MSNBC’s purchase of the rights to the Granada TV production “Living with Michael Jackson” did not give much of a bump to MSNBC’s weekend ratings.

The special, without much promotion, aired six times over the weekend: Saturday at 7, 10 and 11pmET which averaged 254K A25-54 viewers and 603K Total Viewers. The Sunday airings at 7, 8 and 11pmET averaged 261K A25-54 viewers and 529K Total Viewers. The special finished no higher than second against its cable competition in the various airings.

MSNBC has licensed the Martin Bashir-hosted documentary for an undisclosed price. There will be six more airings through mid-July.

NBC’s legal department must also approve any short clips used in any competitors’ stories, as was the case on Monday’s “Nightline,” a show Bashir now co-anchors, but didn’t last night.