• January 5, 2003

MSNBC registered double-digit increases in day parts during Q4 and its re-launched primetime lineup had a 26% increase in viewership over the first half of the year. MSNBC grew its primetime viewership in Q4 to an average 408,000 viewers, up from the first half of the year when its averaged 325,000. For the total day, MSNBC delivered an average of 275,000 viewers during Q4. Countdown: Iraq, which launched at 7 p.m. Oct. 7, delivered an average 326,000 viewers, up 7% for the time slot over the previous quarter. Donahue, which various reports has said has a troubled future, increased viewers in the time slot by 21% over the first half of the year, reaching an average of 442,000 viewers. Hardball with Chris Matthews at 9 p.m. had a 26% increase in Q4 over the first half of 2002, when the telecast was at 7 p.m.