Q1 #’s: Imus Challenges American Morning

This morning, FTVLive asserted that CNN is planning some changes to American Morning, removing The O’Brien’s and replacing them with Kiran Chetry and John Roberts. If that happens, this may be a reason why: MSNBC’s Imus in the Morning simulcast is gaining on American Morning.

First quarter ratings released by MSNBC today show Imus averaging 358,000 total viewers from 6 to 9am, while American Morning had 372,000. What’s most important is the trend line: MSNBC was up 39 percent while CNN was down 6 percent. To put it another way: a year ago, Imus had 257,000 viewers, while AM had 396,000, a difference of 139,000 total viewers. Now the gap stands at just 14,000.

FNC, meanwhile, fell 12 percent in total viewers (695,000 this Q versus 793,000 in ’06) from 6 to 9am…