Anderson Cooper’s Second Worst Month Ever, And Other Non-Press Release Notes
It’s the end of July ratings (yeah, even with five more days of July), so that means all the networks send their press releases touting ratings victories.
But here are some notes you won’t find in the releases – mixed in with some you will.
• July was not a good month for Anderson Cooper – the only prime time anchor slated to remain in his current role at the end of the year. The 10pmET show had its second lowest ratings ever in July in total viewers, and tied for the second lowest in the A25-54 demographic. Cooper was down 56% in total viewers year-to-year (the most on all of CNN) and 61% in the demo.
• BUT, from CNN’s release:
(Please note that when comparing this July (2010) to a year ago (2009), viewership for CNN was exceedingly high then due to the news of Michael Jackson’s death and memorial.)
Noted.
• MSNBC’s two big programs, Keith Olbermann‘s and Rachel Maddow‘s, were down double digits year-to-year in both categories. It was also Olbermann’s lowest month in total viewers since April 2008.
• BUT, from MSNBC’s release:
* Countdown with Keith Olbermann” beat CNN’s “Campbell Brown” for the 29th consecutive month among both total viewers and A25-54. “Countdown” outrated “Campbell Brown” by 106 percent in A25-54 (252,000 vs. 122,000) and by a huge 93 percent in total viewers (949,000 vs. 493,000). The repeat of “Countdown” at 10 p.m. ET also beat CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” (580,000 vs. 575,000) and in A24-54 (193,000 vs. 180,000).
* “The Rachel Maddow Show” beat CNN’s “Larry King Live” for the sixth month in a row among both total viewers and A25-54, out-drawing King by 50 percent among A25-54 (236,000 vs. 157,000) and by 37 percent in total viewers (891,000 vs. 652,000). July marks the 17th month “The Rachel Maddow Show” has beaten “Larry King Live” in its 23 months.
• The daytime program to decline the most year-to-year for CNN was Rick’s List, down 49% and 51% in total viewers and demo. Of course, Rick Sanchez is now hosting CNN’s 8pmET show too.
• BUT, from CNN’s release:
In July, CNN topped MSNBC during the daytime (9am-5pm) in both total viewers and the key demo 25-54 and in total day (6am-6am) among total viewers…At 4p, Dylan Ratigan placed fourth.
• Finally, one HLN note:
In July, HLN’s morning show, Morning Express with Robin Meade topped MSNBC’s Morning Joe for the 16th consecutive month among 25-54 viewers. Morning Express beat Morning Joe by nearly 50% among 25-54 viewers (166k vs. 113k)…Morning Express was the only show in cable news to increase double digits in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo compared to a year ago, up 11% among total viewers (3101k vs. 271k) and up 20% among 25-54 viewers (166k vs. 138k)
