CNN Loses to MSNBC for First Time

Over at TVBytheNumbers.com, we see that CNN has come in third to FoxNews and MSNBC respectively for weekday primetime ratings during the second quarter of this year. This is the first time that MSNBC has come out ahead of CNN ever.

Unfortunately for those of us wishing for a well informed public, it is the Keith Olbermann show that is driving MSNBC's ratings gain over CNN. Apparently Americans are desperately in need of comedy since last January.

It looks as though this is an MSNBC press release, so that would be why FoxNews is not mentioned. No surprise, though, because Fox outperforms both CNN and MSNBC by leaps and bounds. Still it is interesting that CNN is falling behind here for the first time.

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).

Yes, it is interesting news, in any case.

**Update**

And in case there was any doubt, FoxNews Dominates:

Coming off the heavy political season, Fox News also maintained its winning ways -- rocketing up 34% to 2.1 million viewers in prime time, coming in right behind Disney Channel for fourth place. Other demos also had strong results -- including 18-49 viewers, which climbed 41% to 376,000.