What do you do when you just can't win your ratings time slot? Answer: Cook the books. That's what MSNBC tried to do regarding "Hardball with Chris Matthews" and the 5:00pm slot:
CNN and Fox News Channel both pointed out Tuesday that MSNBC included special coverage of Tim Russert’s death and memorial in its June data ratings for Hardball With Chris Matthews – prompting MSNBC to say it made an error.
The flap was over a press release that MSNBC issued, based on Nielsen data, with the headline “MSNBC’s ‘Hardball’ No. 1 Among Adults in June at 5 p.m.”
Story Continues Below Ad ↓According to the release, Hardball averaged 190,000 adults 25 to 54 in June, beating CNN and Fox News at 5 p.m. in that demographic for the first time since February 2002.
But the announcement immediately drew fire from CNN and Fox News, who charged that MSNBC was using straight 5 p.m. time slot data for June, not data solely for Hardball.
By using the 5 p.m. info, rather than program data, MSNBC was including in its tally special coverage it had aired on Meet the Press moderator Russert’s death and memorial.
Without that special coverage, MSNBC’s numbers drop. Instead, CNN’s Situation Room at 5 p.m. ranked No. 1 in June in the 25-to-54 age group, averaging 186,000 of those watchers, while Fox News’s American’s Election HQ was second with 179,000. MSNBC’s Hardball was third with 171,000.
An MSNBC spokesman conceded that the network had made an error in including the Russert coverage along with that for Hardball at 5 p.m.
But hey, when you're perpetually getting beat by your cable news rivals, you'll do whatever you can, right? This reminds me of a similarly hilarious tidbit from a couple years back when "Countdown's" Keith Olbermann actually ... bragged about winning the -- wait for it -- 12:00am midnight time slot over his competitors at Fox News and CNN!
Yes indeed, that "coveted" midnight rating.
—D. S. Hube is an educator and a member of the National Association of Scholars. He blogs regularly at The Colossus of Rhodey.
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Hope this takes the TINGLE out of Chrissy's leg.
July 3, 2008 - 11:03 ET by CTNO OBAMUNISTS PLEASE!
Jumping in up here because
July 3, 2008 - 14:04 ET by motherbeltJumping in up here because the thread's been hijacked below....
So, what do you think.....separated at birth ?
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
Yo Mother
July 3, 2008 - 14:32 ET by DelsaSeperated at birth has my vote.
Tennis matches are over for the day so I'm off to Publix.
Ta Ta for now
I'm glad they got caught
July 3, 2008 - 11:09 ET by marpelI'm glad they got caught cooking the books! And I'm sure Chris Matthews is the short order cook and Keith O is the souse chef. The Obama Free Ad Network may have been found out, but no one in the MSM will care. That's what's so galling. You'll never hear this anywhere else but here.
Scumbags
July 3, 2008 - 11:15 ET by Eileen RightLeave it to scumbags to use the death Russert for ratings.
No shame...
Lying seems to come so
July 3, 2008 - 11:21 ET by mattmLying seems to come so natural to Libs....
→ Dancing onhis grave?
July 3, 2008 - 11:25 ET by Cool ArrowDoes it get any more self aggrandizing than using the death of a fellow journalist to pad your ratings?
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
Chrissy and Keith and the
July 3, 2008 - 11:56 ET by athoughtor2Chrissy and Keith and the other Obamheads did not do it. It was Katherine Harris that did it. She broke into the studio and changed the numbers.
Thx for the laugh!
July 3, 2008 - 12:10 ET by Roger the ShrubberThx for the laugh!
You are welcome. I forgot
July 3, 2008 - 12:15 ET by athoughtor2You are welcome. I forgot to add, that came from the Daily Kos.(sarcasm) Also, VP Cheney drove her in his gas guzzling SUV that his buddies at Enron gave him.
Winning that midnight time
July 3, 2008 - 12:14 ET by Roger the ShrubberWinning that midnight time slot just re-affirms our long-held belief that the Olberdouche's fan base are unemployed losers living in their mom's basements.
I imagine the ad revenue being brought in by Chia Pet, Girls Gone Wild, and the Dial-o-matic food slicer must be making Keefy the talk of the town. He's the Big Douche on Campus!
I'll bet
July 3, 2008 - 12:21 ET by Eileen RightMatthews has already mailed in an Absentee ballot request for Russert. if it works for his ratings, why not his senate run.
Oh this would be hilarious
July 3, 2008 - 12:58 ET by bigtimerOh this would be hilarious if it weren't so sad...typical msnbc leftist spin...pathetic desperation.
...this is called lying... by so called grown adults...
I pity any of their children if they were raised this way...just hope the best for them later in life.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Howard Beale Call your office
July 3, 2008 - 13:20 ET by KC MulvilleI just hope MSNBC doesn't get the idea that an anchor's death will be good for ratings. Get nervous if one of the anchors shouts out that he's mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore.
Hey FUT
July 3, 2008 - 13:52 ET by DelsaYou are asking people at this site to stay out of something you have placed us all squarely in the middle of.
As a Catholic, I can tell you your posts are rude and obnoxious. They add nothing to debate or conversation.
