MSNBC grew more in total day and prime time than any other cable news network in Total Viewers during the third quarter of 2008. MSNBC was up 48% during total day and up 81% in prime time year-to-year.

Countdown with Keith Olbermann remains firmly in 2nd place (behind FNC) at 8pmET. During the third quarter, the program had a 23% advantage over CNN in the demo and 24% in Total Viewers.

Also up big year-to-year was Hardball at 7pmET (77% in demo and 86% in Total Viewers and Morning Joe (80% in demo and 57% in Total Viewers).

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MSNBC continues its pace as the fastest growing network in cable news, growing 48 percent in total viewers in the third quarter, and up a huge 81 percent in primetime. MSNBC is also the number one news network among younger viewers, Adults 18-34, for the second consecutive quarter. "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" maintains its huge ratings advantage over "CNN Election Center" in 3Q, outdrawing CNN by 23 percent among Adults 25-54 and by 24 percent in total viewers. "Countdown" is also the number one show at 8 p.m. among viewers 18-34.

All data is time period data, live plus same-day, from Nielsen Media Research. Other MSNBC highlights:

· In total day (6a-6a), MSNBC is up a strong 48% in total viewers vs. 3Q07 (476,000 vs. 321,000), the strongest growth of any cable news network, and was up 42% among A25-54 (192,000 vs. 135,000). MSNBC is also the number one cable news network among younger viewers, A18-34 (77,000)

· In primetime (M-F, 8-11 pm), MSNBC is up a huge 81% in total viewers from 3Q07, the most growth of any cable news network (1,034,000 vs. 571,000).

· "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" continues its ratings dominance over CNN in 3Q, with a 24% advantage in A25-54 (431,000 vs. 350,000) and a 23% lead in total viewers (1,242,000 vs. 1,001,000). "Countdown" is also the #1 cable news show at 8 p.m. among Adults 18-34 (171,000).

· Through last week, "The Rachel Maddow Show" is averaging 1,640,000 total viewers, 125% higher than the 3Q 9 p.m. average through 9/7/08, and 568,000 A25-54, up 102%.

· "Morning Joe" is the fastest growing morning show in cable news, up 80% in A25-54 in 3Q (124,000 vs. 69,000), and up 57% in total viewers (344,000 vs. 219,000).

· "Hardball with Chris Matthews" is the fastest growing cable news show at 7 p.m., up 77% in A25-54 from 3Q07 (249,000 vs. 141,000) and up 86% in total viewers (769,000 vs. 414,000).

Built on the worldwide resources of NBC News, MSNBC defines news for the next generation with world-class reporting and a full schedule of live news coverage, political analysis and award-winning documentary programming -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week. MSNBC's home on the Internet is msnbc.com. Msnbc.com delivers a fuller spectrum of news. Drawing on its award-winning original journalism, NBC News heritage, trusted sources and Microsoft's advanced technologies, the site presents compelling, diverse and visually-engaging stories on the consumer's platform of choice. Nielsen Online reports more than 52 million unique visitors for August 2008, making msnbc.com the number one news site, ahead of Yahoo! News, CNN, ABC, CBS, and Fox News.