If you count WWE RAW as a sport, sports dominated the top ten with only iCarly at #10 breaking up the sports-streak. Seven NBA playoff games made the top ten. Game #7 of the Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics where the Magic from Orlando won the decisive game seven on Boston’s home court was the most watched program on cable for the week with 8.382 million viewers.
In Plain Sight was back in the top 20 (#12) with 3.948 million average viewers and its lead-in, Law & Order: Criminal Intent was #19 with 3.709 million.
Top twenty cable network television shows for the week ending May 17, 2009:
| Rank | Shows | NET | DAY | Time | Viewers Live+SD (000) |
| 1 | MAGIC/CELTICS | TNT | Sun | 08:07P-10:46P | 8,382 |
| 2 | LAKERS/ROCKETS | ESPN | Thu | 09:51P-12:35A | 7,352 |
| 3 | MAGIC/CELTICS | TNT | Tue | 08:00P-10:45P | 5,233 |
| 4 | ROCKETS/LAKERS | TNT | Tue | 10:45P-01:20A | 5,187 |
| 5 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | Mon | 10:00P-11:03P | 4,940 |
| 6 | NUGGETS/MAVERICKS | TNT | Mon | 09:53P-12:53A | 4,837 |
| 7 | CELTICS/MAGIC | ESPN | Thu | 07:00P-09:51P | 4,795 |
| 8 | MAVERICKS/NUGGETS | TNT | Wed | 09:09P-11:54P | 4,574 |
| 9 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | Mon | 09:00P-10:00P | 4,415 |
| 10 | ICARLY | NICK | Sat | 08:00P-08:30P | 4,319 |
| 11 | NASCAR SPRINT CUP RACING | SPD | Sat | 07:00P-11:20P | 4,174 |
| 12 | IN PLAIN SIGHT | USA | Sun | 10:00P-11:00P | 3,948 |
| 13 | CAVALIERS/HAWKS | TNT | Mon | 07:00P-09:53P | 3,943 |
| 14 | ICARLY MOVIE:DATEABADBOY | NICK | Wed | 06:00P-07:00P | 3,891 |
| 15 | PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR | NICK | Sat | 10:00A-10:30A | 3,866 |
| 16 | TRUE JACKSON, VP | NICK | Sat | 08:30P-09:00P | 3,864 |
| 17 | PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR | NICK | Sun | 10:00A-10:30A | 3,820 |
| 18 | SPONGEBOB | NICK | Sat | 09:30A-10:00A | 3,789 |
| 19 | LAW & ORDER: CI (ORIG) | USA | Sun | 09:00P-10:00P | 3,709 |
| 20 | NCIS | USA | Mon | 07:00P-08:00P | 3,646 |
| Other shows (not ranked) | |||||
| SONNY WITH A CHANCE | DSNY | Sun | 08:30P-09:00P | 3,469 | |
| HANNAH MONTANA | DSNY | Sun | 07:30P-08:00P | 3,361 | |
| JONAS | DSNY | Sun | 08:00P-08:30P | 3,356 | |
| BACK AT THE BARNYARD | NICK | Sat | 10:30A-11:00A | 3,307 | |
| DANE COOK:ISOLATED | CMDY | Sun | 10:00P-11:00P | 3,169 | |
| DEADLIEST CATCH | DISC | Tue | 09:00P-10:01P | 2,930 | |
| HILLS, THE | MTV | Mon | 10:00P-10:30P | 2,412 | |
| REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NYC | BRAV | Tue | 10:00P-11:00P | 2,285 | |
| REAL HSWIVES OF NJ | BRAV | Tue | 11:00P-12:00A | 1,715 | |
| MYTHBUSTERS | DISC | Wed | 09:00P-10:00P | 1,688 | |
| GREEK | FAM | Mon | 08:00P-09:00P | 748 | |
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Nielsen Ratings Data: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved

How did ‘Dhani Jones’ on Travel Channel do Monday night?
Well I’m happy In Plain Sight found its way back into the top twenty.
The lack of NCIS and Spongebob from this weeks list is a little weird though. And seriously at another near 4 million people watching a repeat of the iCarly movie!
