Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for September 10 2008
Rachel Maddow beating Larry King is no longer news, but last night she beat Olbermann in both age demos. Definitely worth keeping an eye on the progression of those numbers.
Countdown w. Keith Olbermann– 1,670,000 viewers (519,000) (845,000)
Rachel Maddow Show–1,626,000 viewers (635,000) (864,000)
P2+ Total Day
FNC – 1,534,000 viewers
CNN – 818,000 viewers
MSNBC – 550,000 viewers
CNBC – 220,000 viewers
HLN – 336,000 viewers
P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 3,394,000 viewers
CNN –1,348,000 viewers
MSNBC-1,493,000 viewers
CNBC –177,000 viewers
HLN – 784,000 viewers
25-54 Total Day
FNC – 424,000 viewers
CNN –277,000 viewers
MSNBC – 203,000 viewers
CNBC –74,000 viewers
HLN- 162,000 viewers
25-54 Prime Time
FNC –949,000 viewers
CNN –450,000 viewers
MSNBC –533,000 viewers
CNBC –67,000 viewers
HLN – 361,000 viewers
35-64 Total Day
FNC –723,000 viewers
CNN – 407,000 viewers
MSNBC – 271,000 viewers
CNBC – 109,000 viewers
HLN – 185,000 viewers
35-64 Prime Time
FNC – 1,485,000 viewers
CNN –675,000 viewers
MSNBC –747,000 viewers
CNBC –70,000 viewers
HLN –443,000 viewers
Morning programs (6:00AM-9:00AM) P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
FOX & Friends –1,069,000 viewers (320,000) (624,000)
American Morning-594,000 viewers (240,000) (335,000)
Morning Joe- 405,000 viewers (138,000) (203,000)
Squawk Box- 219,000 viewers (97,000) (127,000)
Morning Express w/ Meade- 281,000 viewers (155,000) (162,000)
6PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Special Report with Brit Hume – 2,120,000 viewers (518,000) (979,000)
Situation Room-907,000 viewers (250,000) (405,000)
Race/White House W/D Gregory- 606,000 viewers (161,000) (213,000)
Mad Money–200,000 viewers (85,000) (120,000)
Prime News- 268,000 viewers (120,000) (150,000)
7PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Fox Report w/ Shepard Smith – 2,161,000 viewers (580,000) (1,059,000)
Lou Dobbs–911,000 viewers (287,000) (450,000)
Hardball w. Chris Matthews–1,003,000 viewers (300,000) (495,000)
Kudlow & Company—203,000 viewers (a scratch w/50,000) (72,000)
Glenn Beck – 421,000 viewers (185,000) (238,000)
8PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O’Reilly Factor- 4,228,000 viewers (1,099,000) (1,908,000)
CNN Election Center- 973,000 viewers (334,000) (541,000)
Countdown w. Keith Olbermann– 1,670,000 viewers (519,000) (845,000)
On the Money–150,000 viewers (a scratch w/28,000) (56,000)
Nancy Grace –1,058,000 viewers (487,000) (612,000)
9 PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Hannity & Colmes–3,163,000 viewers (885,000) (1,333,000)
Larry King Live—1,556,000 viewers (482,000) (737,000)
Rachel Maddow Show–1,626,000 viewers (635,000) (864,000)
Americas Toughest Jobs—273,000 viewers (104,000) (94,000)
Glenn Beck- 666,000 viewers (255,000) (344,000)
10 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
On the Record w/ Greta—2,781,000 viewers (864,000) (1,214,000)
Anderson Cooper 360–1,511,000 viewers (533,000) (741,000)
Countdown w. Keith Olbermann –1,181,000 viewers (444,000) (531,000)
Big Idea w/ Donny Deutsch—a scratch w/108,000 viewers (69,000) (61,000)
Nancy Grace –674,000 viewers (356,000) (400,000)
11 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
**The O’Reilly Factor(11PM-1132PM)- 2,071,000 viewers (710,000) (1,063,000)
**SR/Sarah Palin PC (1132PM-1150PM)-1,961,000 viewers (649,000) (983,000)
Anderson Cooper 360—1,601,000 viewers (539,000) (788,000)
**MSNBC Special (11PM-11:33PM)–632,000 viewers (210,000) (276,000)
**SR/RPT/ Live Coverage (1133PM-12AM)—495,000 viewers (248,000) (320,000)
Mad Money—a scratch w/81,000 viewers (a scratch w/24,000) (a scratch w/42,000)
Showbiz Tonight– 408,000 viewers (196,000) (199,000)
P2+ = viewers over the age of 2
(25-54) = Adults 25-54 viewing
(35-64) = Adults 35-64 viewing
Prime Time = 8-11pm
LIVE+SD: The number that watched a program either while it was broadcast OR watched via DVR on the same day [through 3AM the next day] the program was broadcast.
