CNBC, MSNBC Prop GE's Q3

[DainBramaged]

While General Electric's overall third quarter profit dropped 23%, sales income at NBCU gained nearly 10% last quarter. Much of that is due to the division's cable networks including CNBC and MSNBC. In a press release sent out this morning, executives from the networks talked about the growth, despite (or perhaps because of) the financial crisis and faltering economy.

Said CNBC president Mark Hoffman, "We delivered business news, data and analysis in real-time to viewers and users on multiple platforms all over the world while offering our clients unmatched customized advertising solutions that reach the most educated and affluent audience on TV."

MSNBC president Phil Griffin added, "This is an exciting time at MSNBC, as we've experienced historic growth. We've had incredible performance this quarter and the addition of Rachel Maddow has solidified our primetime schedule."

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/nbc/cnbc_msnbc_prop_ges_q3_97283.asp#more

In 3Q, MSNBC was the fastest growing network in all of cable, up 48 percent vs. 3Q 07. MSNBC's "Countdown" had its best-ever quarterly delivery (425,000 P25-54 and 1,240,000 P2+). "The Rachel Maddow Show" is off to an incredibly strong start, beating "Larry King Live" in the first two weeks with P25-54 (556 vs. 551). In addition, the 2nd week of "Maddow" beat "Larry King" in total viewers (1,720 vs. 1,678). In the four weeks since her debut, "The Rachel Maddow Show" is up 238% vs. the same weeks in 2007.