US Cable News Ratings: Live vs Live + SD: The Debate will continue...

It is noted by Inside Cable News that the Drudge Report has noted that according to the live ratings, the Debate on MSNBC hosted by Tim Russert was beaten by FNC's Hannity and Colmes.

This is true, although the margin was small, just 4,000 viewers(1,453,000 for FNC, 1,449,000 for MSNBC). However, that victory was on the Total Viewers ranking, and it was Live numbers only. On Live + SD, it was the other way around, as reported by TV Newser. 1,472,000 watch the debate on MSNBC, whilst 1,465,000 watched Hannity & Colmes, a victory to MSNBC of 7,000 viewers.

In the 'money demo', whether you use Live or Live + SD, the result is the same, a victory to MSNBC. Live: MSNBC 539,000 vs FNC 426,000; Live + SD: MSNBC 559,000 vs FNC 437,000.

So, on the balance of the numbers, I think it's safe to call that an MSNBC victory overall.

I think it's fair to say that the whole debate on Live vs Live + SD viewing figures is not going to go away anytime soon.