And “True Jackson VP” continues to ride on “iCarly’s” success…
Poor Sonny, Hannah & JONAS. Last Sunday, Nick aired “iCarly” reruns at the same time as Disney aired brand new ones of those three shows. The brand new episode of “JONAS” on Saturday that aired against iCarly must have done poorly as well.
Poor Greek! Its never had that great of numbers, but it’s sad when it can’t even get over the 1 million threshold.
Once again, thanks for the cable ratings. I would like to know the ratings for “The Phone” on MTV for the past 3 weeks? It’s a very interesting study for me because it started with a lot of fanfare with Justin Timberlake as the producer. Did his in-built audience translate to being audience for the show? On social networks, many first time viewers thought some of the stunts on that show were absolutely unbelievable. I am interested in knowing whether viewers have continued to respond favorably.
“if you count WWE RAW as a sport, sports dominated the top ten with…”
no. WWE isn’t a sport.
Wow, those numbers are huge for the NBA, especially the Game 7 Sunday between Celtics/Magic. I guess the NBA is back on the rise.
I would like to know how Daisy of Love and New York Goes to Work did.
iCarly and True Jackson VP whooping ass! Take that Miley, Demi, and Jonas Brothers!
Nickelodeon is kicking Disney’s behinds!
Thanks for the Hills ratings!!lower than the past season, but still the better show on MTV!!
In Spain also ranks the #1 show on MTV(they show Greek too in Spain)
Any numbers for Breaking Bad and The Tudors ?
good to see greek continue to have awful ratings.
The NBA has been ‘back on the rise’ for a while now, but I agree with you in part, Eddie. The league has certainly built upon some major successes, even somewhat distancing the Tim Donaghy scandal (which was just last year, believe it or not).
Maybe the fine folks here at TVBTN can add something to this, but I believe that the NBA’s success is much in part to TNT’s dominance on the cable landscape over the past few years coupled with the growth of young stars around the league.
I am happy to see that the league’s detractors have been relatively mum throughout the season.
Do you have Impact, ECW, and Superstars numbers?
Wow out of the 3 all new disney episodes, Sonny With A Chance beat Hannah Montana and Jonas? Sonny is really gaining popularity fast and Jonas is just a disappointment in my eyes.
Oh and I’m glad over 8 million people saw the Magic expose the defending champs.
thanks for the Hills. 2.4 million is still the numbers to beat on MTV right now. Good job Hills. Last night was really good
True Jackson VP is an awful show. It wont last long!!
I’m really curious to see what the saturday airing of Jonas got. If they got beat with a new episode by the re-run on Sunday I can only imagine how bad the Saturday ratings were when another new Jonas went up against the new icarly. Disney needs to putting them up against icarly. They’re never going to win.
Also wow at almost 4 million people watching that icarly movie re-run. Getting over 6 mil the first time and then 4 mil in the two re-runs is really impressive.
Can we get the Moonlight numbers for Friday night? It has been a long time since you had posted this. I certainly would appreciate it.
Disapointed in Hannah, Sonny, and JONAS numbers ohwell Miley, Demi and Jonas brothers have got staying power they are going for great things hope Miley gets the footloose role and like JOHN MAYER said “Demi is going to make alot of records”
Aren’t the Disney numbers what they usually are? Mid 3 million sounds about right.
Congrats to Sonny With A Chance for the top Disney spot by the way!
eek, what a horrible week for SpongeBob!
stuid disney changing episode schedules I didn’t even know Hannah Montana was new this week until the day before it aired that episode was scheduled to air the 31st
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it has to have been a long time since NBA playoffs were nine of the top 13, with two being wrestling and two being icarly and in plain sight. I guess as long as my younger peers keep ESPN and whomever else in business, they have no right to complain about ” TV for bitches ” as one poster put it, on all the other basic cable and on ABC.
Does anyone know how many people watched the third season premiere of Primeval on BBC America, please? Thanks very much.
nba is dominating everything
Still no Duel 2?
My 1st comment souned a bit snobish, so I’ll rephrase. If you can, please accept my request for posting teh D2 numbers next week. It will be greatly appreciated. Thank You.