Ohhhhhhhh…the spinning and crowing is in full bloom and you need a scorecard to keep track of the flying smack of who said what about whom. The Q2 Ratings are out and it’s time for the dueling press releases. TVNewser already has CNN’s release info posted and note the tone…

CNN is touting its second quarter gains in the 25-54 demographic, and pointing to FNC’s “double digit declines.” This program name data was provided by CNN

Not to be outdone or to take any of CNN’s guff sitting down FOX has hit back hard with their own take in a Press Release sent to ICN. Among the “highlights”…

On the Record with Greta Van Susteren Shatters 2005 Viewership Records
CNN’s in Ratings Freefall Under the Direction of Jon Klein

Ouch…

CNN again suffered double-digit losses under the leadership of Jon Klein

Ow…

Other June losers under Klein’s direction…

Eeek…

Klein commemorates his seven-month anniversary as president of CNN with the fourth lowest month since he joined the network last November.

Double ow…

(Note to Jon Klein: Your recent press blitz was apparently monitored by FOX’s PR machine)

So who’s right? Well it’s a bunch of statisctics and statistics can be manipulated seven ways from sundown (though no amount of manipulation can change MSNBC’s fourth place finish). One thing is clear, FOX is still top dog and no matter how CNN wants to spin their story, FOX will still be top dog when CNN is done. Other than that it’s all about how you parse the data…

Other notables in Q2’s numbers:

- FOX beat CNN’s prime time average 2:1 in June thanks to Greta in Aruba.

- On The Record overtook Hannity and Colmes in June to become FOX’s second most popular program behind The O’Reilly Factor.

- CNBC, lacking any kind of coherent prime time lineup, suffered a whopping 50% dropoff from Q2 2004.

- Hardball is no longer MSNBC’s top rated prime time program. Hardball slid badly in Q2. Scarborough Country is now MSNBC’s top dog with Countdown right on its tail. Scarborough Country placed 24th btw…

- FOX owned 11 of the top 12 spots with CNN’s Larry King sticking his nose in at the 6th position.

- Connected: Coast to Coast was MSNBC’s lowest rated daily program

- CNBC’s Heads Up Poker rated higher than MSNBC’s The Situation.

TVNewser has the program ranker (courtesy of FOX) online.