Ranks #1 in Cable News 9a to 5p Among 25-54 in July

HLN Programs Post Double and Triple Digit Gains Over Year-Ago

More Than 5 Million Tune in to HLN for Casey Anthony Verdict in July

CNN Press Release - In July, HLN posted its best month ever in Total Day among both total viewers and the 25-54 demo (702k and 230k, respectively), topping solid numbers from June and previous highly-ranked months including September 2001. It also had its best delivery ever in M-Su Prime among total viewers (998k) and ranked #1 in the dayside daypart (M-F 9a-5p) across all cable news among 25-54 viewers (256k).

Additionally on July 5, during the breaking news coverage of the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial, HLN was the most-watched television network on broadcast or cable with more than 5.2 million viewers turning between 2:15 and 2:30 during the reading of the verdict.

HLN’s entire line-up achieved double and triple digit gains versus year-ago, with highlights including:

Morning Express with Robin Meade posted an increase of +74% in total viewers (524k) and a +20% gain among demo viewers (199k), topping MSNBC’s Morning Joe in both demos to rank as the #2 cable news morning show in the month of July.

HLN Special Report at 5p posted a whopping +318% increase compared to a year ago among total viewers (1.016 million) and grew +195% among demo viewers (301k), far and away the most growth of any cable news network at 5p.

Prime News at 6p increased +224% among total viewers (900k) and grew +151% among demo viewers (281k), the most growth of any cable news network at 6p.

Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell scored a +116% gain among total viewers (960k) and +75% growth among demo viewers (298k), the most growth of any cable news network at 7p.

Nancy Grace ranked as HLN’s top program of the month, posting a +98% increase in total viewers (1.369 million) and +89% among demo viewers (411k), the most growth of any cable news network at 8p.

Dr. Drew increased by +119 in total viewers (1.148 million) and +139% among demo viewers (335k), the most growth in cable news at 9p.

The folks at HLN just sent over an updated schedule for this weekend's programming in advance of Casey Anthony updates. All times Eastern:

SATURDAY

6a Clark Howard
7a-noon Weekend Express
Noon-5 News Now (replay Friday)
5 Special Report (replay Friday)
6 Prime News (replay Friday)
7 Dr. Drew
8 Nancy Grace
9-11 Justice for Caylee: A Nancy Grace Special
11 Nancy Grace
12-2 Justice for Caylee: A Nancy Grace Special
2-5 Nancy Grace: Casey Anthony on Trial (3 hour recap)
5 Dr. Drew


SUNDAY

6a Clark Howard
7a-noon Weekend Express
Noon-3 Nancy Grace: Casey Anthony on Trial (3 hour recap)
3-6 Nancy Grace: Casey Anthony on Trial (3 hour recap)
6-8 Justice for Caylee: A Nancy Grace Special
8 Nancy Grace
9-11 Justice for Caylee: A Nancy Grace Special
11 Dr. Drew
12-2 Justice for Caylee: A Nancy Grace Special
2-5 Nancy Grace: Casey Anthony on Trial (3 hour recap)
5 Dr. Drew

TVNewser is reporting that there are now some changes to the HLN lineup:

Mike Galanos moves from Prime News to HLN News Updates during the 12 PM-4PM ET hours. Richelle Carey, Susan Hendricks and Christi Paul will be with him in supporting ensemble role.

Natasha Curry will be the solo-anchor of Weekend news updates on HLN.

Carey, Curry and Hendricks will rotate as anchors of the 10AM ET hour (formerly anchored by Richard Lui).

Coming over from "In Session" will be Vinnie Politan as the new host of Prime News and Ryan Smith as a new contributor to Morning Express with Robin Meade.

These seem to be effective immediately.

CNN Press Release - IN KEY DEMO 25-54, HLN OUTPERFORMS MSNBC IN TOTAL DAY; NANCY GRACE BEATS COUNTDOWN

MSNBC PLACES 4TH OR 5TH DURING THE DAY; OLBERMANN, MADDOW SLIP TO 3RD; HARDBALL, MORNING JOE ARE 4TH

In January, CNN topped MSNBC during daytime (9am-5pm), total day (6am-6am) and in weekday primetime (8-11pm) in both total viewers and in the key demo adults 25-54.

In head-to-head comparisons with MSNBC’s daytime non-opinion news programming – CNN dominated, averaging 658k vs. 305k in total viewers (+116%), and 165k vs. 75k in adults 25-54 (+120%). MSNBC placed either fourth or fifth (trailing behind CNBC) every weekday hour throughout the day (9 am until 5 pm) in the key demo 25-54. At 5pm, Hardball slipped to fourth place behind FNC, CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and HLN’s Prime News among adults 25-54, and also placed fourth at 7 pm, trailing FNC, CNN and HLN’s Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell.

CNN also outperformed MSNBC in total day (6am-6am) in both total viewers (577k vs. 369k) and among adults 25-54 (177k vs. 122k). And HLN topped MSNBC in total day in the key demo adults 25-54 with 130k vs. MSNBC’s 122k.

In weekday prime, CNN topped MSNBC (M-F/8-11 pm) in both total viewers and among the key demographic adults 25-54. For the month, CNN averaged 946k total viewers, a 13% advantage over MSNBC’s 838k, and 294k among adults 25-54, a 20% lead over MSNBC’s 245k. This represents the first time in six months that CNN topped MSNBC in the key demographic adults 25-54 in prime. Compared to December 2009, CNN grew an impressive 52% among adults 25-54 (294k vs. 194k), while MSNBC was up only 14% (245k vs. 214k).

