With the major line-up shuffling yesterday in prime time due to the MSNBC debate, CNN’s Lou Dobbs special and Michigan primary coverage, the ratings scoreboard for the night took on additional meaning.
Overall MSNBC won prime time in both the A25-54 demo and total viewers (FNC won total day in both categories). In the demo, MSNBC led by more than 50% over FNC, but in the total viewer category the margin was significantly closer. CNN finished third and Headline News fourth in both categories for the night.
At 8pmET, CNN’s Dobbs special “Independents Day” finished in second place, behind FNC’s first hour of primary coverage (anchored by Brit Hume), but ahead of MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann.
The MSNBC debate was first, with FNC in second for the 9 and 10pmET hours. At 11pmET, however, during the post-debate coverage, there was a split. MSNBC won the A25-54 demo, with debate and primary coverage anchored by Chris Matthews and Olbermann, and FNC won the total viewer category with a new, but taped, episode of The O’Reilly Factor.