By The Associated Press
Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Aug 11-17. Day and start time (EDT) are in parentheses:
1. "The Closer" (Monday, 9 p.m.), TNT, 4.84 million homes, 6.42 million viewers.
2. Auto Racing: NASCAR Sprint Cup (Sunday, 2 p.m.), ESPN, 3.74 million homes, 5.30 million viewers.
3. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (Sunday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.58 million homes, 4.64 million viewers.
4. Auto Racing: NASCAR Sprint Cup Post-race (Sunday, 5:15 p.m.), ESPN, 3.45 million homes, 5.04 million viewers.
5. "Monk" (Friday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.32 million homes, 4.65 million viewers.
6. NFL exhibition football: Bengals vs. Packers (Monday, 8 p.m.), ESPN, 3.114 million homes, 4.14 million viewers.
7. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 11:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.109 million homes, 4.48 million viewers.
8. "In Plain Sight" (Sunday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.103 million homes, 3.78 million viewers.
9. "Burn Notice" (Thursday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.100 million homes, 3.88 million viewers.
10. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.05 million homes, 4.81 million viewers.
11. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 12 noon), Nickelodeon, 2.93 million homes, 4.00 million viewers.
12. "Army Wives" (Sunday, 10 p.m.), Lifetime, 2.91 million homes, 3.49 million viewers.
13. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 11 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.86 million homes, 3.86 million viewers.
14. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 9 p.m.), USA, 2.86 million homes, 4.53 million viewers.
15. "Saving Grace" (Monday, 10 p.m.), TNT, 2.84 million homes, 3.54 million viewers.
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Nickelodeon is owned by Viacom Inc. USA is owned by General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal. TNT is owned by Time Warner Inc. Lifetime is a joint venture between the Hearst Corp. and the Walt Disney Co. ESPN is owned by Disney.
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