Futhermore, you are infringing upon our otherwise, free flowing intellectual discussion at this site. Sort of like a speed bump.
In other words, your posts here are an impediment.
Be off with you until you learn humility.
Delsa, I do not know you,
July 3, 2008 - 14:04 ET by futbolisgreat1Delsa,
I do not know you, I have never addressed you and this is and will be my only post ever to you......
I am sure you are lying about being Roman Catholic, much like Liberals lie when they claim they have served in the military. Obviously, that's on you.
you believe that claiming you are a Roman Catholic some how will give authority to your poorly informed words.
However, as I asked Restless 1, do not get in the middle of something that you do not have a clue about.
I find it amusing that now that I have called Cool Arrow for his constant attacks on the Church, for his constant fun making of Catholics, for his constant lies about Catholicism, now, individuals like you pipe in.
However, when the tables are turn and it is Cool Arrow and his ilk making the attacks, pissing on the Church, on Catholics, etc, you stay quite. Says a lot about you and the type of "Catholic" you are.
Before you put your foot in your mouth, it would serve you well to inform yourself of past events. Harrassing posts to me from Cool Arrows and the likes to me.
Funny you ask that I learn humility, did you read your post?
Why don't you take the beam out of your eye before you demand that I do it?
"Fut, I find your religion a brutally Satanic rape and dismemberment of the...Holy Bible" July 1, 2008 by Tracheostomy
Fut,
July 3, 2008 - 14:08 ET by BlondeWell, you do know me.
I'll tell you who Delsa is, she is a nice lady, and she asked you nicely to cease and desist, as did I.
I find your behaviour here today, and of late, disturbing. I have gone on record many times condeming the religious-bashing that sometimes goes on here. And I asked you all to take it to the woodshed.
Yet you continue to lash out at anyone who has the temerity to disagree with you (I'm sure I'm next on your menu).
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Blonde, Not at all
July 3, 2008 - 14:29 ET by futbolisgreat1Blonde,
Not at all Blonde, I respect you. I apologize if I did not show that by taking your advise and takign it to the Woodshed.
You have always respected me and yes, you have condemed individuals like Cool Arrow, Trach and all.
Delsa, I do not know and it is obvious by her posting that she has not followed the blalant, radical, hateful attacks on me and Catholicism by Trach, Cool Arrow, etc.
Yes, I will admit, my behavior with Cool Arrow was immature today, not doubt about it. I apologize. I need to do better.
However, I will not back off from putting their feet to the fire.
I have asked plenty of times Cool Arrow, Trach, etc very nicely to stop harrassing me, to stop attacking and lying about the Church. They keep it coming. I just gave him some of his medicine. You are right, completly immature of me.
However, I am unsure why Delsa and Restless 1 say nothing to them and were quick to jump on me.
I will say however, my signature at the bottom is just an example of the garbage and hate that they spew.
I wish the people that are piping in now, would pipe in when such comments are made.
"Fut, I find your religion a brutally Satanic rape and dismemberment of the...Holy Bible" July 1, 2008 By Tracheostomy
Fair enough, fut
July 3, 2008 - 14:36 ET by BlondeDavid Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Fut
July 3, 2008 - 14:30 ET by DelsaNot only am I a Catholic, I attend (pre Vatican II) Latin Mass in Davie, Florida.
I Never could make the transition to the "I'll do anything to be liked and gain members mentality".
I was suggesting you return to topical discorse.
It is YOU who have put all of us in the middle of your anger by posting in the open to another poster at this site.
You could send your words by another route.
Let those who do not understand or like the Catholic religion pass.
You can't change their minds so do yourself an emotional favor and forget them and their thoughts.
You are the better for letting it go.
Delsa, I am unsure how I
July 3, 2008 - 14:45 ET by futbolisgreat1Delsa,
I am unsure how I put everyone on the middle of this since their attacks on me and Catholicism have been done before in public. The comment made by Trach below was made in a public forum, not The Woodshed.
But so be it. Trach, I no longer acknowledge. The man is crazy.
Cool Arrow, yes immature of me what I did today. I acted like him.
As I said, I do not know you, never debated you, never replied to any of your posts. It just seems that you are pipping in when you only have 1/16 of the facts.
that's all.
"Fut, I find your religion a brutally Satanic rape and dismemberment of the...Holy Bible" July 1, 2008 by Tracheostomy
Fut
July 3, 2008 - 17:26 ET by DelsaMy comment was referencing the fact that when I opened this thread to read and comment, I began to read and found myself in the middle of what I thought was a personal angry back and forth.
I had and have no idea what you guys were talking about but I thought it was more private than public.
If that Trach guy said something like that then there is NO talking to him or her. Forget the guy.
It will be for your own spiritual health.
I'm sure your a good guy. My comments were meant to be constructive and not punitive.
delsa
Oh and Blonde
July 3, 2008 - 14:36 ET by Delsathanks for what you said about me. I feel special for your words.
Talk to you later somewhere here.
Publix awaits
----
July 3, 2008 - 21:47 ET by dahliatraversMSNBC’s Hardball was third with 171,000.
Oh dear. Obviously what's needed is more drooling by the host.