MSNBC Tops CNN in Total Viewers and Key Demos for Quarter

MSNBC topped CNN in total day, morning and primetime among both total viewers and A25-54 for the quarter. Compared to the same period in 2012, that included the start of the Presidential election season, MSNBC's ratings held steady and saw double digit growth (+30%) in M-F Daytime among A25-54. FOX News Channel saw year-over-year declines in every daypart among A25-54.

In total day (M-Su 6a-6a), MSNBC ranked #2 in both total viewers (431,000) and A25-54 (141,000) and ranked #1 among the younger demo of A18-34. MSNBC was also #1 in total day among African American viewers. CNN was down -12% and FXNC decreased -18% in A2554 while MSNBC was flat from 1Q12 in Total Day.

In weekday primetime (M-F 8p-11p), MSNBC ranked #2 in both total viewers (905,000 vs. CNN's 658,000) and A25-54 (238,000 vs. CNN's 197,000). Compared to 1Q2012, MSNBC is down -4% while CNN is down -28% and FNC is down -33%.

In weekday sales day (M-F 6a-2a), MSNBC ranked #2 in both A25-54 (150,000 vs. CNN's 132,000) and total viewers (476,000 vs. CNN's 447,000). MSNBC also ranked #1 among the younger demo of A18-34 and with African-American viewers. Compared to 1Q2012, MSNBC is up 1% in weekday sales day while CNN is down -14% and FNC is down -19% among A25-54.

Below are MSNBC's morning and primetime program highlights for 1Q13:

* "Morning Joe" (6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. ET) ranked #2 for the quarter topping CNN by 53% among A25-54 (154,000 vs. 101,000) and 67% among total viewers (422,000 vs. 253,000). "Morning Joe" is up 3% in A25-54 compared to 1Q2012.

* At 5 p.m., "Hardball" with Chris Matthews ranked #2 for the quarter beating CNN by 22% among A25-54 (176,000 vs. 144,000) and by 34% among total viewers (792,000 vs. 590,000). Compared to the same quarter in 2012, "Hardball" is up 18% in A25-54.

* "PoliticsNation" with Rev. Al Sharpton at 6 p.m. ET was #2 for the quarter, topping CNN by 29% with A25-54 (183,000 vs. 142,000) and 46% with total viewers (718,000 vs. 492,000). "PoliticsNation" is up 6% in A25-54 compared to 1Q12.

* "Hardball" at 7 p.m. ET ranked #2 for the quarter, topping CNN by 38% among A25-54 (193,000 vs. 140,000) and 60% with total viewers (740,000 vs. 463,000).

* "The Ed Show" at 8 p.m. ET was #2 for the quarter in both total viewers (888,000 vs. CNN's 636,000) and A25-54 (205,000 vs. CNN's 189,000). On FOX News Channel, this was the "O'Reilly Factor's" worst quarter since 3Q2007.

* "The Rachel Maddow Show" at 9 p.m. ET ranked #2 for the quarter, topping CNN's "Piers Morgan Live" by 88% among A25-54 (278,000 vs. 148,000) and 69% among total viewers (997,000 vs. 588,000). Compared to 1Q2012, "Maddow" is up 2% in A25-54 while CNN is down 18% and FNC's "Hannity" is down 28%. This is the worst quarter ever for FNC's "Hannity with Sean Hannity" among A25-54 and the worst for FNC since 2Q2001.

* "The Last Word" with Lawrence O'Donnell at 10 p.m. ET ranked #2 for the quarter with a 51% lead over CNN in total viewers (815,000 vs. 540,000) and a 23% advantage among A25-54 (215,000 vs. 175,000). This was the worst quarterly performance ever for FNC's "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren" among A25-54 and the worst for FNC since 2Q2001.

MSNBC Daytime (M-F 9a-5p) was up 30% among A25-54 compared to 1Q12, more growth in the daypart than the competition combined. Below are MSNBC daytime and weekend program highlights for 1Q13:

* "The Daily Rundown" hosted by Chuck Todd at 9 a.m. ET ranked #2 for the quarter among total viewers (416,000 vs. 383,000). "Rundown" is up 16% from 1Q12 among A25-54.

* At 10 a.m. ET, "Jansing & Co" was up 12% among A25-54 from 1Q13.

* "MSNBC Live" hosted by Thomas Roberts at 11 a.m. ET is up 15% among A25-54 and 5% among total viewers compared to 1Q12.

* "NOW with Alex Wagner" at noon ET ranked #2 for the quarter with 123,000 A25-54. "NOW" increased 34% among A25-54 and 10% with total viewers compared to 1Q12.

* "Andrea Mitchell Reports" at 1 p.m. ET increased 42% among A25-54 and 10% with total viewers compared to 1Q12.

* At 2 p.m. ET, "NewsNation" hosted by Tamron Hall is up 33% among A25-54 compared to 1Q12.

* "The Cycle" at 3 p.m. saw a 13% increase among A25-54 compared to 1Q12.

* "Martin Bashir" at 4 p.m. ranked #2 with total viewers (553,000 vs. 541,000). Compared to same quarter of 2012, "Martin Bashir" increased 41% among A25-54 and 16% among total viewers.

* "Melissa Harris-Perry"on Saturdays is up 2% in A25-54 compared to 1Q12. On Sundays, "MHP" (10a-noon) is up 9% among A25-54 compared to 1Q12.

* MSNBC is #1 in delivering total African American viewers for the 13th consecutive quarter in M-Su Primetime (8p-11p).

* Among younger viewers A18-34, MSNBC Longform ranks #1 in weekend sales prime (Sa/Su 7p-2a) for the 30th consecutive quarter.

Additional highlights for First Quarter of 2013:

* MSNBC saw the network's highest rated State of the Union Address coverage ever among both total viewers and A25-54 (1.03 million). MSNBC's coverage of the State of the Union Address was up 26% in A25-54 and 8% in total viewers compared to SOTU 2012.

* MSNBC had the network's highest rated news documentary in more than ten years with "Hubris: Selling of the Iraq War." The documentary, hosted by Rachel Maddow, ranked #1 in the time period among A25-54 (432,000) when it premiered on Feb. 18 at 9 p.m. ET.

MSNBC is the premier destination for in-depth analysis of daily headlines, insightful political commentary and informed perspectives. Reaching more than 95 million households worldwide, MSNBC offers a full schedule of live news coverage, political opinions and award-winning documentary programming - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Viewers can find more information on MSNBC's programming at WWW.TV.MSNBC.COM.

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