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MSNBC challenges credibility of new CNN commerical

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Cable news channel CNN’s latest ad campaign is raising quite a few eyebrows and has a competitor crying foul.

In a new television spot aimed at getting advertisers to spend more on the network, CNN proclaims it is ‘No. 1, with more viewers than Fox and MSNBC.’ The ad goes on to say that CNN has held the top spot for seven years in a row.

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That will be a big news flash to the other two networks, considering that both topped CNN in the ratings. During the second quarter, Fox News -- which has handily been beating CNN for years -- more than doubled CNN’s audience in prime time and for the whole day. Even MSNBC, a one-time also-ran in the cable news wars, topped CNN in prime time for the second quarter.

Confused? We can help. CNN is using a cumulative number that reflects anyone who watched CNN for six minutes in a given month, a tidbit it chose not to disclose in the ad. That’s not a standard that advertisers traditionally embrace when trying to decide where to put their money, and CNN’s rivals consider it a dubious number.

‘We want to reach loyal viewers who tune in for longer lengths of time ... and hopefully are more engaged,’ says Andy Donchin of Carat, a media buying firm that spends heavily on cable news.

MSNBC is calling the ad fiction and has asked ratings service Nielsen to weigh in. While Nielsen approves all print ads based on its data, it does not require such approval for TV spots. But if questions about an ad are raised, Nielsen can step in and request that claims be substantiated on screen. Nielsen has sent a request to CNN to discuss the spot.

‘If we see it is misleading, we will advise them to change it,’ a Nielsen spokeswoman said.

Said MSNBC spokeswoman Alana Russo: ‘MSNBC beat CNN in prime time last quarter. It seems to have driven our competitor from news to fiction writing.’

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CNN spokeswoman Carolyn Disbrow countered that the promo is ‘based on fact’ and added that ‘MSNBC is just anxious because they are not only behind CNN in the total number of individuals watching television each month, but they are trailing CNN on the Web and among the Web and television combined audience as well.’

As for Fox News, spokeswoman Irena Briganti was doubtful the spot would work with advertisers or with Jeff Bewkes, chief executive of CNN parent Time Warner.

‘Jeff Bewkes is too smart to buy [CNN U.S. president] Jon Klein’s nonsense,’ she said.

-- Joe Flint


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