MSNBC BEATS CNN IN PRIME FOR QUARTER–FIRST TIME EVER

[WI_DEM]

MSNBC POSTS FIRST-EVER QUARTERLY VICTORY OVER CNN IN PRIME

MSNBC Out-Rates CNN in 2Q in Both Total Viewers and A25-54 For First Time in Weekday Primetime

MSNBC #1 News Network Among Young Viewers, Adults 18-34, in Primetime

“Countdown with Keith Olbermann” Continues to Dominate Over CNN’s “Campbell Brown”

NEW YORK – June 30, 2009 – For the first time ever, MSNBC notched a quarterly victory over CNN in weekday primetime for 2Q09 in both total viewers and Adults 25-54, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. MSNBC was also the number one cable news network among younger viewers, Adults 18-34, in primetime in second quarter. For 2Q09, MSNBC also beat CNN at 8 p.m. among both total viewers and A25-54 with “Countdown with Keith Olbermann.” Following are MSNBC ratings highlights for 2Q09:

· For the first time ever, MSNBC beat CNN in weekday primetime for 2Q09 (M-F, 8-11 p.m. ET) in total viewers (946,000 vs. 939,000) and among Adults 25-54 (289,000 vs. 261,000). MSNBC is up 18 percent in total viewers vs. 2Q08 (946,000 vs. 801,000) while CNN is down -10 percent.

· Additionally, in M-S Primetime, MSNBC beat CNN for the quarter among A25-54 (264,000 vs. 240,000).

· For the first half of 2009, MSNBC is beating CNN among A25-54 in primetime. Weeknights MSNBC is averaging 338,000 to CNN’s 325,000 and for the full week MSNBC is winning 303,000 vs. 291,000.

· MSNBC was the number one cable news network among younger viewers for 2Q09, Adults 18-34, in 2Q09, in M-F and M-Su primetime. MSNBC was also number one in A18-34 at 8 p.m. with “Countdown.”

· “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” continues to drive MSNBC primetime, out-rating “Campbell Brown” by a huge 65 percent among A25-54 (350,000 vs. 212,000) and by 51 percent in total viewers (1,159,000 vs. 769,000) in 2Q09. “Countdown” is up 7 percent in total viewers (1,159,000 vs. 1,081,000) for the quarter, while “Campbell Brown” is down -4 percent in total viewers.
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/06/30/msnbc-beats-cnn-in-prime-for-quarter-first-time-ever/21649

[Auggie]

1. Good news. It's not perfect, but it's better than CNN.

[ecstatic]

2. Not sure I like MSNBC's new daytime programming

That faux dr. show? Some guy named Dylan?

[lyonn]

8. true, true...

They better watch it. Since the MJ story has been all over his story on MSNBC and CNN I have wandered over to fox and they haven't been too bad early in the day. Maybe they are taking full advantage of those political junkies that can't get too excited about the MJ memorials, just wondering.

[aaaaaa5a]

3. Rec!

Good news! I if I understand correctly, that means MSNBC is even beating FOX among 18-34 year olds!

[JenniferJuniper]

4. Pretty amazing, especially when you consider that MSNBC is in far few programming packages than CNN.

I travel a lot, and many hotels don't have it on their cable line-ups.

Also, I'm in different airports at least four times a month and have yet to see MSNBC on a TV in an airport. It's about 50/50 CNN and the Fakers.

[lyonn]

9. Good points. A basic cable pkg. doesn't carry MSNBC

only CNN and Fox.

[Oregone]

5. NO WAY! CNN has such amazing Twitter coverage!

[notesdev]

6. How the mighty have fallen

I remember when you pretty much had to watch CNN if you wanted timely breaking news... but gosh, it's been 15 years, hasn't it?

[lyonn]

10. Ted Turner was the creative mind behind CNN

When he left it became more just plain ol' showtime. Wolf didn't help and neither does Lou Dobbs, ugh....

[spartan61]

7. And just imagine how much better MSNBC could do if they

actually showed something on week-ends besides "Lock-Up."