MSNBC is getting ahead of the holiday madness by releasing its 2007 ratings story early. With two weeks to go, the network's Monday-Friday prime time lineup (8pm-11pmET) is the "fastest growing" of all channels that have 60M+ subscribers. (The details are in the press release after the jump.)

Additionally, MSNBC is touting a Keith Olbermann win over CNN for the 8pmET time period in both total viewers and the A25-54 demo. MSNBC is up 55% in total viewers (743,000 vs. 479,000) and up 39% in A25-54 (260,000 vs. 187,000) at 8pm. CNN is down 2% (642,000 vs. 656,000) and up 9% in A25-54 (209,000 vs. 192,000) at 8pmET (Live+SD).

Click continued to read the press release...

MSNBC HAS THE FASTEST GROWING PRIMETIME LINEUP OF ANY TOP-50 CABLE CHANNEL FOR 2007

OLBERMANN TOPS CNN AT 8 PM ET FOR THE YEAR

NET HAS ITS GREATEST SHARE OF THE CABLE NEWS AUDIENCE (20%)
IN 25-54 DEMOGRAPHIC SINCE 2001

NEW YORK-December 19, 2007-MSNBC is the only channel to show significant growth in 2007, while the other cable news networks have spent the year treading water according to Nielsen Media Research data. For the year, MSNBC's primetime lineup (8-11 p.m. ET, M-F) is the fastest growing of any top-50 cable channel (all channels with 60 million-plus subscribers). During this time period, MSNBC's viewership has increased by 38% over 2006 (552,000 vs. 401,000). CNN and Fox News are basically flat: CNN is up just 2%, ranking 28th in growth (864,000 vs. 847,000), while Fox is up 3% (1,725,000 vs. 1,670,000), ranking 25th in growth.

With two weeks to go in 2007, MSNBC is posting its greatest share of the cable news audience in the target 25-54 demographic (20%) since 2001. The channel is up 18% in P2+ over 2006 for total day (310,000 vs. 263,000) and 16% in A25-54 (129,000 vs. 111,000). CNN limps to the finish line, up just 2% in P2+ (485,000 vs. 477,000) and 3% in A25-54 (170,000 vs. 165,000). Fox News Channel's growth has stalled this year, ending the year with no growth in total viewers (823,000 vs. 824,000) and down 2% in A25-54 (241,000 vs. 246,000). (All data is Live + Same Day, year-to-date through December 16)

In primetime (8-11 p.m. ET, M-S), MSNBC is up a very strong 32% in total viewers (508,000 vs. 385,000) and 27% in A25-54 (202,000 vs. 159,000). CNN finishes the year up just 2% in P2+ (771,000 vs. 753,000) and up 9% in A25-54 (245,000 vs. 225,000). Fox News is up 4% in P2+ (1,475,000 vs. 1,412,000) and up 2% in A25-54 (354,000 vs. 347,000).

"Countdown with Keith Olbermann" continues to grow at an amazing rate in 2007, beating CNN for the year in both total viewers and the 25-54 demographic. At 8 p.m. ET, MSNBC is up 55% in total viewers (743,000 vs. 479,000) and 39% in A25-54 (260,000 vs. 187,000). CNN ends the year with 100,000 fewer total viewers in the time period than MSNBC, down 2% (642,000 vs. 656,000) and up 9% in A25-54 (209,000 vs. 192,000). Fox News is up 7% for the year in P2+ (2,263,000 vs. 2,118,000) and up 4% in A25-54 (470,000 vs. 450,000).

At 9 p.m. ET, where the network airs "Live with Dan Abrams" Monday – Thursday and documentary programming on Friday, MSNBC finishes the year up an impressive 26% in total viewers (487,000 vs. 387,000) and up 23% in A25-54 (181,000 vs. 147,000). CNN ends the year up only 4% in P2+ (1,115,000 vs. 1,071,000) and up 12% in A25-54 (311,000 vs. 277,000). Fox News is basically flat, up 1% in total viewers (1,564,000 vs. 1,555,000) and down 4% in A25-54 (391,000 vs. 408,000).

MSNBC is also experiencing substantial growth 10 p.m. – midnight ET, the "Doc Block." MSNBC's documentary programming is up 32% in total viewers (413,000 vs. 314,000) and 40% in A25-54 (200,000 vs. 143,000). CNN's "AC 360" is flat for the year in both P2+ (676,000 vs. 674,000) and A25-54 (255,000 vs. 252,000). Fox News is up 1% in P2+ (1,210,000 vs. 1,202,000) and up 3% in A25-54 (368,000 vs. 356,000).

"Hardball with Chris Matthews" has grown its audience in both of its airings for the year, while the competition was flat or down. At 5 p.m. ET, "Hardball" is up 25% in P2+ (420,000 vs. 336,000) and up 9% in A25-54. For that time period, CNN is up 1% in P2+ (616,000 vs. 608,000) and up 4% in A25-54 (179,000 vs. 171,000). Fox News is down 2% in P2+ (962,000 vs. 984,000) and down 7% in A25-54 (211,000 vs. 226,000). At 7 p.m. ET, "Hardball" is up 7% in P2+ (437,000 vs. 410,000) and up 1% in A25-54 (151,000 vs. 150,000). In that hour CNN is up 4% in P2+ (691,000 vs. 665,000) and up 5% in A25-54 (219,000 vs. 208,000). Fox News is flat in P2+ (1,319,000 vs. 1,325,000) and down 4% in A25-54 (326,000 vs. 340,000).