The final week of the democratic primary also was one of MSNBC's best weeks in years. The network is touting ratings successes it hasn't seen in almost seven years. It's good news for Hardball, Countdown and the prime time (8pm-11pmET) average:

For the first time ever, MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was the #1 show at 8 p.m., out-drawing Fox News's "O'Reilly Factor" head-to-head among Adults 25-54. This is the first time since June 2001 that MSNBC has out-rated "The O'Reilly Factor" at 8 p.m.

The weekly demo win is for a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday average, taking out Tuesday's primary night. In Total Viewers FNC finished with 2.524M vs. MSNBC's 1.296M. Also, Laura Ingraham filled in for O'Reilly on Friday, and when that is taken out of the average, O'Reilly edges out Olbermann 503K vs. 491K. O'Reilly also doubled Olbermann in Total Viewers: 2.736M vs. 1.337M. And there's this...

This is the first time MSNBC beat FNC for the week in primetime since Feb. 25, 2008, when MSNBC telecast exclusive coverage of the Democratic candidates debate. Prior to that, the last time MSNBC beat FNC in primetime was the week of July 30, 2001.

Again, this would be taking out Tuesday, but MSNBC also topped FNC in the A25-54 demo and Total Viewers that night. Also a good week for Hardball, after the jump...

From: Griffin, Phil (NBC Universal)
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 12:47 PM
To: @MSNBC Everyone; @NBC Uni News Everyone
Cc: Zucker, Jeff (NBC Universal)
Subject: Success!
To Everyone at MSNBC and NBC News,

Your hard work over the last year covering the primary campaign has paid off in a big way. Last week the primary season ended and MSNBC reached an historic milestone.

1.) For the first time ever, COUNTDOWN Beat The O'Reilly Factor and won the 8 o'clock hour.
2.) Hardball continued it's rating roll, winning the 7 o'clock hour.
3.) MSNBC beat FOX News for the week in prime time.

We have real momentum, leading us into the next phase of the campaign.

Everyone at MSNBC and NBC News should feel great about how far we've come. All of you have been a part of this success.

Below is a copy of the press release going out. Take a look and soak it in.

Thank you.... On to the conventions and the general election!

Phil

MSNBC NOTCHES DEMO WIN OVER FNC IN PRIMETIME
"Countdown" Out-Rates the "Factor" for First Time Ever

NEW YORK – June 10, 2008 – MSNBC continued its ratings surge last week, with viewers flocking out of the "No Spin Zone" and to "The Place for Politics." For the first time ever, MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was the #1 show at 8 p.m., out-drawing Fox News's "O'Reilly Factor" head-to-head among Adults 25-54. This is the first time since June 2001 that MSNBC has out-rated "The O'Reilly Factor" at 8 p.m.

Excluding Tuesday's primary coverage, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" averaged 477,000 A25-54 vs. 472,000 for the "Factor."

MSNBC also out-drew Fox News Channel for the week in primetime (June 2-8, M-F, 8-11 p.m.), averaging 496,000 Adults 25-54 vs. 449,000. This is the first time MSNBC beat FNC for the week in primetime since Feb. 25, 2008, when MSNBC telecast exclusive coverage of the Democratic candidates debate. Prior to that, the last time MSNBC beat FNC in primetime was the week of July 30, 2001.

"Hardball with Chris Matthews" also kept up its momentum, ranking #1 at 7 p.m. in the key adult demo (334,000), out-rating CNN by 5% (319,000) and FNC by 19% (280,000). The 5 p.m. broadcast of "Hardball" also beat FNC for the week (218,000 vs. 198,000).