Claiming the "strongest growth of any cable news net in Total Day and Primetime," MSNBC says its "ratings growth continued this summer."

— In primetime (M-F, 8-11p), MSNBC was up 45% in the 25-54 demo and up 46% in total viewers.

— "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was up 67% in total viewers this August (721,000) compared to last August (431,000).

— MSNBC ranked #1 among the news nets in the 18-34 demo (M-S 8-11p). With 78,000 viewers, a small number by any measure, still out-delivering CNN by 5,000 and FNC by 18,000.

MSNBC's press release is after the jump...

MSNBC RATINGS GROWTH CONTINUES IN AUGUST

MSNBC Delivers Strongest Growth of Any Cable News Net in Total Day and Primetime

“Countdown with Keith Olbermann” Maintains Momentum, Beating CNN at 8 PM in Total Viewers and A25-54

SECAUCUS, NJ – Aug. 28, 2007 – MSNBC's ratings growth continued this summer, as the network delivered the strongest growth of any cable news net in August in total day (M-Sun), weekday primetime (8-11 pm) and in sales primetime (M-Sun 7pm-2am) in both total viewers and the Adult 25-54 demographic, compared to August 06. "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" continued its success for the network, finishing #2 ahead of CNN at 8pm in both A25-54 and total viewers and up an astonishing 55 percent in the A25-54 demo and 67 percent in total viewers compared to last year.

• In Weekday primetime (8-11pm), MSNBC was up an amazing 45 percent in A25-54 (224,000 vs. 155,000) and up 46 percent in total viewers (553,000 vs. 378,000), the strongest growth of any cable news network. MSNBC ranked #1 among the news nets in the Adults 18-34 demographic in Mon-Sun. primetime (78,000), out-delivering CNN by 5,000 A18-34 and FNC by 18,000 A18-34.

• MSNBC was up 14 percent among A25-54 in August (138,000 vs. 121,000) and up 15 percent in total viewers (319,000 vs. 277,000) in Total Day (Mon-Sun), while both CNN and Fox News Channel saw declines. MSNBC tied CNN at #1 for the month in Adults 18-34 (49,000) in total day, out-delivering FNC by 7,000 A18-34.

• In Sales Prime (M-Sun 7pm-2am), MSNBC enjoyed a 32 percent increase in A25-54 (204,000 vs. 154,000) and a 33 percent increase in total viewers (456,000 vs. 344,000), the best increases for any cable news net in this time period.

• "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" (M-F 8pm) continues to gain traction, up an amazing 67 percent in total viewers versus last year (721,000 vs. 431,000) and up 55 percent in the A25-54 demo (259,000 vs. 167,000). "Countdown" beat CNN by a comfortable 17 percent in A25-54, and also enjoyed a three percent advantage in total viewers. Both CNN and FNC saw declines in the A25-54 demo at 8 p.m.

• Both "Tucker" (M-F 6pm) and "Hardball with Chris Matthews" (M-F 7pm) drew more viewers in Aug. 07 than 06, with "Tucker" up 11 percent (248,000 vs. 223,000) and "Hardball" up 10 percent (399,000 vs. 364,000).

• "MSNBC Live with Dan Abrams" (M-Th 9pm) saw an increase of 29 percent in A25-54 (182,000 vs. 141,000) and jumped 27 percent in total viewers (479,000 vs. 377,000) compared to 9pm in Aug. 06, the biggest increase in total viewers for any cable news net.

• MSNBC's "Doc Block" (10pm-12am M-F) keeps rolling, up 40 percent in A25-54 (238,000 vs. 170,000) and up 35 percent in total viewers (473,000 vs. 351,000) from a year ago.