Media tabulation giant Nielsen Media Research just issued a release listing the top 10 products of the year for TV, movies, DVDs and more. here's a sample of what they noticed in 2006.

NIELSEN ISSUES MOST POPULAR LISTS FOR 2006

New York, NY, December 20, 2006 – Several Nielsen media tracking businesses today released a year-end look at the most popular media trends among Americans during 2006.  This is the first time the Nielsen companies have released a compilation of “Top 10’s” for the Nielsen brands.  Going forward this information will be released publicly on a regular basis. 

TELEVISION – from Nielsen Media Research

Top 10 TV Programs - Regularly Scheduled - 2006
Rank    Programs        Network % of Homes in U.S. (Rating)   
1       AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY   FOX     17.7   
2       AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY FOX     17.2   
3       DANCING WITH THE STARS  ABC     12.7   
4       CSI     CBS     12.0   
5       DANCING W/STARS RESULTS ABC     11.4   
6       NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL       NBC     11.1   
7       CSI: MIAMI      CBS     10.3   
8       DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES    ABC     10.2   
9       HOUSE   FOX     10.0   
10      DEAL OR NO DEAL-MON     NBC     9.8   
10      WITHOUT A TRACE CBS     9.8   
Source: Nielsen Media Research

Note:  Data from Dec 26, 2005 - Dec 17, 2006.  Household Ratings include Live and Same Day timeshifted viewing.

Top 10 TV Programs - Single Telecasts - 2006   
Rank    Telecast        Network Date Aired      % of Homes in U.S. (Rating)   
1       SUPER BOWL XL   ABC     2/5/2006        41.6   
2       SUPER BOWL POST GAME    ABC     2/5/2006        29.0   
3       ACADEMY AWARDS  ABC     3/5/2006        23.1   
4       ROSE BOWL       ABC     1/4/2006        21.7   
5       GREY'S ANATOMY  ABC     2/5/2006        21.0   
6       FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP    FOX     1/22/2006       20.8   
7       AMERICAN IDOL-WED       FOX     5/24/2006       20.5   
8       AMERICAN IDOL-TUES      FOX     1/24/2006       19.6   
9       AMERICAN IDOL-TUES      FOX     1/17/2006       19.3   
10      AMERICAN IDOL-TUES      FOX     3/21/2006       19.2   
Source: Nielsen Media Research

Note: Data from Dec 26, 2005 - Dec 17, 2006.  Household Ratings include Live and Same Day timeshifted viewing. Excludes telecasts under 5 minutes.

Top 10 "Timeshifted" Primetime TV Programs - 2006      
                        % Increase    
Rank    Programs        Network in Viewership 
1       STUDIO 60       NBC     10.9   
2       HEROES  NBC     9.1   
3       GILMORE GIRLS   CW      7.9   
4       AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL        CW      7.7   
5       30 ROCK NBC     7.5   
5       FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS     NBC     7.5   
7       NINE, THE       ABC     6.7   
7       SUPERNATURAL    CW      6.7   
9       KIDNAPPED       NBC     6.6   
9       ONE TREE HILL   CW      6.6   
9       SMALLVILLE      CW      6.6   
Source: Nielsen Media Research

Note: Data from Dec 26, 2005 - Dec 3, 2006.  Percent Increase in viewership is based on difference between Live Household Ratings and Live+7.

MOVIES – from Nielsen EDI and Nielsen VideoScan

Top 10 Box Office - All Theatrical - 2006      
Rank    Title   Cumulative Total US $   Open Date      
1       Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead  $423,315,812    7/7/2006      
2       Cars    $244,082,982    6/9/2006      
3       X-Men: The Last Stand   $234,362,462    5/26/2006      
4       The Da Vinci Code       $217,536,138    5/19/2006      
5       Superman Returns        $200,081,192    6/28/2006      
6       Ice Age: The Meltdown   $195,330,621    3/31/2006      
7       Over the Hedge  $155,019,340    5/19/2006      
8       Happy Feet      $149,244,791    11/17/2006    
9       Talladega Nights: The Ballad    $148,213,377    8/4/2006      
10      Casino Royale   $137,501,384    11/17/2006    
Source:  Nielsen EDI

Note: Data from Jan 1 – Dec 17, 2006, US and Canada Only