Q2 2007: MSNBC…
MSNBC’s release on its Q2 2007 results…
MSNBC completed yet another quarter with spectacular ratings increases. For the third consecutive quarter, the network pushed past the competition to achieve more growth than any other cable news network. In 2Q07 total day, MSNBC was up +26% in total viewers over second quarter 2006 (296,000 v. 234,000) and up +34% in the key adult 25-54 demographic (123,000 v. 92,000), according to Nielsen Media Research data. In total viewers, CNN was up +11% (471,000 v. 425,000) and Fox News Channel was up only +5% (815,000 v. 776,000).
In primetime (M-F 8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), MSNBC was up a substantial +49% in total viewers (520,000 v. 349,000) and +49% in the adult demo (198,000 v. 133,000), while CNN was basically flat, up +3% (823,000 v. 796,000), and Fox News Channel was up a mere +5% in total viewers (1,720,000 v. 1,635,000).
MSNBC’s dayside programming block (M-F 9:00-6:00 p.m. ET) also grew at a healthy clip, up +38% in total viewers (268,000 v. 194,000) and +39% in the adult demo. This block includes “Tucker” (4:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET), which was up +39% in total viewers (301,000 v. 217,000) and +31% in the adult demo (102,000 v. 78,000) and also “Hardball with Chris Matthews” (5:00 – 6:00 p.m. ET), which was up +32% in total viewers (407,000 v. 308,000) and +32% in the adult demo (135,000 v. 102,000). By contrast, CNN’s daytime block was up +18% in total viewers (496,000 v. 420,000) and Fox News Channel was up +7% (861,000 v. 807,000).
At 7:00 p.m. “Hardball with Chris Matthews” was up +8% in total viewers (423,000 v. 392,000) and +9% in the adult demo (146,000 v. 134,000). In total viewers, CNN was up +9% and Fox News +3% at 7:00 p.m.“Countdown with Keith Olbermann” (8:00 – 9:00 p.m. ET) continues its amazing growth surge, up +72% in total viewers (710,000 v. 412,000) and +54% in the adult demo (241,000 v. 156,000) while CNN dropped –2% in total viewers (594,000 v. 605,000) and Fox News Channel grew +7% in total viewers (2,220,000 v. 2,077,000). “Countdown” maintained its position in second place at 8:00 p.m, with a 20% advantage in total viewers over CNN.
At 9:00 p.m. (ET), where the network has telecast “Scarborough Country” Monday through Thursday, the network also enjoyed significant growth, up +35% in total viewers (467,000 v. 347,000) and up +36% in the adult demo (170,000 v. 125,000). CNN was basically flat, up +1% in total viewers (1,058,000 v. 1,046,000), and Fox News Channel was up +3% in total viewers (1,552,000 v. 1,502,000).
The network’s “doc block” (M-F 10:00 p.m. – midnight), also saw very strong growth, with a +45% increase in total viewers (378,000 v. 261,000) and a +66% increase in the adult demo (186,000 v. 112,000). CNN was up +8% in total viewers from 10 p.m. to midnight (658,000 v. 607,000) and Fox News Channel was up +8% in total viewers (1,267,000 v. 1,176,000).
Why don’t they compare themselves with HLN?
Comment by ImNotBlue — July 3, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Thank God for Paris Hilton on LKL!
Comment by Mary Snow — July 3, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
So if their ratings are so spectacular, why do they regularly land third or fourth in prime behind every other network?
Again, if you start at near zero, ANY increase will be spectacular, but if every ratings period they have had recently has produced such “spectacular” results, how come they aren’t number one in prime? Or number two? Or number. . well, you get the idea.
Comment by Alison — July 3, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
give me a break - MSNBC is not doing well.
Comment by jules — July 3, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
Congratulations MSDNC! You have now solidified your FOURTH place out of FIVE position! Don’t ever let anyone say that CNBC (the lone channel with more abysmal ratings than you) has a better product than MSDNC!
Comment by Tom — July 3, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
All I have to say to this release is make sure you don’t step in the “Spectacular Growth”!
Comment by Catbert — July 3, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
These MSNBC press releases are only going to last another 2-3 months. They did increase their ratings over the first 7-8 months of 2006. They went to the far-left in mid-2006 and found a nice little niche amongst the blue-blog crowd to boost the ratings. But they pretty much peaked in November 2007 (when Dem’s won the election). Since then, MSNBC’s ratings have been pretty stagnant. I don’t have the figures in front of me, but I’m pretty sure if you compare their ratings for Nov/Dec 2006 to the current month, you won’t see any huge percentage increases (and possibly even a decline).
And that omission of HLN is interesting. I wonder how the numbers compared and why they didn’t include them.
Comment by TBDave — July 3, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
Tom, good one! MSDNC, how true that is!
Comment by ditmar — July 3, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
If MSDNC can milk this Scooter non-story for a whole Qtr. then its possible the libs will give them good ratings next Qtr.
Comment by Alix — July 3, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
Variety mentions HLN:
Headline News’ “Nancy Grace” is also a factor at 8 p.m. She took second place to O’Reilly during the month of June with 691,000 viewers, while Olbermann drew 597,000 and Zahn 524,000.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968015.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
Comment by Obama in 08! — July 3, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
And guess who is doing another one of his trademark Special Comments tonight? Hmmm. Coincidence? I think not!
Comment by Alison — July 3, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
When your on the bottom the only other place you go if you don’t go up is OFF !
Tick ……………
Hmmm - June 3, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
Comment by Hmmm — July 3, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
Headline should read
“MSNBC Rearranges Deck Chairs”
Q over Q growth provides entertaining spin on a sinking ship. How about a 180 day trend line for a true picture on growth?
Spud do you have the link for this release?
Comment by channelXRFR — July 4, 2007 @ 8:46 am
If you look at MSNBC’s First Quarter 2007 press release and compare it to their Second Quarter 2007 press release, you’ll see that they’ve actually lost viewers over the past couple months:
FIRST QUARTER 2007 - http://tinyurl.com/2oyxsj
SECOND QUARTER 2007 - http://tinyurl.com/35bdjn
Olbermann went from a first quarter of 711,000 (252,000) to a second quarter of 710,000 (241,000).
Chris Matthews at 5pm went from a 450,000 (147,000) down to a 407,000 (135,000). At 7pm he went from a 457,000 (169,000) down to a 423,000 (146,000)
Tucker at 4pm went from a 343,000 (113,000) down to a 301,000 (102,000). They don’t mention Tucker’s 6pm ratings in the second quarter press release.
Scarborough went from 513,000 (186,000) in the first quarter, down to a 467,000 (170,000) in the second quarter.
Let’s see Dan Abrams try to spin that.
Comment by TBDave — July 4, 2007 @ 9:29 am
Re: Comment #10: “Variety mentions HLN:
Headline News’ “Nancy Grace” is also a factor at 8 p.m. She took second place to O’Reilly during the month of June with 691,000 viewers, while Olbermann drew 597,000 and Zahn 524,000.”
What idiots! How can they say Nancy is “also a factor” (as if she’s an afterthought) when she finishes in SECOND PLACE!!! Sounds more like she’s a huge part of the story for that time period.
Comment by Missy — July 4, 2007 @ 10:17 am
I LUV IT MSDNC..SOO APPROPIATE FOR THE COWARD DEAN PUPPETS OLBERMORON AND PRISS MATTHEWS.
Comment by Ric — July 6, 2007 @ 2:36 pm