FBN Dominates CNBC Across Total Day and Business Day Viewers
Lou Dobbs Tonight Marks 24 Months as Number One in Business News while “Varney & Co” Continues Reign as Top Market Program on Television
Maria Bartiromo’s Pre-Market Show Tops CNBC in Total Viewersbn
CNBC Delivers Lowest Rated Month in the 25-54 Primetime and Total Day Demo Since 2014
FOX Business Network (FBN) notched its 11th consecutive month as the leader in business news, according to Nielsen Media Research. As market swings and trade negotiations dominated the headlines, FBN’s Business Day coverage saw a 26 percent advantage over rival CNBC for the month of April, averaging 229,000 viewers compared to CNBC’s 182,000. In Total Day, FBN was up 3 percent with 158,0000 viewers compared to CNBC’s 153,000. Additionally, the network scored the top four rated news programs on business television in total viewers.
Recording 24 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 (325,000). Additionally, Stuart Varney’s three-hour program Varney & Co (9AM-12PM/ET) was the highest rated market program on cable (284,000), dominating CNBC’s Squawk on the Street/Squawk Alley (195,000) in total viewers for the 21st straight month. Varney & Co also ranked as the number one rated business program in the A25-54 demo for the second consecutive month.
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), and After the Bell (4PM/ET) all besting their CNBC competition in total viewers for the month. Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman (3PM/ET) also placed in the top three rated programs, delivering 215,000 total viewers for the month. Additionally, Risk & Reward (5PM/ET) averaged 166,000 viewers, winning its timeslot for 19 consecutive months.
FBN’s pre and post-market coverage also posted year over year gains, with FBN:AM (5AM/ET) growing its viewership by 26 percent. Maria Bartiromo’s Mornings with Maria (6-9AM/ET) dominated CNBC’s Squawk Box in total viewers during the pivotal pre-market hours, with a 37 percent increase over last year. In addition, Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street (Fridays, 8PM/ET) also posted an 8 percent yearly gain.
While FBN ratings increased across the board, CNBC delivered its lowest rated month in the demo in both Total Day and Primetime viewers since August 2014. Furthermore, the network’s primetime programming, featuring the highly promoted debuts of Jay Leno’s Garage and Staten Island Hustle, along with NHL playoff airings, fell flat in total viewers. CNBC’s primetime averaged only 306,000 total viewers for the month, down 6 percent compared to last year.
***Below are the Nielsen Media Research numbers for April 2018:
Business Day:
FBN: 229,000 P2+ / 29,000 A25-54
CNBC: 182,000 P2+ / 33,000 A25-54
Total Day:
FBN: 158,000 P2+ / 21,000 A25-54
CNBC: 153,000 P2+ / 44,000 A25-54
Ratings for the top seven business programs:
Total Viewers: Lou Dobbs Tonight (325,000), Varney & Co (284,000), Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman (215,000), After the Bell (202,000), Squawk on the Street (202,000), CAVUTO Coast to Coast (192,000), The Intelligence Report with Trish Regan (189,000)