For more information see Numbers 101.
Scratch = when a show’s audience fails to meet minimum Nielsen reporting levels. For more information go here.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.

I wonder how Obermann is going to spin this news (plus another one sided night for O’Rielly).
1. Wow! Rachel is really holding onto her numbers. Isn’t that two out of three nights in beating Larry King?
2. Did “lipstick on a pig” drive the numbers up because all of these numbers seem higher than most nights. Even Matthews was over a million and he usually gets half that. And MSNBC averaged 1.5 million for prime time.
3. Could MSNBC have found the right show to follow Kieth?
4. Also, how does Rachel’s debut show compare to other debuts on MSNBC? How does it compare to when O’Reilly debuted?
If anyone knows the answer to number four, I’d like to see it.
RfrancisR,
I think it’ safe to say that Rachel’s debut is the best premiere in MSNBC’s history. According to TVNewser, Deborah Norville debuted to about 307,000 TOTAL viewers back in 2004. Pretty horrible, which is why she only lasted a year on MSNBC. I also remember Tucker Carlson’s 9pm show debuting to about 450,000 total viewers back in 2005. He was on at 9:00 for just two months before moving to 11pm. Rita Cosby did alright in her debut with about 700,000 total viewers (a huge rating for MSNBC in those days), but her numbers quickly dropped.
I don’t know how many viewers Keith had in his debut, but I bet they were pretty low. It took years for his show to get off the ground. His show didn’t get above 500,000 viewers until around 2005. The same goes for O’Reilly, who didn’t do well until he had been on the air for about three years…
Thanks RSS. That’s what I figured. As for Keith taking off in 2005, that’s about when I started tuning in. I am certain that it’s rare for MSNBC to average 1.5 million in prime time.
hey, it’s clear. billo boy had split his obama show into 4 pieces. premiering on thursday (where he declared, announced, advertised: pick whatever you want) and showing the rest on mon-wed. on the other hand, nobody knew that olberman would have obama
Rachel is for real, cable news viewers are thirsty for a different kind of news show, smart and civil and at the same time engaging.
Also let’s remember she could not have asked for a better timing tostadt a new show.
What’s the big deal with Rachel Maddow’s numbers? She follows Keith Olbermann, and she has virtually all of the same content. She is really the second hour of Keith Olbermann’s show.You can change channels on either show, leave the room, come back, and they will still be slamming Bush, McCain, Republicans, Sarah Palin, and Fox.Another thing they have in common: Olbermann gets killed by O’Reilly’s ratings in the same time slot, and Rachel gets killed by Hannity and Colmes in that time slot. Their two hour hate fest isn’t really seen, or cared about by many people. They make no difference in the full scheme of things, and NEVER mention the Democratic Congress’9%approval rating led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Really objective news reporting.
In response to Bluedevil: Are you serious? Olbermann didn’t interview Obama, he basically kissed his ass and didn’t ask ANY tough questions. Olbermann’s ratings ABSOLUTELY get killed by O’Reilly’s, Obama “interview” or not. In fact, O’Reilly’s repeat at 11pm EST beats Olbermann’s FIRST RUN show by 50% or so.Fox News’ coverage of the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION killed MSNBC’s, and that suppposedly is MSNBC’s audience. Keep looking for the silver lining.
I would like to see what Rachel could eventually do against Hannity.
Hannity has become hostile, belligerent and non-objective. I do not
enjoy watching him any longer. He is FOX Olbermann.
I agree with Larry on what he said about Hannity. BUT..Hannity does have at least some balance with Colmes…and the “other side” guest. That is no where to be seen with Olbermann
I love my Fox News babes.
