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The NFL’s Dominance Of Television Is Absurd

In the land of television, there is the NFL, and there is everyone else.

This has been confirmed thanks to this New York Times piece, which takes a look at the NFL’s astounding television ratings. Here are the most eye-popping numbers, in helpful nugget form.

- This season, 18 of the 20 highest-rated telecasts of any kind have been NFL games.
- In 2010, 27 out of 50 of the highest-rated shows have been NFL games.
- The top 13 spots in cable ratings this fall are all N.F.L. games.
- NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” is up 10% in viewing and will become the most watched prime-time event, a first of the  NFL.
- Surprisingly, “Dancing with the Stars” somehow beats Monday Night Football.

Any lingering doubts about the NFL’s dominance over the other major sports (and really, at this point, there shouldn’t be any lingering doubts) can be put to rest: football is America’s pastime.

[The Top Attraction on TV? No Script, but Plenty of Action] NY Times