List of top 15 programs on cable networks in the Nielsen ratings for Aug. 31-Sept. 6

Top cable programs for Aug. 31-Sept. 6

Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 6. Day and start time (EDT) are in parentheses:

1. NFL Exhibition Football: Minnesota vs. Dallas (Monday, 8 p.m.), ESPN, 5.94 million homes, 7.91 million viewers.

2. Auto Racing: NASCAR Sprint Cup/Atlanta (Sunday, 7:45 p.m.), ESPN, 4.05 million homes, 5.8 million viewers.

3. “WWE Raw” (Monday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.63 million homes, 5.17 million viewers.

4. “WWE Raw” (Monday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.58 million homes, 5.08 million viewers.

5. “SpongeBob SquarePants” (Saturday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.43 million homes, 4.5 million viewers.

6. “NCIS” (Monday, 8 p.m.), USA, 3.24 million homes, 4.22 million viewers.

7. College Football: Brigham Young vs. Oklahoma (Saturday, 7 p.m.), ESPN, 3.22 million homes, 4.56 million viewers.

8. “SpongeBob SquarePants” (Saturday, 9 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.16 million homes, 4.03 million viewers.

9. “NCIS” (Wednesday, 8 p.m.), USA, 3.14 million homes, 3.99 million viewers.

10. College Football: Navy vs. Ohio State (Saturday, 12:01 p.m.), ESPN, 2.95 million homes, 3.87 million viewers.

11. “College Gameday Scoreboard” (Thursday, 10:04 p.m.), ESPN, 2.895 million homes, 3.89 million viewers.

12. College Football: Oregon vs. Boise State (Thursday, 10:13 p.m.), ESPN, 2.892 million homes, 3.85 million viewers.

13. “Penguins of Madagascar” (Saturday, 10 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.87 million homes, 3.85 million viewers.

14. “NCIS” (Wednesday, 9 p.m.), USA, 2.8 million homes, 3.68 million viewers.

15. “Suite Life on Deck” (Friday, 8:30 p.m.), Disney, 2.78 million homes, 3.71 million viewers.

The Disney Channel and ESPN are owned by the Walt Disney Co.; USA is owned by General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal; Nickelodeon is owned by Viacom Inc.