They are hot and wear short skirts & low tops.
Fox knows how to keep me watching.
Also, Rebecca Gomez is very attrative (my type) on FBC.
So far, I like Rachel Maddow a lot. She’s extemely intelligent. She’s articulate and hard hitting yet somehow remains congenial and cheerfully upbeat. I’d say that she’s better than O’Reilly, Matthews, Hannity, or Olbermann. I certainly prefer her to Larry King. King bores me most of the time, even if he has a decent guest on.
I think FNC’s ratings would go beyond infinite if Kirsten Powers were to appear in a bikini! I think she’s the perfect woman. Beautiful and intelligent. She’s the kind of woman who does’nt need make up and still looks beautiful!
You people are silly!
You can’t compare MSNBC with Fox or even CNN due to carrier issues. Less people (including those in New York and several other major cities) don’t get MSNBC through their cable providers; hence you will always see few viewers for MSNBC shows. That’s one of the main reasons why Countdown with Keith Olbermann is immediately available on the website.
Once the carrier issue is taken care of, watch out guys… Keith will easily have well over 2.5-3 Million views on a daily basis. So enjoy Bill and Hannity while you can!
Do some research on your own if you don’t believe me!
Sonny, You are wrong. The difference between MSNBC household coverage and Fox and CNN’s is quite small. Very little of the audience difference in the shows would be explained by the difference in the coverage.
Here are the cable networks household availability numbers from March, 2008. They haven’t changed that much since then.
CNN 96.9 million
Fox News 94.6 million
MSNBC 91.6 million
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/05/06/nielsen-cable-network-coverage-estimates/3659
I agree that the Fox News ladies are hot and a turn on to most men.
I love when they interview people with their short skirts that get higher and higher as the interview goes on.
I’ll stick with my Fox Babes with the beautiful blondes and brunettes too.
Gets my heart pumping and that’s a good thing for this red blooded man.
Isn’t Maddow show the same as Olberbores? Have people on that agree with you and get hard hitting journalists from newsweek, NY Times & Kos to support your opinons! If you have the same show everynight it will quickly become a ratings loser. Olberbore has such an insecurity problem with fox it becomes apparent when he has these “special commentaries” and he loses it! Its a reason he’s had many jobs and has been fired from most of them; its his huge ego! When you have a show that is 100% him & no one to challenge him why watch. Its a monologue and not a news program. Maddow has at least got in a debate with people she disagrees with on other formats, but not likely to have that format on her show. I agree Hannity is a smug and arrogant sob, but at least his show has some balance. These shows have none!
I watched her show and it was so boring.
Sorry but I’m afraid her ratings are going to sink.
Maddow’s show is an extension of Olbermann’s except Maddow has a more pleasant personality. They both are left wing and smirk and gyrate with anti conservative politics and views.
Can’t watch them anymore. I feel embarassed for them and MSNBC.
Saw Maddow for the first time tonight. My dog could do her show. She preaches to the choir, her guests all drink the same Kool Aid and the only pain you’ll ever see between her and her guests will be the strained muscles they encounter from patting each other on the back.
She had a clip of a McCain interview that was so cut up (distorted) in order to make her point that I thought it was going to be served with sandwiches.
She’s a loser, as is PMSNBC. Their bias is so discusting I won’t even watch the local NBC affiliate anymore.
Two great shows on MSNBC! Thanks Rachel and Keith for the antidote to Right-winged NBC,ABC FOX and CBS.
Was Maddow working for Air America at one time or is she doing double duty? You would think MSNBC would pay enough money so Maddow could have some quality time for her live in,Susan. As far as Keith goes I believe he is in love with Bill O’Reilly from Fox.Every other day he says some thing about O’Reilly or Fox.They both(Maddow and Olbermann) are very BORING and IMMATURE. Same old tiring rehashing of Democrat Talking Points night after night.”Thats when I switch channels”…….
Al, Maddow was at Air America, but then was only occasionally on MSNBC. Now that she’s full time at MSNBC I don’t believe she’s on Air America any longer.
I just saw Rachels show for the first time. It is great! It compliments KO very well. It is like getting 2 hours of KO every night!