At 10 pm, Anderson Cooper 360 had a 52% advantage over MSNBC in total viewers (906k vs. 597k) and a 51% lead in the key demographic adults 25-54 (305k vs. 202k) in January. CNN’s Larry King topped MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow at 9 pm in both total viewers (930k vs.876k) and the key demo 25-54 (264k vs. 233k). And at 8 pm, CNN’s Campbell Brown grew significantly in January, up 43% in total viewers and 73% in 25-54 compared to last month, while Countdown with Keith Olbermann increased only 6%/7% respectively vs. December. Countdown also placed third in January, behind FNC and HLN’s Nancy Grace among adults 25-54. CNN is the only cable news network that provides non-partisan programming representing all points of view in primetime.

In the morning (6-9 am), CNN’s American Morning placed second in total viewers, while both CNN and HLN’s Morning Express with Robin Meade outperformed MSNBC’s Morning Joe among adults 25-54 with HLN averaging 166k, CNN posting 152k, and Morning Joe trailing with 100k.

During January, CNN reached 118.0 million viewers, FNC had 103.4 million, HLN posted 98.5 million and MSNBC had 91.3 million.

HLN:
As HLN approaches the fifth anniversary of its 2005 revamp to personality-based programming in primetime, it continues to celebrate ratings successes across the board. HLN beat MSNBC in total day in 25-54 (130k to 122k). Morning Express with Robin Meade placed second in 25-54, beating MSNBC’s Morning Joe (166k to100k). Nancy Grace continued its reign as HLN’s highest-rated program, overpowering Countdown with Keith Olbermann in adults 25-54 (283K to 267k). In its fourth month, The Joy Behar Show posted its best monthly deliveries yet among both total viewers (687k) and adults 25-54 (188k). The Joy Behar Show also posted 42% growth among total viewers versus last year (the most growth of any 9 pm cable news show).

CNN Press Release - Essence Communications to Partner with CNN, HLN and CNN.com For Weekly News Segments

What Matters Debuted On CNN and HLN on May 8

CNN, HLN, CNN.com and Essence Communications, Inc., today announced a partnership to develop What Matters, a series of weekly news segments focused on issues of importance to the African-American community. As an extension of the regular news items and features in ESSENCE magazine, as well as the ongoing multicultural programming on CNN, the on-air and online segments will be hosted on CNN by Tony Harris and Don Lemon with contributions from Roland Martin, Fredricka Whitfield and T.J. Holmes. The segments will be hosted on HLN by anchor Richelle Carey.

The recurring segment debuted on CNN on Friday, May 8, in the 12 p.m. hour and will feature topics ranging from 401(k) strategies to elder-care issues to pop culture. On HLN, the segment will be seen during the 6 p.m. hour on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday editions of “Prime News.” Inspired by the monthly “Our News” section of ESSENCE magazine, content for the segments will be developed collaboratively.

Online users also can view the “What Matters” segments on-demand at CNN.com and on Mondays via CNN.com Live, the Internet's only live multi-stream video news service. This online content will be available beginning May 15. In addition, Essence.com will offer users related articles, additional commentary, blog discussions and the opportunity to view the “What Matters” segments.

“ESSENCE is proud to partner with CNN, HLN and CNN.com to launch What Matters as a platform to inform, educate and define the cultural discussion,” said Angela Burt-Murray, Editor-in-Chief, ESSENCE. “Last year’s collaboration on the ESSENCE/CNN co-production CNN & Essence: Reclaiming the Dream laid the groundwork for What Matters – a project that will combine our reach and expertise to further the development of quality programming for African-Americans.”

“Our partnership with ESSENCE has been a very productive one, and What Matters is an important next step in those collaborative efforts,” commented Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “The power of our two brands promises to continue to enhance the dialogue about issues important to our collective audiences.”

What Matters is sponsored by McDonald’s, who is also the presenting sponsor of CNN’s Black in America 2, the sequel series to 2008’s groundbreaking initiative. Reported by CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien, Black in America 2 reveals the stories of community leaders and innovative pioneers who are creating solutions to challenges within African-American communities – closing achievement gaps in education, reducing health disparities, and launching business enterprises. The two primetime documentaries for the series premiere on Wednesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 23. The 2009 co-production with Essence Communications, CNN & Essence: Reclaiming the Dream 2, will be filmed on July 4 at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.

About CNN Worldwide
CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.

About HLN
HLN, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is designed especially for viewers who want relevant and comprehensive news and personality-driven programming in a way that suits the urgency of their schedules. Via its “news and views” format, the network updates viewers constantly, 24 hours each day, with complete and concise national newscasts throughout the day and a compelling slate of legal, entertainment and talk programs during at night, utilizing the best resources of CNN Worldwide.

About Essence Communications, Inc.
Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the leading media and communications company dedicated to African-American women. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online, the Essence brand is “Where Black Women Come First”. The company’s flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence Music Festival, Women Who Are Shaping the World Leadership Summit, Window on Our Women (WOW I & II) and Smart Beauty I, II & III consumer insights, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD). For 38 years, ESSENCE magazine, which has a readership of 8.1 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of African-American women’s lives.

Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at www.essence.com.