Fox Business Takes Top Spot from CNBC for Business Day

• FBN Crushes CNBC Across Business Day, Market Hours and Total Day Viewers
• Maria Bartiromo’s Pre-Market Show ‘Mornings with Maria’ Scores Second Straight Quarterly Win over CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ in Total Viewers
• Lou Dobbs and Stuart Varney Lead as Top Two Programs in Business News
• CNBC Delivers Lowest Rated Quarter in Total Day and Primetime Viewers Since 2013 in the 25-54 Demo

FOX Business Network (FBN) ended the third quarter of 2018 as the number one rated business network on television for the eighth consecutive quarter, according to Nielsen Media Research.  The network, which celebrates its 11^th anniversary on October 15^th, dominated CNBC across Business Day, Market Hours and Total Day viewers. Additionally, FBN delivered the top six of seven programs in business television this quarter while CNBC recorded four-year lows.

As financial news flooded the headlines, including international trade deals and market reactions to tariffs, FBN saw its Business Day audience grow seven percent over last year. Led by strong performances from anchors Stuart Varney, Neil Cavuto, Trish Regan and Liz Claman, FBN’s Business Day came out 28 percent ahead of CNBC’s quarterly performance, delivering 201,000 total viewers compared to CNBC’s 157,000. Additionally, FBN outpaced CNBC in Total Day, delivering 143,000 viewers for the quarter compared to CNBC’s 135,000 and saw a 30 percent advantage over CNBC in total viewers during the critical Market Hour daypart.

Across Business Day, Stuart Varney’s three-hour show Varney & Co (9AM-12PM/ET) was the highest-rated market program in business television for the quarter with 255,000 total viewers and 29,000 in the 25-54 demo. The show swept CNBC’s Squawk on the Street/Squawk Alley, which averaged 164,000 P2+ and 28,000 A25-54, marking Varney’s first quarterly sweep for the market-open program and ninth straight quarterly win in total viewers. CAVUTO Coast to Coast (12-2PM/ET) and The Intelligence Report with Trish Regan (2PM/ET) both topped their CNBC competition in total viewers for the eighth continuous quarter, while Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman (3PM/ET) and After the Bell (4PM/ET) finished the quarter with their fifth consecutive win in total viewers.

Lou Dobbs’ eponymous program Lou Dobbs Tonight continued its reign as the number one rated news program on business television in both total viewers (335,000) and the A25-54 demo (39,000). The strong performance marked Dobbs’ 10^th straight quarter as number one in total viewers across all of business television, and 11^th quarter as the leader in the 7PM/ET timeslot.

FBN’s pre and post-market coverage also showed strong growth for the quarter. FBN AM (5AM/ET) delivered its highest rated quarter ever while Mornings with Maria (6-9AM/ET) anchored by Maria Bartiromo outpaced CNBC’s Squawk Box for the second straight quarter with 104,000  total viewers compared to 94,000. Additionally, The Evening Edit with Elizabeth MacDonald (5PM/ET) and Making Money with Charles Payne (6PM/ET) both marked their eight uninterrupted quarterly wins over CNBC.

Closing out the quarter, FBN scored its 16th consecutive monthly win over CNBC in September, topping the network in both Business Day and Total Day viewers. Averaging 207,000 total Business Day viewers, FBN was 29 percent higher than CNBC during Business Day for September, which had 161,000 total viewers. In Total Day, FBN delivered 147,000 viewers compared to CNBC’s 136,000. Additionally, FBN grew its audience by six percent in September compared to last year, while CNBC saw an 11 percent decrease in total viewers during Total Day hours.

Notably, September 27^th marked CNBC’s lowest rated Business Day covering the markets since 1997. Furthermore, while FBN kept a close eye on market moves and Tesla news during the critical hearings of Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford (10AM-7PM/ET), CNBC only pulled in 105,000 total viewers and 24,000 in the demo,compared to FBN which delivered 287,000 P2+ and 29,000 A25-54 viewers.

3Q’18 Business Day Ratings:

1. FBN: 201,000 P2+ and 23,000 A25-54
2. CNBC: 157,000 P2+ and 26,000 A25-54

3Q’18 Total Day Ratings:

1. FBN: 143,000 P2+ and 18,000 A25-54
2. CNBC: 135,000 P2+ and 38,000 A25-54

September 2018 Business Day Ratings:

1. FBN: 207,000 P2+ and 23,000 A25-54
2. CNBC: 161,000 P2+ and 29,000 A25-54

September 2018 Total Day Ratings:

1. FBN: 147,000 P2+ and 19,000 A25-54
2. CNBC: 136,000 P2+ and 39,000 A25-54

3Q’18 Program Ranker for the Top Seven Business Programs:

• Lou Dobbs Tonight (335,000)
• Varney & Co. (255,000)
• Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman (194,000)
• After the Bell (182,000)
• Cavuto: Coast to Coast (177,000)
• Squawk on the Street (168,000)
• The Intelligence Report with Trish Regan (165,000).