MSNBC notches ratings win over Fox News, but with an asterisk

Fox News' ratings dominance in cableland has been a given for so long, I wasn't sure the email was genuine when I first saw it.

But MSNBC circulated a press release Tuesday crowing about liberal hero Keith Olbermann's Countdown show beating his bitter rival Bill O'Reilly in a key ratings group for the first time ever. It's a bump that's consistent with a trend media reporters have outlined recently; that intense interest in the long Democratic primary has boosted interest in MSNBC and CNN among viewers who may not be watching conservative-friendly Fox News.

According to MSNBC, lefty Olbermann beat conservative hero O'Reilly by 5,000 viewers aged 25 to 54 last week (477,000 to 472,000), excluding Tuesday, when all channels were wall-to-wall on primary coverage.

But a Fox news spokesman who asked to remain nameless noted that O'Reilly's show was hosted by a substitute, Laura Ingraham, on Friday. So is it really a ratings win when the top guy isn't in the saddle for one of the four days?

According to Fox, O'Reilly scored an average 503,000 25 to 54 viewers in the three days he anchored against Olbermann, compared to 491,000 for MSNBC; Fox also says Olbermann beat Ingraham by 57,000 viewers aged 25 to 54 on Friday. The performance doesn't seem to have hurt Ingraham's status at Fox; the New York Times reported Tuesday she is expected to be one of several rotating personalities hosting the 5 p.m. hour on the newschannel starting Monday.

What it does seem to show, is Olbermann getting within spitting distance of Fox News' top dog at a time when interest in the presidential election is growing MSNBC's audience and displeasure with George W. Bush may be eroding Fox News numbers.

Wonder what will happen now that the general election race is on?

Here's MSNBC's release...   

“Countdown” Out-Rates the “Factor” for First Time Ever

    NEW YORK – June 10, 2008 – MSNBC continued its ratings surge last week, with viewers flocking out of the "No Spin Zone" and to "The Place for Politics."  For the first time ever, MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was the #1 show at 8 p.m., out-drawing Fox News's "O'Reilly Factor" head-to-head among Adults 25-54.  This is the first time since June 2001 that MSNBC has out-rated "The O'Reilly Factor" at 8 p.m.

Excluding Tuesday's primary coverage, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" averaged 477,000 A25-54 vs. 472,000 for the "Factor." 

MSNBC also out-drew Fox News Channel for the week in primetime (June 2-8, M-F, 8-11 p.m.), averaging 496,000 Adults 25-54 vs. 449,000. This is the first time MSNBC beat FNC for the week in primetime since Feb. 25, 2008, when MSNBC telecast exclusive coverage of the Democratic candidates debate.  Prior to that, the last time MSNBC beat FNC in primetime was the week of July 30, 2001.

"Hardball with Chris Matthews" also kept up its momentum, ranking #1 at 7 p.m. in the key adult demo (334,000), out-rating CNN by 5% (319,000) and FNC by 19% (280,000).  The 5 p.m. broadcast of "Hardball" also beat FNC for the week (218,000 vs. 198,000).

 

Comments

[rafael]

You might like Bill and yes some times he can get obnoxious but the same goes for Keith but as fair news goes Fox is the one, MSNBC with is the worst.

[Jason]

Wow, these comments on this article are sooooo unbiased and thoughtful responses... They really changed my thinking... ;) Just like Keith Olbernmann, Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow - IF what they said was true... Everyone should look at the un-edited versions of the clips they show - find them and view them without any spin from ANY news service --- then you will clearly know the true story, and as a bonus, see which media is telling that story correctly!! Don't let somebody else do your thinking for you - especially if they forgot to take their medication before going on the air.... :O

[democrats for good cause]

Fox news is unwatchable. people like Keith who are able to think rationally and intelligently are actually promoting progress in america. all idiots like O'relly dragging us down by stupidity, religious fanatic.

[sherry clay]

Keith Olbermann, tells is like it is! What a lift to the spirits of so many others out here like me who have become so discouragedabout the far right conservatives massacre on truth , integrity, decency, and the programming , consitioning, mnid control we have so lone been subjected too by the right controlled spin doctors, on CNN and FOX...I only started tuning in to MSNBC in July having been told this station too was as bad as Fox for right wing propaganda. I caught Keith Olbernmann one night, felt hope, could laugh! and was hooked! the same with Chris Matthews...Rachel Maddow.I am not a far left liberal...am more moderate, also a level headed Christian who happens to value truth in the news! I love these guys and am so delighted to finally have news commentators who are bold, brass,tell it like it is, and the people now have a choice and a break from the mind control propaganda of the crazy far right bs artists!

[marie]

Can people stop watching fix news alltogether and their poisoneous news, how could anyone even support these moron who have kept americans in Ignorance and fear and prejudice. Americans, how could you watch people who discriminate against other americans, based on their name or call them names, like Baby mamma, terrorist fist bump, etc.... In my opinion, no sane person could watch Fix propaganda news. they are poison

[Gretchen]

Great for Keith!!! I guess the 2 McClellan interviews didn't hurt either. Keith tells it like it is, but I don't watch him that often. Chris Matthews is my boy! I watch religiously everyday 5 and 7. Either way I happy that someone beat O'Reilly because he gets way too cocky about his ratings.

[drinklime]

i think what we need is a new show, with an even more obnoxious host, giving even more of his opinions, and yelling even louder at the camera. I think it could be a ratings hit.

[Olbermann is the Man]

Keith Olbermann is the man. His show is entertaining, informative and most of all fun. It does a great job exposing the BS spin masters at Fox Noise. I am really thankful to have such an eloquent voice on the left challenging bullies like Bill Orally. Go Keith!!!!

[Ron]

I can't imagine how anyone could watch either one of these blowhards. O'Reilly is bad enough, but Olberman is even worse. They've even ruined football coverage by adding the moronic Olberman on NBC.