MSNBC announces that it beat CNN in the Sales Prime Demo for July…

MSNBC has achieved ratings victory for the month of July over CNN in the adult demographic during sales prime (7:00 pm to 2:00 am ET), according to Nielsen Media Research data. While CNN’s numbers are dropping by double-digit percentages, MSNBC was up +42% over a year ago in the adult 25 to 54 demographic with 195,000 viewers (versus 137,000). CNN was down –26% with 189,000 viewers (versus 254,000). This represents the first time MSNBC has beaten CNN for a total month in six years (August 2001).

MSNBC is also running neck-and-neck with CNN in primetime (8:00 pm to 11:00 pm ET), up 42% in the adult demographic with 201,000 viewers (versus 142,000 a year ago) and up 54% in total viewers with 529,000 (versus 343,000) while CNN was down –22% in the adult demo with 216,000 viewers (versus 278,000) and down -17% in total viewers 717,000 (versus 864,000).

In addition, MSNBC ranked #1 for the month of July in primetime in the 18-34 demographic with 78,000 viewers in that age group, out-delivering Fox News Channel and CNN by 14,000. MSNBC ranked #2 for the month in the 18-49 demographic with 180,000 viewers in that group, beating CNN by 3,000.

“Countdown with Keith Olbermann” (8:00 – 9:00 pm ET), continues to trounce CNN, remaining a solid #2 for the month and a 19% advantage over CNN in the adult 25-54 demo and a 14% advantage in total viewers. “Countdown” was up 40% in the adult demo (224,000 v. 160,000) and 88% in total viewers (721,000 v. 383,000). CNN was down -18% in the adult demo (188,000 v. 229,000) and down –14% in total viewers (630,000 v. 731,000).

“Tucker” (6:00 – 7:00 pm ET) was up 10% in total viewers with the strongest total viewers growth in the hour of any cable news net (242,000 v. 220,000).

“Hardball with Chris Matthews” (7:00 – 8:00 pm ET), was up +7% in the adult demo (130,000 v. 122,000) and up +15% in total viewers (386,000 v. 335,000).

MSNBC Live with host Dan Abrams is up +28% in the adult demo (155,000 v. 121,000) and up +43% in total viewers over a year ago (471,000 v. 329,000).

MSNBC’s “doc bloc,” which features long-form programming Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 12:00 am (ET), is up +65% in the adult demo (214,000 v. 130,000) and up +47% in total viewers (426,000 v. 289,000).