Rachel Maddow doubles audience

By: Erin Floro

MSNBC has a new host for the 9 p.m. prime-time hour that is doubling the cable news channel's audience. Rachel Maddow's liberal news program, "The Rachel Maddow Show," has averaged better ratings among 25- to 54-year olds than "Larry King Live" 13 nights since airing on Sept. 8.

The number of viewers has climbed from 800,000 to 1.7 million in her short time on cable television. This makes MSNBC competitive with the top leading news networks, CNN and Fox News. Phil Griffin, the president of MSNBC, says it usually "takes two to three years for a show to find its audience." Maddow is finding her audience almost immediately.

She accounts for her show's success on "The Countdown," hosted by Keith Olbermann. Her show follows directly after his both in time and similarity. She is retaining over 90 percent of his viewers.

Interestingly enough, Maddow doesn't even own a television and has never watched Mr. King's program or Fox News. She wants to remain original on air.