For the first time ever, MSNBC beat CNN in weekday primetime for the second quarter 2009 (M-F, 8-11pmET) in Total Viewers and among A25-54 viewers. MSNBC is up 18% in Total Viewers while CNN is down 10% in Total Viewers in prime time compared to Q2 '08.

And while MSNBC takes second in prime, the much-publicized "Morning Joe" will finish the quarter in fourth place in younger viewers (137K) behind CNN's American Morning (159K) and HLN's Morning Express with Robin Meade (153K). "Joe" comes in third in Total Viewers.

MSNBC's press release after the jump...

MSNBC POSTS FIRS-EVER QUARTERLY VICTORY OVER CNN IN PRIME

MSNBC Out-Rates CNN in 2Q in Both Total Viewers and A25-54 For First Time in Weekday Primetime

MSNBC #1 News Network Among Young Viewers, Adults 18-34, in Primetime

"Countdown with Keith Olbermann" Continues to Dominate Over CNN's "Campbell Brown"

NEW YORK - June 30, 2009 – For the first time ever, MSNBC notched a quarterly victory over CNN in weekday primetime for 2Q09 in both total viewers and Adults 25-54, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. MSNBC was also the number one cable news network among younger viewers, Adults 18-34, in primetime in second quarter. For 2Q09, MSNBC also beat CNN at 8 p.m. among both total viewers and A25-54 with "Countdown with Keith Olbermann." Following are MSNBC ratings highlights for 2Q09:

- For the first time ever, MSNBC beat CNN in weekday primetime for 2Q09 (M-F, 8-11 p.m. ET) in total viewers (946,000 vs. 939,000) and among Adults 25-54 (289,000 vs. 261,000). MSNBC is up 18 percent in total viewers vs. 2Q08 (946,000 vs. 801,000) while CNN is down -10 percent.

- Additionally, in M-S Primetime, MSNBC beat CNN for the quarter among A25-54 (264,000 vs. 240,000).

- For the first half of 2009, MSNBC is beating CNN among A25-54 in primetime. Weeknights MSNBC is averaging 338,000 to CNN's 325,000 and for the full week MSNBC is winning 303,000 vs. 291,000.

- MSNBC was the number one cable news network among younger viewers for 2Q09, Adults 18-34, in 2Q09, in M-F and M-Su primetime. MSNBC was also number one in A18-34 at 8 p.m. with "Countdown."

- "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" continues to drive MSNBC primetime, out-rating "Campbell Brown" by a huge 65 percent among A25-54 (350,000 vs. 212,000) and by 51 percent in total viewers (1,159,000 vs. 769,000) in 2Q09. "Countdown" is up 7 percent in total viewers (1,159,000 vs. 1,081,000) for the quarter, while "Campbell Brown" is down -4 percent in total viewers.