Ratings: Amid Major News, MSNBC’s New Primetime Lineup Drops To Third

[RamboLiberal]

On a week marked by a huge international story–and hefty NBC resources committed to telling it–MSNBC marked an unpleasant milestone, dropping to third place across primetime on February 1. In perhaps the most striking defeat for the network, Lawrence O’Donnell, who took over for the departed Keith Olbermann was soundly defeated by CNN’s Parker Spitzer, a show assumed by many to be such a poor performer as to be on the chopping block.

On Tuesday night, Parker Spitzer attracted 292,000 viewers 25-54, compared to O’Donnell’s 196,000.

CNN newcomer Piers Morgan, whose show Piers Morgan Tonight has had several ups and downs in its first two weeks, finished strongly ahead of MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow (327,000 to 260,000). Morgan broke from single-interview format to cover the Egypt story live, and interviewed former British prime minister Tony Blair.

MSNBC’s Ed Show, which relocated to 10 p.m. in the new lineup, was nowhere near CNN’s AC 360. Cooper, who’s on assignment reporting from Cairo, led with 344,000 to Ed Schultz’s 180,000. Cooper has taken an all-in strategy on the Egypt story, immediately flying from New York last week and beginning live coverage over the weekend. Cooper has reported extensively on all CNN programs (and CNN International) and presumably driven viewers to his nightly show. AC360 was the network’s only show to move within striking distance of ratings leader Fox News, closing to within 39,000 viewers of timeslot winner Greta Van Susteren.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/ratings-amid-major-news-msnbcs-new-primetime-lineup-drops-to-third/

To be fair even with KO MSNBC ratings usually took a hit on stories like what is happening this week in Egypt. Viewers turn to CNN. But still not good news at 8PM. Also, yuck, Beck's ratings are up, he went above 2 million.

[wilt the stilt]

1. Funny, when Beck was on CNN

he couldn't draw flies. It shows that fox has two million people watching but it will never get any bigger. it's just a locked in bunch of zombies.

[alsame]

2. O'Donnell and Ed aren't too good with the hard news coverage, they

are better suited to the opinion format.

I miss Keith.

[Johonny]

5. I think you could argue MSNBC isn't good in hard news coverage

they aren't likely to get better by being a format prison TV program 2/7 of the week rather than maintaining a news desk.

[alsame]

6. True. Mostly infotainment during the week and prison all

weekend - and holidays too!

CNN, to its credit, does have a live news desk on the weekends.

[SoCalDem]

3. and Comcast will use thes stats to PROVE that

"there is no market for left-leaning commentary"
:grr:

[napi21]

4. I think we shoud give it several more weeks. FOX is always

going to be Fox, but most of the people I know turn o CNN when there's a bi international story. I think that's what happened here. GuessI'll be proven right or wrong after Egypt settles down somewhere.

[OHdem10]

7. MSNBC does not have a formal news program at 6pm as do

other cables and broadcast channels.

CNN has always attracted viewers when Foreign News breaks.

Since MSNBC is not seen as having a formal news like the 6o'clock
every evening, people automatically turne in CNN etc.

[Cleita]

8. I think Rachel and Ed with Richard Engel did an

outstanding job of reporting live last night. I was toggling between them and Anderson Cooper on CNN. Brian Williams was there but he had nothing to add to Engel's reporting and seemed scared and happy to be sheltering behind Engel's broad shoulders.

[OHdem10]

9. I agree with you.