The Big Bang Theory Doubled Up Thursday Night Football: Last Week's TV Ratings, In Context

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. 3: Monday Night Football: New York Giants at Washington Redskins (ESPN): 16.2 million viewers First Take (ESPN2): 496,000 viewers [Note: This was ESPN2's most watched program of the day.] Premier League soccer: Wigan at Newcastle (ESPN2): 121,000 viewers NCAA women's basketball: Maryland at UConn (ESPN2): 345,000 viewers Pawn Stars (History): 3.5 million viewers

Tuesday, Dec. 4: No highly rated sporting events.

Wednesday, Dec. 5: No highly rated sporting events.

Thursday, Dec 6.: Thursday Night Football: Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders (NFL Network): 6.8 million viewers The Big Bang Theory (CBS): 16.9 million viewers

Friday, Dec. 7: No highly rated sporting events.

Saturday, Dec. 8: UFC on FOX 5 (FOX): 4.4 million viewers ESPN 30 for 30: You Don't Know Bo (ESPN): 3.6 million viewers [Note: The Bo Jackson documentary drew a 2.3 overnight rating, the highest ever for an ESPN documentary.] Heisman Trophy presentation (ESPN): 4.9 million viewers Spongebob Squarepants (Nickelodeon):4.8 million viewers

Sunday, Dec. 9: NFL football: New Orleans Saints at New York Giants/Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (FOX): 17.0 overnight rating [Note: Saints-Giants was shown in 91 percent of markets. It was the third best overnight for the NFL national window this season.] Sunday Night Football: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (NBC): 21.3 million viewers 60 Minutes (CBS): 11.9 million viewers