Olbermann Debut Loses to MSNBC, Beats CNN

Lawrence O'Donnell gets more viewers in key demographic
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 22, 2011 2:30 PM CDT
Olbermann Debut Loses to MSNBC, Beats CNN
Keith Olbermann visits 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon' at Rockefeller Center on June 16.   (Getty Images)

Keith Olbermann's new Countdown debut didn’t exactly come with a ratings blastoff. Current TV hasn’t announced the complete numbers for Monday's show, but it said the program managed 179,000 viewers in the all-important 25-to-54 demographic advertisers crave. Current is happy with the rating, but Mediaite notes that it’s a fair step below the 237,000 Lawrence O’Donnell scored in Olbermann’s old slot on MSNBC.

The rating also put Olbermann behind Fox News and Nancy Grace’s show on HLN. He beat out CNN’s In the Arena, but host Eliot Spitzer is on vacation this week. It’s not inconceivable that ratings could go up, but it is unlikely—most shows see ratings fall off after their debut, as curious samplers lose interest. Still, given that Current isn't exactly a household brand, the Hollywood Reporter sees it as a "solid start." (More Keith Olbermann stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X