Ratings for Basic Cable Networks

Rankings for the top 15 programs on basic cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Aug. 22-28. Each ratings point represents 1,096,000 households. Day and start time (EDT) are in parentheses.

1. “2005 Video Music Awards” (Sunday, 8 p.m.), MTV, 5.0, 5.48 million homes.

2. Sharpie 500 (Saturday, 7:25 p.m.), TNT, 3.9, 4.25 million homes.

3. “The Closer” (Monday, 9 p.m.), TNT, 3.6, 3.93 million homes.

4. “Monk” (Friday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.5, 3.80 million homes.

5. “WWE Raw Zone” (Monday, 10 p.m.), Spike, 3.4, 3.69 million homes.

6. “WWE Raw” (Monday, 9 p.m.), Spike, 3.1, 3.44 million homes.

7. NFL Pre-Season: Atlanta vs. Jacksonville (Thursday, 8 p.m.), ESPN, 2.9, 3.15 million homes.

8. “Fox News Live” (Sunday, 6 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 2.8, 3.08 million homes.

9. Hurricane Katrina Coverage (Sunday, 5 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 2.8, 3.06 million homes.

10. “Real World XVI” (Tuesday, 10 p.m.), MTV, 2.8, 3.05 million homes.

11. Hurricane Katrina Coverage (Sunday, 10 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 2.8, 3.04 million homes.

12. “Fox Report Sunday” (Sunday, 7 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 2.7, 2.97 million homes.

13. “SpongeBob SquarePants” (Saturday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.6, 2.90 million homes.

14. Hurricane Katrina Coverage (Sunday, 9 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 2.6, 2.89 million homes.

15. “Law & Order” (Tuesday, 9 p.m.), TNT, 2.6, 2.85 million homes.