CNN is noting the network’s gains during the first quarter. It’s calling Headline News the “fastest-growing cable news net” in primetime.

HLN grew its M-F 8-11p Q1 2006 audience by +55% P2+ (405K vs. 261K) and +36% in P25-54 (141K vs. 104K) over Q1 2005

CNN is touting its Q1 highlights…

Lou Dobbs Tonight at 6pm gained +24% P2+ (665K vs. 535K) and +3% P25-54 (156K vs. 152K) over Q1 2005

Anderson Cooper 360 10pm-midnight block was up +11% P2+ (581K vs. 525K) and +14% P25-54 (203K vs. 178K) over Q1 2005

The Situation Room at 4pm was up +17% P2+ (536K vs. 458K) and +22% in P25-54 (137K vs. 112K) over Q1 2005

And Headline News’ Q1 Highlights…

Nancy Grace at 8pm was up +74% P2+ (581K vs. 333K) and +35% in P25-54 (167K vs. 124K) over Q1 2005

Prime News at 9pm was up +21% P2+ (323K vs. 268K) and +14% P25-54 (115K vs. 101K) over Q1 2005

And CNN is responding to MSNBC’s Countdown “victory lap” by noting that Paula Zahn Now has a 55% Total Viewer advantage over Olbermann’s program.

CNN continues to emphasize its CUME dominance over the other cable channels…

There is a noticeable change in focus this Quarter with CNN’s ratings news. For the past few quarters, we’ve seen CNN’s focus was on FNC and how it would show that FNC’s audience is getting older while CNN’s is getting younger. However this Quarter things are different. This time there’s a comparison of The Situation Room and MSNBC’s Hardball which nearly beat it in the Demo…

Note that Hardball’s demo spike occurred during the Olympics. Following the Olympics the demo numbers have continued to trend down from that high. It will be interesting to see where things settle out next month