CNN's "key programs" have posted year-over-year growth, the network said today. An analysis of percent change of total viewers between April '04 and April '05 shows that Anderson Cooper 360 is up 37%, Paula Zahn Now is up 35%, and NewsNight is up 10%. (Larry King Live is down 5%.) The growth is evident in the 25-54 demographic, as well: 360 is up 29% in the demo, while Paula Zahn is up 66%, Larry King is up 25% and NewsNight is up 15%. According to CNN's data, most of FNC's primetime programs lost 25-54 demo viewers, compared to the year-ago. (The only exception is Greta, who was flat.) All the numbers are after the jump...

> Also: Paula Zahn delivered her best month since launch (Sept. 03) and NewsNight with Aaron Brown experienced his best month since April 2003 (the Iraq war), CNN says.

> An insider says CNN's numbers are inflated due to coverage of the Pope's death. FNC labeled its coverage "Death of a Pope," so the above-average ratings are not reflected in the individual shows. Since CNN did not breakout the coverage, its numbers are not reflective of an average news day, an insider says...

> Update: 3:30pm: "CNN's increases are only due to the Pope and Schiavo," a cable news insider says. "When you're in the basement you're bound to have bigger increases, but their ratings plummeted right back to normal levels last week -- and without Larry King, they're a .5 network at best."
The first number in each row is the percent change between April '04 and '05 in total viewers. The second number in each row is the percent change between April '04 and '05 in the 25-54 demographic. The numbers were provided by CNN.

6pm:

CNN: -1% / +12%

FNC: -13% / -48%

MSNBC: +20% / -7%

CNBC: +31% / -15%

HLN: +1% / +6%

7pm:

CNN: +37% / +29%

FNC: -14% / -38%

MSNBC: -32% / -37%

CNBC: -4% / -2%

HLN: -36% / -31%

8pm:

CNN: +35% / +66%

FNC: -3% / -33%

MSNBC: +8% / +3%

CNBC: +5% / +33%

HLN: +126% / +66%

9pm:

CNN: -5% / +25%

FNC: 0% / -33%

MSNBC: +8% / +3%

CNBC: +5% / +33%

HLN: +29% / +8%

10pm:

CNN: +10% / +15%

FNC: +25% / -1%

MSNBC: +5% / +1%

CNBC: -68% / -69%

HLN: -29% / -22%