MSNBC’s Gains At 7 & 8 p.m. Expose Two Of CNN’s “Weakest Links”

MSNBC’s “small victories” at 7 and 8pm “reflect a broader upturn in the ratings” at the cable net, Variety’s Michael Learmonth says. “With a week to go in the quarter, MSNBC’s ‘Hardball With Chris Matthews‘ is tied at 7 p.m. with the third hour of ‘The Situation Room’ with Wolf Blitzer at 155,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo. ‘Countdown With Keith Olbermann‘ is beating CNN’s Paula Zahn 163,000 to 159,000 viewers in the demo.”

Learmonth continues: “Quarter includes MSNBC’s coverage of the Olympics, which gave Matthews a better lead-in during February, but the trends are holding in March, presenting a concern for CNN and exposing Zahn and the third hour of “The Situation Room” as two of its weakest links.”

NBC News prez Steve Capus is quoted twice in the piece…