MSNBC out-rated CNN in primetime in October 2009, among both total viewers and the key Adults 25-54 demographic, according to data from Nielsen Media Research.  MSNBC beat CNN soundly in every hour of primetime in October, including for the first time at 10 p.m. ET as a repeat of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" drew more A25-54 than "Anderson Cooper 360" (218,000 vs. 210,000). Following are MSNBC ratings highlights for October 2009:

In primetime (Mon-Sun, 8-11 p.m. ET), MSNBC out-rated CNN by 26% in A25-54 (234,000 vs. 186,000) and by 5% in total viewers (699,000 vs. 664,000). In weekday primetime (Mon-Fri, 8-11 p.m. ET), MSNBC out-rated the fourth-ranked CNN by 25% in A25-54 (252,000 vs. 201,000) and by 13% in total viewers (830,000 vs. 737,000).

MSNBC is the #1 news network in primetime among younger viewers, Adults 18-34 (73,000).

"Countdown with Keith Olbermann" soundly beat CNN's fourth-place Campbell Brown by 83% in A25-54 (294,000 vs. 161,000) and by 57% in total viewers (1,015,000 vs. 648,000). "Countdown" also out-rated HLN's "Nancy Grace" by 9% in A25-54 (294,000 vs. 269,000) and by 22% in total viewers (1,015,000 vs. 830,000). At 10 p.m., the repeat of "Countdown" beat the fourth place "Anderson Cooper 360" among A25-54 for the first time (218,000 vs. 210,000).

"The Rachel Maddow Show" beat CNN's "Larry King Live" at 9 p.m. by 10% among A25-54 (246,000 vs. 224,000) and by 5% in total viewers (880,000 vs. 842,000). This is the 9th time in 13th months since launching last September that "TRMS" has out-rated "Larry King."

"Hardball with Chris Matthews" at 7 p.m. out-rated CNN's fourth place "Lou Dobbs Tonight" by 12% in A25-54 (182,000 vs. 163,000) and by 3% in total viewers (649,000 vs. 631,000).

"The Ed Show" virtually tied CNN's "The Situation Room" among A25-54 in October 2009, (150,000 vs. 151,000).

Full Ratings Breakdown

Total Day (M-Su), Total Viewers
Fox News: 1,255,000
CNN: 486,000
MSNBC: 359,000
HLN: 307,000

Total Day (M-Su), A25-54
Fox News: 344,000
HLN: 146,000
CNN: 142,000
MSNBC: 131,000

Primetime (M-Su), Total Viewers
Fox News: 2,234,000
MSNBC 730,000
CNN 679,000
HLN 530,000

Primetime (M-Su), A25-54
Fox News: 583,000
MSNBC: 239,000
HLN: 191,000
CNN: 190,000

7PM, Total Viewers
Fox Report with Shepard Smith: 1,989,000
Hardball: 649,000
Lou Dobbs Tonight: 631,000
Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell: 461,000

7PM, A25-54
Fox Report with Shepard Smith: 463,000
Hardball: 182,000
Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell: 167,000
Lou Dobbs Tonight: 163,000

8PM, Total Viewers
O'Reilly Factor: 3,389,000
Countdown: 1,020,000
Nancy Grace: 830,000
Campbell Brown: 648,000

8PM, A25-54
O'Reilly Factor 875,000
Countdown: 294,000
Nancy Grace: 269,000
Campbell Brown: 161,000

9PM, Total Viewers
Hannity: 2,374,000
Rachel Maddow: 880,000
Larry King Live: 842,000
Joy Behar: 535,000

9PM, A25-54
Hannity: 659,000
Rachel Maddow: 246,000
Larry King Live: 224,000
Joy Behar: 183,000

10PM, Total Viewers
On the Record with Greta van Susteren: 1,958,000
Anderson Cooper 360: 689,000
Countdown (repeat): 600,000
Nancy Grace (repeat): 495,000

10PM, A25-54
On the Record with Greta van Susteren: 533,000
Nancy Grace (repeat): 222,000
Countdown (repeat): 218,000
Anderson Cooper 360: 210,000

---

Related Articles:
MSNBC Hires Sharon Otterman as Vice President (21-10-2009) MSNBC Rattled by Imus on FBN? (15-10-2009) MSNBC to Air Olbermann Healthcare Special (15-10-2009) MSNBC Pulls Ahead of CNN for 2009 to Date (30-09-2009) MSNBC Focuses on Afghanistan in 'Tip of the Spear' (29-09-2009) MSNBC to Premiere Documentary Series, American Cults (29-09-2009) MSNBC's Contessa Brewer Reveals Her Musical Tastes (27-09-2009) MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Profiled (24-09-2009) MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan Profiled (16-07-2009) MSNBC is "Watching The Dow" (29-01-2009)