Dropping The MS In MSNBC? "It's Just Not True"

NBC and Microsoft execs are refutting the rumors that their MSNBC partnership is "on the rocks." "It's just not true," NBC Universal exec VP Brandon Burgess tells the Wall Street Journal. And Scott Moore, general manager of Microsoft's MSN Network, says that "the state of the relationship is very healthy, and from the Microsoft side we're pleased with the way things are going." The paper says the execs felt the need to comment "because the rumors were hurting morale at MSNBC."

> Also: NBC spokesman David Frail tells Multichannel News that "the partnership is very much alive."

MSNBC Beats CNN In Prime: More Than A Fluke?

According to MSNBC's in-house historians, Thursday night was the first time MSNBC's prime has beat CNN's, a network spokesperson said.

Larry King's #'s were surprisingly low last night; he talked to Joe Rogan and some of the contestants from NBC's Fear Factor, while Deborah Norville interviewed one of the swift boat captains."CNN execs must be hiding under their desks," one source joked this afternoon. "It can't be a good day for morale at CNN."

The MSNers are thrilled. "They just have to keep the momentum going," Zoey said. And that's the most important question: Is this more than a fluke?...

MSNBC Beats CNN In Prime: Raw Data

You're not going to find more #'s anywhere else. Here are the stats for Thursday night:

MSNBC: Time HH P2+ 7pm 526,000 648,000 8pm 473,000 591,000 9pm 463,000 558,000 10pm 490,000 644,000 11pm 318,000 373,000 12am 270,000 283,000 1am 180,000 180,000

CNN: Time HH P2+ 7pm 371,000 435,000 8pm 450,000 497,000 9pm 424,000 475,000 10pm 438,000 571,000 11pm 250,000 309,000 12am 135,000 171,000 1am 76,000 87,000

Thursday Ratings: More Data, Less Comment!

MSNBC's Olympics coverage wrapped up by 5pm, but:
FNC: Total day: 951,000 / Primetime: 2,035,000 / Hume: 1,313,000 / Shep: 1,507,000 / O'Reilly: 2,411,000 / H&C: 2,066,000 / Greta: 1,626,000
CNN: 384,000 / Primetime: 514,000 / Dobbs: 534,000 / Cooper: 435,000 / Zahn: 497,000 / 475,000 / 571,000
MSNBC: 381,000 / 598,000 / Abrams: 371,000 / Matthews: 648,000 / Olbermann: 591,000 / Norville: 558,000 / Scarborough: 644,000

Convention: Rather Anchors Monday Night On WCBS

Dan Rather will anchor Monday night coverage of the GOP convention—but chances are you won't be able to see it. Rather will host coverage from 10 to 11pm on WCBS-TV, the local affiliate in NYC. "The hour will be co-produced by WCBS and CBS News, but the station is calling the shots, supplying the reporters and graphics for what it is covering as a local news story," Broadcasting & Cable says. (Rudy Giuliani is speaking that hour.) The special will not be made available to other CBS affiliates...

The Ticker: Banfield, Neville, Wallace

> NewsBlues notes that Ashleigh Banfield will appear on Real Time with Bill Maher tonight at 11pm on HBO.

> Former CNN and FNCer Arthel Neville is one of the new co-hosts for Good Day Live! (Press Release)

> CBS's Mike Wallace 1, Taxi and Limo Commission 0 (NYT)

> Anyone notice the new teases for Hardball? "America's watching 'Hardball!'," they say...

Andy Rooney Falls Victim To Ali G

"Attention assistants of high-profile network news stars: You and your bosses are simple prey for Sacha Baron Cohen -- better known as goofy British rapper/TV host Ali G," the New York Post says. Andy Rooney was the "latest newsman to fall victim..."

CNN NY Studio Tours Begin Next Week

Quoting USA Today: "On Sept. 3, CNN will launch public tours of its studios and newsrooms inside the new Time Warner Center...The 45-minute Inside CNN guided walking tour will be offered seven days a week and is expected to draw 250,000 visitors annually."