From the New Orleans Saints’ inspiring Super Bowl victory and the Winter Olympics to LeBron James’ controversial “Decision” to take his talents to Miami, 2010 was a record-breaking year for sports viewership in the U.S.

But ratings tell only part of the story about the appeal of sports to advertisers. Nielsen’s Year in Sports 2010 reveals that households earning more than $100,000 are more likely to watch major sporting events like the Super Bowl, World Series or World Cup.

The report also provides detail and insight on online buzz, advertising effectiveness, and the power of sports figures to endorse brands.

Download Nielsen’s State of the Media: Year in Sports 2010.