FBN Closes 1Q With Top Two Business Programs

FOX Business Network (FBN) ended the first quarter of 2024 notching the top two business programs for two straight years, according to Nielsen Media Research. 

Kudlow, hosted by Larry Kudlow, was once again the top business program with total viewers for the ninth consecutive quarter, while the network also delivered 10 of the top 20 business programs in total viewers.

As markets readied for the 2024 presidential election, viewers turned to FBN, making it the go-to destination for business news. Notably, FBN delivered its highest-rated quarter with viewers since Q1 ‘23 with business day viewers, while CNBC saw its lowest rated quarter with total day viewers since Q3 ‘92 with the A25-54 demo.

With 289,000 total viewers, Kudlow (weekdays, 4 PM/ET) once again finished the quarter as the highest-rated business news program on television, netting a 51% advantage over its CNBC competition. This marked the program's ninth consecutive quarterly win with viewers. FBN’s three-hour market open show Varney & Co. (weekdays 9 AM–12 PM/ET) hosted by Stuart Varney, earned 253,000 total viewers, placing second with business programs in television. Additionally, Varney & Co. closed out the quarter beating CNBC’s Squawk on the Street/Money Movers in total viewers marking its eighth consecutive quarterly win. Mornings with Maria (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) anchored by Maria Bartiromo, held a 7% advantage over Squawk Box during the pivotal pre-market hours.

CAVUTO: Coast to Coast (weekdays, 12 PM/ET) anchored by Neil Cavuto, averaged 165,000 viewers, showing growth over Q4 ’23 A25-54 viewers, while The Big Money Show (weekdays, 1 PM/ET) delivered 141,000 viewers and nabbed a 25% increase amongst the 25-54 demo versus Q4 ’23. Making Money with Charles Payne (weekdays, 2 PM/ET) and The Claman Countdown (weekdays, 3 PM/ET) saw 4% and 5% advantages respectively compared to the year prior and each placed within the top 15 business news programs for the quarter.

The Evening Edit with Elizabeth McDonald (weekdays, 5 PM/ET) garnered 170,000 viewers, and placed amongst the top 10 business programs for the quarter. The Bottom Line (weekdays, 6 PM/ET) recorded 135,000 viewers. Bartiromo’s Friday primetime program Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street (Fridays, 7-7:30 PM/ET) totaled 74,000 viewers while Barron’s Roundtable (Fridays, 7:30-8 PM/ET) posted 51,000.

COPS (Thursdays and Fridays, 8-11 PM/ET), which aired as part of the network’s primetime lineup, swept the competition, surpassing CNBC with advantages across the three hours. The program averaged 126,000 viewers (9% advantage over CNBC), 42,000 A25-54 (50% advantage over CNBC) and 62,000 A35-64 (29% advantage over CNBC).

FBN ended the first quarter of the year delivering four of the top 10 cable news programs with affluent audiences among the 25-54 demo. Barron’s Roundtable placed first with viewers’ incomes totaling a median of $160,900. Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street, Mornings with Maria and Varney & Co., rounded out the top 10 programs with median incomes of $149,300 or greater.

***Below is the data according to Nielsen Media Research

Q1 ’24 Total Day (M-F, Total Day based on each network’s Nielsen defined Programming Day):

• FBN: 130,000 P2+ and 14,000 A25-54
• CNBC: 133,000 P2+ and 28,000 A25-54

Q1 ’24 Business Day (M-F 9:30 AM-5 PM/ET):

• FBN: 204,000 P2+ and 11,000 A25-54
• CNBC: 201,000 P2+ and 36,000 A25-54

Q1 ’24 Market Hours (M-F 9 AM-4 PM/ET):

• FBN: 194,000 P2+ and 11,000 A25-54
• CNBC: 202,000 P2+ and 36,000 A25-54

**Program Specials Excluded​**
Sourcing: Nielsen, Live + SD 1Q’24 (01/01/2024 - 03/31/2024). Business Day (M-F 9:30am-5pm), Market Hours (M-F 9am-4pm), M-F Total Day (Based on each network's Nielsen defined programming day). Business News Ranker M-F 5am-8pm Business Programs (Excludes Specials & Repeats). FBN Top Two Business Programs for 2 Consecutive Years (Mar’22-Mar’24). Fastest Growing Cable News Audience in Primetime A25-54, M-Su 8pm-11pm.