | 07:00P-07:30P | 3,431 | |
| TRUST ME | TNT | Mon | 10:00P-11:00P | 3,400 | |
| TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE | HALL | Sat | 09:00P-11:00P | 3,308 | |
| HOUSE | USA | Wed | 08:00P-09:00P | 3,260 | |
| MEET THE BROWNS | TBSC | Wed | 10:00P-10:30P | 3,235 | |
| TOP CHEF | BRAV | Wed | 10:00P-11:15P | 3,216 | |
| SECRET LIFE/AMERICAN TEEN | FAM | Mon | 08:00P-09:00P | 3,104 | |
| REAL CHANCE OF LOVE | VH1 | Mon | 09:00P-10:00P | 3,041 | |
| DRAKE & JOSH | NICK | Wed | 06:00P-06:30P | 2,908 | |
| HANNAH MONTANA | DSNY | Mon | 07:30P-08:00P | 2,863 | |
| SUITE LIFE OF ZACK & CODY | DSNY | Sat | 06:30P-07:00P | 2,863 | |
| FAMILY GUY | ADSM | Thu | 11:30P-12:00A | 2,829 | |
| LEVERAGE | TNT | Tue | 10:00P-11:00P | 2,809 | |
| NIP TUCK | FX | Tue | 10:00P-11:02P | 2,677 | |
| GHOST HUNTERS INTERNATL | SCIF | Wed | 09:00P-10:00P | 2,598 | |
| STAR WARS:CLONE WARS | TOON | Fri | 09:00P-09:30P | 2,625 | |
| HOUSE OF PAYNE | TBSC | Wed | 09:30P-10:00P | 2,595 | |
| AMERICAS BEST DANCE CREW | MTV | Thu | 10:00P-11:00P | 2,564 | |
| DIRTY JOBS | DISC | Tue | 09:00P-10:00P | 2,546 | |
| DUKE/WAKE FOREST | ESPN | Wed | 07:00P-09:13P | 2,533 | |
| MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE | DSNY | Sun | 09:30A-09:55A | 2,467 | |
| BOURNE SUPREMACY, THE | TNT | Sat | 08:00P-10:00P | 2,384 | |
| GEORGE LOPEZ | NAN | Fri | 10:00P-10:30P | 2,340 | |
| REAL WORLD XXI | MTV | Wed | 10:00P-11:00P | 2,271 | |
| INTERVENTION | A&E | Mon | 09:00P-10:00P | 2,220 | |
| WYVERN | SCIF | Sat | 09:00P-11:00P | 2,159 | |
| JON & KATE PLUS 8 | TLC | Mon | 09:31P-10:00P | 2,146 | |
| THE FIRST 48 | A&E | Thu | 09:00P-10:00P | 2,146 | |
| DAILY SHOW | CMDY | Wed | 10:59P-11:30P | 2,117 | |
| TRUE JACKSON, VP | NICK | Sat | 08:30P-09:00P | 2,106 | |
| FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE | AMC | Sat | 08:00P-11:00P | 2,098 | |
| REAL HOUSEWIVES OF OC | BRAV | Tue | 10:00P-11:00P | 2,032 | |
| LARRY KING LIVE | CNN | Mon | 09:00P-10:00P | 1,983 | |
| NFL COUNTDOWN L | ESPN | Sun | 10:00A-02:00P | 1,978 | |
| HOUSE HUNTERS | HGTV | Thu | 09:30P-10:00P | 1,940 | |
| THATS SO RAVEN | DSNY | Wed | 06:30P-07:00P | 1,934 | |
| ECW | SCIF | Tue | 09:00P-10:00P | 1,931 | |
| DINERS, DRIVE INS & DIVES | FOOD | Fri | 09:30P-10:00P | 1,800 | |
| COUNTDOWN W/ K. OLBERMANN | MSNB | Thu | 08:00P-09:00P | 1,583 | |
| BATTLSTR GALACTICA (ORIG) | SCIF | Fri | 10:00P-11:01P | 1,560 | |
| KYLE XY | FAM | Mon | 09:00P-10:00P | 1,239 | |
| MOONLIGHT | SCIF | Fri | 09:00P-10:00P | 1,199 | |
| PUPPY BOWL | APL | Sun | 03:00P-05:00P | 1,152 | |
| DAMAGES | FX | Wed | 10:00P-11:01P | 1,027 | |
| PUPPY BOWL | APL | Sun | 05:00P-07:00P | 769 | |
| PUPPY BOWL | APL | Sun | 07:00P-09:00P | 509 | |
| PUPPY BOWL | APL | Sun | 09:00P-11:00P | 370 |
Nielsen Ratings Data: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:40 am
That was close for MONK vs BURN NOTICE. Al Franken demands a recount.
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
By any chance do you have the Celtics/Pistons numbers aired on espn?
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:50 am
Celtics/Pistons averaged 1.44 million Friday night from 7p-9:43p
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Do you have the numbers for Invasion/SciF? Thanks!
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Thanks as always Robert. Now an annoying question as always.
Was that Friday night airing of “Diners” (nice #s for a rerun!) Food’s highest-rated program?
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:58 am
Jon & Kate Plus Eight doesn’t seem to be a regular in the top 20. Did it get a bump from the octuplet media frenzy?
