MSNBC was the fastest growing channel in all of television in 2008 when measured in Total Viewers for both total day and prime time. The NBC cable news channel was the third fastest in growth in the A25-54 demo behind BBC America and History International.

The Rachel Maddow Show beat Larry King Live from its premiere-to-date (9/8-12/28) in the demo for second place at 9pmET. Countdown with Keith Olbermann at 8pmET delivered MSNBC its strongest ratings ever at the hour, also finishing second in the demo.

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• Related: The Hollywood Reporter's Paul J. Gough talks with MSNBC president Phil Griffin about MSNBC's past and present: "We were the also-ran. We were the place where people wondered what they could do with the channel if they shut down MSNBC. Now people are crying out, 'I want my MSNBC.' That's great."

Time period based data

MSNBC is the fastest growing channel is all of Television in 2008. (Total Day, M-Su 8-11p Prime, M-F 8-11p Prime, Total Viewers) (if you exclude nets without full distribution the story works for Total day A25-54 as well - BBCA and Hist Int are slightly higher.) MSNBC is the fastest growing channel in all of television in prime, tying with CNN (M-F 8-11p A25-54).

MSNBC Total Day averaged 189,000 A25-54 (23 share) and 468,000 total viewers. MSNBC is up +48% with adults and +51% with total viewers from 2007, more growth than the cable news competition. In addition, this is the strongest total day delivery for MSNBC ever with adults and total viewers.

MSNBC Prime (M-F 8-11p) averaged 414,000 A25-54 (24 share) and 1,086,000 total viewers, the strongest delivery for prime ever in both measures. MSNBC is up +95% with adults and +98% with total viewers from 2007.

MSNBC Daytime (M-F 9a-5p) averaged 140,000 A25-54 (20 share), its strongest delivery for the daypart since 2001. With total viewers MSNBC averaged 387,000 the best delivery for the daypart ever.

Weekend Prime (Sa/Su 8-11p) averaged 240,000 A25-54 (27 share), up +39% from 2007 and the strongest delivery for the daypart since 2001. With total viewers MSNBC averaged 499,000, up +26% from 2007 and the best delivery for the daypart ever.

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Program based averages

Morning Joe delivered 137,000 A25-54 (18 share) ranking #3 in the hour and up +25% from 2007. This is the strongest delivery for the 3-hour slot since 2000. With total viewers, Morning Joe delivered 384,000, up +27% from 2007, the strongest P2+ delivery ever for the 3-hour slot.

Hardball at 5p delivered 197,000 A25-54 (25 share) ranking #3 in the hour and up +53% from 2007. With total viewers, MSNBC is averaging 646,000 up +58% from 2007. This is the strongest delivery for the hour ever with both adults and total viewers.

The 6p hour (including Tucker/Race/1600) averaged 181,000 A25-54 (20 share), up +102% from 2007. With total viewers the 6p hour is averaging 576,000, up +129% from 2007. This is the strongest delivery for the hour ever with both adults and total viewers.

Hardball at 7p had its best year ever, delivering 270,000 A25-54 (25 share), up +88% from 2007. With total viewers Hardball averaged 803,000, up +89% from 2007 and the best performance for the hour ever.

Countdown at 8p ranked #2 in the 8p hour for the year, beating CNN by 133,000 A25-54. Countdown averaged 470,000 A25-54 (27 share), up +84% from 2007 and the strongest delivery for the hour ever! With total viewers Countdown also delivered its strongest numbers ever with an average 1,317,000 P2+, up +80% from 2007.

The Rachel Maddow show is beating Larry King premiere to date (9/8/08-12/28/08). Maddow delivered 599,000 A25-54 (29 share) ranking #2 in the hour, ahead of King by 51,000 A25-54. Among total viewers Maddow delivered 1,667,000, slightly behind King (-14,000 P2+). This is the strongest delivery for the hour ever with both adults and total viewers.