FOX BUSINESS NETWORK DOMINATES CNBC DURING MONTH OF HISTORIC MARKET SWINGS
Lou Dobbs Tonight Marks 22 Months as Number One in Business News while “Varney & Co” Carries on as Top Market Program on Television
FOX Business Network (FBN) scored its ninth consecutive month as the leader in business news, according to Nielsen Media Research. As the chaotic market swings dominated the headlines, including two historic 1,000+ point drops in the DOW, FBN’s coverage saw a 16 percent advantage over rival CNBC for the month of February, averaging 246,000 Business Day viewers compared to CNBC’s 212,000. Additionally, the network scored the top three rated news programs on business television in total viewers.
Recording 22 months as the number one news program in business television, Lou Dobbs’ eponymous show Lou Dobbs Tonight (7PM/ET) was once again the number one rated program in total viewers (365,000). Additionally, Stuart Varney’s three-hour market-open program Varney & Co (9AM-12PM/ET) was the highest rated market program on cable (292,000), dominating CNBC’s Squawk on the Street/Squawk Alley (229,000) in total viewers for the 19th straight month. Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman (3PM/ET) also placed in the top three rated programs, delivering 241,000 total viewers for the month, continuing Claman’s reign as the highest-rated female business anchor on television.
All of FBN’s core Business Day programs also saw considerable growth compared to last year, with CAVUTO Coast to Coast (12-2PM/ET), The Intelligence Report with Trish Regan (2PM/ET), Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman (3PM/ET) and After the Bell (4PM/ET) all besting their CNBC competition in total viewers for the ninth consecutive month. Additionally, Risk & Reward (5PM/ET) averaged 195,000 viewers, winning its timeslot for 17 consecutive months.
FBN’s pre and post-market coverage also notched year over year gains, with FBN:AM (5AM/ET) growing viewership by 53 percent. Maria Bartiromo’s Mornings with Maria (6-9AM/ET) delivered its highest rated month ever and third monthly win over CNBC’s Squawk Box during the pivotal pre-market hours, growing 35 percent over last year. Additionally, Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street (Fridays, 8PM/ET) also posted 9 percent yearly gains.
***Below are the Nielsen Media Research numbers for February 2018:
Business Day:
FBN: 246,000 P2+ / 32,000 A25-54
CNBC: 212,000 P2+ / 37,000 A25-54
Ratings for the top five business programs:
Total Viewers: Lou Dobbs Tonight (365,000), Varney & Co (292,000), Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman (241,000), Squawk on the Street (239,000), CAVUTO Coast to Coast (220,000)
