Lou Dobbs Tonight Marks 25 Months as the Top Show in Business Television while “Varney & Co” Continues Reign as Top Market Program on Cable
CNBC Delivers Lowest Rated Month in Primetime Since 2014
Q1 hedge fund letters, conference, scoops etc, Also read Lear
FOX Business Network (FBN) achieved its 12th consecutive month as the leader in business news, according to Nielsen Media Research. As market swings continued to dominate the headlines surrounding the news of the cancellation of the United States summit with North Korea and President Trump’s decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, FBN’s coverage saw a 13 percent advantage over rival CNBC for the month of May, averaging 187,000 Business Day viewers compared to CNBC’s 165,000. Additionally, the network notched the top four rated news programs on business television in total viewers.
Recording 25 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 (319,000). Additionally, Stuart Varney’s three-hour market-open program Varney & Co (9AM-12PM/ET) was the highest rated market program on cable (232,000), dominating CNBC’s Squawk on the Street/Squawk Alley (172,000) in total viewers for the 22nd straight month. Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman (3PM/ET) also placed in the top three rated programs, delivering 178,000 total viewers for the month, continuing Claman’s reign as the highest-rated female business anchor on television.
While all of FBN’s core Business Day programs saw considerable growth compared to last year, FBN’s pre and post-market coverage also posted year over year gains. FBN:AM (5AM/ET) delivered its highest rated month ever, growing its viewership by 33 percent over last year, and Maria Bartiromo’s Mornings with Maria (6-9AM/ET) saw a 35 percent increase over last year. Additionally, the debut of The Evening Edit with Elizabeth MacDonald (5PM/ET), along with Making Money with Charles Payne (6PM/ET) saw double digit gains compared to last year, both besting their CNBC competition in total viewers for the month.
While FBN ratings increased across the board, CNBC delivered its lowest rated month in primetime viewers and the demo since August 2014. CNBC’s primetime programming, including the new season of Jay Leno’s Garage, averaged only 271,000 total viewers for the month, down 11 percent compared to last year, and delivered 97,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo, down 30 percent since last year.
***Below are the Nielsen Media Research numbers for May 2018:
Business Day:
FBN: 187,000 P2+ / 22,000 A25-54
CNBC: 165,000 P2+ / 32,000 A25-54
Ratings for the top four business programs:
Total Viewers: Lou Dobbs Tonight (319,000), Varney & Co (232,000), Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman (178,000), After the Bell (176,000)
