FOX Business Network (FBN) finished 2017 with its first yearly win over CNBC in Business Day viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. As business news dominated the headlines in 2017, FBN scored its highest-rated year ever, achieving record ratings across Business Day and Total Day in both total viewers and the coveted A25-54 demo. In addition, all of FBN’s programs recorded their highest rated year to date in total viewers, delivering five of the six top rated programs of the year in all of business television.

While CNBC delivered record lows, FBN saw double digit growth across Business Day and Total Day viewers over last year. In Business Day viewership, FBN was up 27 percent in total viewers (195,000) and up 14 percent in the key demo (25,000) compared to 2016. Meanwhile, CNBC, which is having a 22 year low in total viewers and its lowest-rated year ever in the Business Day demo, was down 11% in total viewers (166,000) and down 19% in the demo (30,000). In Total Day, FBN was up 13% in total viewers (144,000), and scored its second highest rated year ever in the demo (20,000).

Brian Jones, President of FBN, commented on the year-end ratings, stating, “From the Dow all-time highs to the SNAP IPO– FBN comes out on top when major business news breaks, proving that we have become not only the most watched but the most trusted source for business news.”

Marking two consecutive years as the leader in business news, Lou Dobbs Tonight (7PM/ET) delivered the year’s number one rated program in business television across both total viewers and the A25-54 demo. The program averaged 345,000 total viewers (up 28 percent) and 41,000 in the demo, compared to 2016. Along with Dobbs, FBN’s Varney & Co (9AM/ET-12PM/ET), CAVUTO Coast to Coast (12-2PM/ET), The Intelligence Report with Trish Regan (2PM/ET), and Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman (3PM/ET) were among the six top rated programs of the year.

While scoring its highest rated year since its 2007 launch, FBN’s entire slate of Business Day programming posted all-time highs in their respective timeslots with total viewers and A25-54 demo. FBN’s Varney & Co (9AM/ET-12PM/ET) topped CNBC’s Squawk on the Street/Squawk Alley in total viewers across all three hours for the first year ever with 238,000 viewers (up 20 percent), and 27,000 in the demo (up 8 percent). Additionally, FBN’s pre-market program Mornings with Maria (6-9AM/ET) anchored by Maria Bartiromo delivered its highest-rated year in both total viewers and the A25-54 demo, and scored its first-ever monthly win over CNBC’s Squawk Box this past November.

2017 FBN Program Highlights:

  • FBN AM (5-6AM/ET): 21,000 viewers, +17%; 5,000 A25-54, +67%
    *program high in total viewers and demo; time period high in total viewers demo
  • Mornings with Maria (6-9AM/ET): 85,000 viewers, +20%; 14,000 A25-54, +17%
    *program high in total viewers and demo; time period high in demo
  • Varney & Co (9AM-12PM/ET): 238,000 viewers, +20%; 27,000 A25-54, +8%
    *program high in total viewers and demo; time period high in total viewers demo
  • CAVUTO Coast to Coast (12-2PM/ET): 184,000 viewers, +24%; 25,000 A25-54, +14%
    *program high in total viewers and demo; time period high in total viewers demo
  • Intelligence Report with Trish Regan (2-3PM/ET): 176,000 viewers, +32%; 23,000 A25-54, +10%
    *program high in total viewers and demo; time period high in total viewers demo
  • Countdown to Closing Bell with Liz Claman (3-4PM/ET): 177,000 viewers, +45%; 22,000 A25-54 +16%
    *program high in total viewers and demo
  • After the Bell (4-5PM/ET): 160,000 viewers, +38%; 21,000 A25-54, +11%
    *program high in total viewers and demo
  • Risk and Reward (5-6PM/ET): 165,000 viewers, +42%; 21,000 A25-54, +17%
    *program high in total viewers and demo; time period high in total viewers demo
  • Making Money with Charles Payne (6-7PM/ET): 147,000 viewers, +36%; 21,000 A25-54, +11%
    *program high in total viewers and demo; time period high in total viewers demo
  • Lou Dobbs Tonight (7-8PM/ET): 345,000 viewers, +28%; 41,000 A25-54, -2%
    *program high in total viewers
  • Kennedy (M-TH 8-9PM/ET): 134,000 viewers, +30%; 22,000 A25-54, flat
    *program high in total viewers; time period high in total viewers demo
  • Wall Street Week (Fridays 8PM/ET): 123,000 viewers, +92%; 17,000 A25-54, +31%
    *program high in total viewers; time period high in total viewers

Nielsen Business News Ratings for 2017 vs. 2016

Business Day (9:30AM-5PM/ET)
FBN: 195,000 P2+, up 27%; 25,000 A25-54, up 14%
CNBC: 166,000 P2+, down 11%; 30,000 A25-54, down 19%

Total Day (6AM-6AM/ET)
FBN: 144,000 P2+; 20,000 A25-54,
CNBC: 156,000 P2+; 50,000 A25-54,

Post Market (5-8PM/ET)
FBN: 217,000 P2+; 28,000 A25-54
CNBC: 143,000 P2+; 43,000 A25-54