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
John, only 656,00 Friday at 8p. Chris, yes by 135K over BAREFOOT CONTESSA
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:23 am
How did “The Beast” do on A&E?
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 am
The Beast = 1.351 million, not very beastly.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 am
I see in your random other shows, you noted Intervention. Any chance of seeing Paranormal State ratings for the 10pm hour on A&E? They’ve been running new Paranormal State episodes for a couple of weeks now. I’m a big fan of the show. Wondering how many others are out there watching it
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:37 am
Wow. Diners, Drive-ins & Dives is a Food Network hit! Considering their lousy track record for actually picking the “Next Food Network Star”, they hit it big with Guy Fiero.
If you have it available, I’d love to see how Food Detectives is doing on Food Network. It’s the only show I watch on that channel.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:41 am
It’s a shame for BSG, because it was the best episode in the last few years, the first one without all that soap opera crap BSG has became famous for. It’s nice to see Leverage pull same numbers every week, and it’s also good to see that Damages is improving a little bit.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:44 am
i ask again in hopes one day someone knows something… any futurama numbers on comedy central? i wish they were still on adult swim. but comedy central does run it every day so i assume they are happy with it.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:57 am
Congrats once again to “Monk.” It’s nice to see it heading out on a high note.
Is it just me, or are “Secret Life’s” ratings very up-and-down this season? Wonder what that’s all about. As far as I can tell, it doesn’t seem to have much to do with the competition from “House” or “Gossip Girl.”
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Puppy Bowl! Woohoo!
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
hey rob next week can you be sure to include The Sarah Silverman Program on Comedy Central on Thrusday nights 10pm……thanks
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
the request line is closed after these…sorry, but I need a break
PARANORMAL STATE Mon 10p, 1.468 million
FOOD DETECTIVES Tue 9p, 821,000
FUTURAMA — there are many airings but the best one was at midnight Saturday/Sunday morning with 1.125 million
Sarah Silverman = 847,000. I don’t see mentioning it weekly.
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
awwwe… robert. thanks. was not expecting that.
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Any numbers out for the Australian Open on ESPN2?
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
What about Daddy’s Girls, The City, Shot of Love and Bromance on MTV?
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Yay!
Moonlight was up (even a little counts) from last week, while Invasion and BSG fell in the numbers. *awesome*
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
In regards to BSG which gets heavily promoted….
BSG last ep was very good, but I agree with Robert the 2nd episode was really not good at all and likely lost the show some steam aka viewers.
So any thoughts about SGU (Stargate Universe)? I don’t think it is going to get those epic stellar ratings the producers think. In a way, because we lost SGA because of it, it would not bother me. I love Stargate Atlantis, the show was truly becoming deeper and more dynamic with the characters and stories. Oh well. All good things eventually come to an end, right?
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Hey, do you have the numbers for Naruto(Cartoon Network;Saturday 9:30-10:00) and Bleach(Adult Swim; Saturday night/early Sunday morning 1:00-1:30AM)?
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Wow i am very pleased with the numbers that USA is putting up. Cable TV is growing and it shows. Also the USA network posted 10/20 top programs and 4/5 with MOnk WWE RAW (2Hour blocks) and Burn Notice and Psych also putting up decent #’s
Those three USA shows seem to be switching every week with WWE RAW usually the dominate one. I mean the dominate shows in cable for last year were Monday Night Football, Hte Closer, WWE Raw and Monk.
Very close numbers for the top 4 USA shows!
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Yay SpongeBob! (I always have to say it!)
One thing, though. I would’ve think that Family Guy does better than that on Adult Swim, I’m surprised.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:40 pm
I was wondering if you had the season average of the starter wife on USA?
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Terence, we don’t get season average numbers for cable shows like we do with broadcast shows, sorry. I was going to look up recent results, but it seems as if Starter Wife isn’t currently on the air for USA.
February 4th, 2009 at 5:43 am
To Matt :
Bromance never was on top cable programs chart, but that’s really strange for The City !
February 4th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Any numbers for Showtime and HBO?
February 4th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Considering the competition, Puppy Bowl did well.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Love to know the repeats numbers for Damages also. This way we see a total picture. Glad to see the bump up this week but has along way to go compete with other shows which sad in a way. This show to me is the best written drama on television.
February 5th, 2009 at 8:22 am
I love that Moonlight has the same ratings as the PuppyBowl. So much for the vaulted hopes of a second season.
February 5th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Not so fast riky daggy! When moonlight was set to premiere I longed for a 2.5 million showing. But even with dashed dreams of a magnanimous fan such as myself, even I can see that Moonlight has staying power as a rerun on a cable network on a friday night with those numbers.Duh!and double duh!!
February 6th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Hi! If the numbers are available - can you give the totals for next week for the premiere of the movie “Final Verdict” on the Lifetime Movie Network? It aired three times- there should be a cumulative figure on it- thanks in advance! Love the extended list including the Puppy Bowl numbers!
February 6th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
does anyone know the rating for the Lakers/Celtics game on thursday on TNT?
February 6th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
jon, we get/publish cable show data weekly on Tuesdays.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Burn Notice and Lakers/Celts info for Thursday Feb 5.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Good. BSG hyped up all kinds a plot points would be aswered then basically told the viewers none of it matters. The rest of episodes seem to be going in tangents that none but the die hards care about.