MSNBC improving its Weekend Primetime Demo fortunes?
TVNewser notes that MSNBC beat CNN in the Demo on Friday both in Total Day and Primetime. However on Saturday MSNBC beat CNN in Primetime and both FNC and CNN in the Primetime Demo…
Primetime P2+
FNC 668,000
MSNBC 412,000
CNN 396,000
HLN 172,000
CNBC 101,000
Primetime P25-54
MSNBC 207,000
FNC 160,000
CNN 117,000
HLN 57,000
CNBC 35,000
Though this could possibly be explained away because last weekend was a holiday weekend, the holiday excuse doesn’t work for the previous weekend when MSNBC beat FNC and CNN in the Primetime Demo on both Saturday and Sunday. But what is the reason for this? Is MSNBC showing increased strength in the coveted 25-54 age demographic? Or is the competition faltering by comparison?
The key to MSNBC’s relative strength seems to be: don’t run news. For some reason the demo loves those documentary retreads.
Comment by johnny dollar — November 30, 2005 @ 12:44 am
saturday on msnbc primetime, from 7-11 i think it was they had all new episodes of headliners, and reports
Comment by jman — November 30, 2005 @ 1:26 am
I’m pretty sure I heard one of the anchors mention them having a Scott Peterson special airing during the weekend.
Comment by Lurker — November 30, 2005 @ 8:28 am
They’re running a promo now touting their win over CNN in either Friday or Monday night’s ratings too (Hardball & Countdown). If firing Brown and moving AC to 10pm was supposed to win them a younger audience, it’s not working. They’re delivering those folks to MSNBC instead.
Comment by redheadedwoman — November 30, 2005 @ 8:29 am
Thanks to all of you above for stating what was shown! TVNewser and others who published this info. failed to mention which programming aired that garnered such ratings for MSNBC. A pretty significant aspect of the story, one would think!
Comment by Missy — November 30, 2005 @ 9:06 am
Yes, Missy, you’re right, but it demonstrates that MSNBC is picking up speed on CNN in the demo category. I recall TV Newser posting a couple of weeks ago something about MSNBC getting a higher demo category than CNN in the 4,5,6 and 7 PM hours during the week as well. It’s obviously great news for MSNBC and not such great news for CNN.
Comment by Steve — November 30, 2005 @ 11:09 am
Many of us have been complaining for years that MSNBC basically closes down its news operation on weekends, opting, instead, for these documentaries. But maybe we’re the ones who are wrong - maybe they should just shut down the news entirely, and go for the documentaries and related increase in ratings.
Comment by Missy — November 30, 2005 @ 1:51 pm
It’s not that big an increase Missy. I’ve seen the weekend numbers. They’re comparable to what MSNBC pulls M-Fr in primetime.
And it’s not the documentaries at night that bug those of us who have complained about MSNBC shutting down. It’s the documentaries in daytime. And that is now being addressed starting in January.
Comment by Spud — November 30, 2005 @ 3:28 pm