MSNBC’s primetime lineup continued to be a source of strength for the network in the second quarter of 2011, beating CNN to second place in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic for the seventh consecutive quarter.
- Primetime (Mon-Sun): 788K Total Viewers / 261K A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 439K Total Viewers / 156K A25-54
Year-over-year, MSNBC is up 13% in primetime A25-54 viewers and 3% in total viewers.
That growth is primarily from Rachel Maddow and Ed Schulz. At 8 PM. Lawrence O’Donnell’s “The Last Word” was down =12% in total viewers and =5% in the demo compared to “Countdown” with Keith Olbermann last year.’
“Morning Joe” had its best quarter in three years, topping CNN’s “American Morning” in total viewers (485,000 vs. 324,000) and HLN’s “Morning Express with Robin Meade” (485,000 vs. 329,000). “Morning Joe” is up 23% in total viewers and 31% in A25-54 viewers compared to the first half of 2010.
The full MSNBC press release is after the jump.
MSNBC Continues to Top CNN in Primetime for First Half of 2011 AND 2Q 2011
MSNBC Beats CNN at 7p, 8p, 9p, and 10p in Total Viewers for First Half of 2011 AND 2Q 2011
“Morning Joe” Tops CNN’s “American Morning” for the First Half of 2011 AND 6th Consecutive Quarter
NEW YORK – June 29, 2011 – In a year dominated by major international stories, MSNBC beat CNN in primetime in the first half of 2011, as well as the 2nd quarter of 2011, finishing well ahead of the formerly dominant news network for the 7th consecutive quarter. MSNBC continues to top CNN in the mornings as well, with “Morning Joe” beating “American Morning” for the first half of the year and for the sixth consecutive quarter. MSNBC topped CNN at 7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m. for the first half of the year and in 2Q11. Following are ratings highlights for the first half of 2011 and 2Q 2011:
- MSNBC beat CNN in primetime (Monday- Friday) for the first half of 2011 by 23% (945,000 vs. 768,000) in total viewers and 6% in A25-54 (270,000 vs. 254,000). For 2Q 2011, MSNBC topped CNN by 26% in total viewers (912,000 vs. 722,000) and 17% in A25-54 (273,000 vs. 234,000). This was the 7th consecutive quarterly victory over CNN for MSNBC. Compared to 2Q10, MSNBC in primetime has grown 13% in A25-54 and 3% among total viewers.
- MSNBC continues to be #1 among African American and Hispanic viewers. This marks the 6th consecutive quarterly win among African American viewers and the 5th consecutive quarterly win among Hispanic viewers.
- For the first half of the year, “Morning Joe” surpassed CNN’s “American Morning” (466,000 vs. 323,000) and HLN’s Robin Meade (466,000 vs. 322,000) among total viewers. Compared to the first half of 2010, “Morning Joe” is up 23% in total viewers and 31% in A25-54 for the first half of 2011. For 2Q 2011, “Morning Joe” topped third place CNN for the 6th consecutive quarter (485,000 vs. 324,000) and HLN for the 14th consecutive quarter (485,000 vs. 329,000) among total viewers. 2Q11 marks the best total viewer delivery for “Morning Joe” since 4Q08. “Morning Joe” also continued to top CNN in A25-54 for both the first half of the year and 2Q 2011
- “Hardball with Chris Matthews” finished the first half of 2011 well ahead of CNN at 7 p.m, by 26% in total viewers (717,000 vs. 571,000). Hardball also topped CNN for the quarter in both total viewers (700,000 vs. 540,000) and A25-54 (190,000 vs. 188,000). This is the 7th consecutive quarter MSNBC has topped CNN at 7 p.m. Compared to 2Q10, “Hardball” is up 7% in total viewers and 10% among A25-54.
- At 8 p.m., “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell,” MSNBC continued to dominate CNN for the first half of 2011, topping CNN’s “In the Arena” by 64% in total viewers (974,000 vs. 595,000) and 34% among A25-54 (248,000 vs. 185,000). O’Donnell also continued to beat CNN for the quarter in total viewers (941,000 vs. 544,000) and A25-54 (251,000 vs. 168,000). This marks the 13th consecutive quarter ranking #2 at 8 p.m. in total viewers and the 19th consecutive quarter topping CNN among A25-54.
- “The Rachel Maddow Show” wrapped up the first half of 2011 well ahead of CNN at 9 p.m., topping “Piers Morgan Tonight” by 37% in total viewers (1,046,000 vs. 762,000) and 29% among adults 25-54 (305,000 vs. 236,000). Compared to the first half of 2010, TRMS is up 9% among total viewers and 23% among A25-54 for the first half of 2011. For 2Q 2011, Maddow beat Piers by and even wider margin in total viewers (1,026,000 vs. 670,000) and A25-54 (315,000 vs. 201,000). TRMS delivered the strongest A25-54 and total viewer audiences for the hour since 1Q09. “Piers Morgan Tonight” is down across the board in 2Q 2011 compared to its debut quarter in 1Q 2011– including a 33% drop among A25-54 and a 28% decrease in total viewers.
- At 10 p.m. “The Ed Show” with Ed Schultz beat CNN’s “AC 360” for the first half of 2011 (879,000 vs. 850,000). MSNBC also topped CNN in the time period for the 4th consecutive quarter (877,000 vs. 841,000). Compared to 2Q10, “The Ed Show” has grown 31% in total viewers and 27% among A25-54 in 2Q11.
- MSNBC Longform ranks #1 in Weekend Primetime (Saturday – Sunday 7 p.m. – 2 a.m.) among adults 25-54 for the 5th consecutive quarter and beat CNN for the 11th straight quarter.