FOX Business Marks Fifth Month as Total Day Leader

FOX Business Network (FBN) ended the month of August as the leader in business news, topping CNBC with total day viewers for the fifth consecutive month, according to Nielsen Media Research. The network also ushered in month-over-month growth across market and business day hours.

As markets reacted to news emanating from the 2024 presidential election, FBN led business news programming with 125,000 total day viewers and topped CNBC for the fifth straight month. The network’s business day viewership averaged 187,000 viewers, up 4% month-over-month, while the critical market hours grew by 4% compared to the prior month (172,000 P2+).

For the month of August, FBN’s market open and close coverage once again topped the business news rankers. Larry Kudlow’s eponymous Kudlow (weekdays, 4 PM/ET) was the number one program in August among business viewers, followed by Stuart Varney’s market open show Varney & Co. (weekdays, 9 AM-12 PM/ET) at number two. Averaging 304,000 total viewers, Kudlow notched its 35th month outranking CNBC’s Closing Bell, delivering a 76% advantage over CNBC and nabbing a 7% increase year-over-year. Varney & Co. scored its 30th straight win over CNBC’s Squawk on the Street/TechCheck with total viewers, garnering 222,000 compared to CNBC’s 186,000, a 19% advantage.

Pre-market coverage led by Maria Bartiromo’s Mornings with Maria (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) averaged 109,000 viewers, besting CNBC by a 28% advantage and nabbing a win over CNBC for the seventh consecutive month. CAVUTO: Coast to Coast with Neil Cavuto (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 131,000 P2+), The Big Money Show (weekdays, 1 PM/ET; 123,000 P2+), Making Money with Charles Payne (weekdays 2 PM/ET; 137,000 P2+) and The Claman Countdown (weekdays, 3 PM/ET; 145,000 P2+) all placed among the top 20 shows on business television with total viewers. Notably, The Evening Edit with Elizabeth MacDonald (weekdays, 5 PM/ET; 174,000 P2+) and The Bottom Line (weekdays, 6 PM/ET; 157,000) eclipsed CNBC’s respective programming with viewers for the sixth consecutive month. Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street (Fridays, 7-7:30 PM/ET) posted a 44% advantage over CNBC’s American Greed. Additionally, Barron’s Roundtable (Fridays, 7:30-8 PM/ET) posted its first monthly win for the year nabbing a 3% advantage over CNBC’s American Greed.

FBN ended August delivering six of the top 20 cable news programs with affluent audiences among the 25-54 demo. Varney & Co. led the way drawing in $177,000, the highest median income for August, while Mornings with Maria followed closely behind with $164,000. CAVUTO: Coast to Coast, Barron’s Roundtable, The Big Money Show and COPS (Thusdays and Fridays, 8-11 PM/ET) rounded out the top 20 programs with median incomes greater than $141,600. Notably, FOX Weather’s 5 AM/ET simulcast on FBN has averaged a median income of $161,600, leading cable news.

Nielsen Media Research Ratings for the month of August 2024 (special programs excluded)

Business Day (9:30AM-5PM/ET)

• FBN: 187,000 total viewers and 10,000 A25-54
• CNBC: 188,000 total viewers and 38,000 A25-54

Market Hours (9AM-4PM/ET)

• FBN: 172,000 total viewers and 10,000 A25-54
• CNBC: 190,000 total viewers and 38,000 A25-54

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

• FBN: 125,000 total viewers and 13,000 A25-54
• CNBC: 122,000 total viewers and 27,000 A25-54

Sourcing: Nielsen, Live + SD August’24 (07/29/2024 – 08/27/2024). 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). August’24 Cable News Program Ranker M-F Total Day 6a-6a (07/29/2024 – 08/27/2024 & 01/01/2024-08/27/24) – A25-54 Median Income, 4+ Telecasts Excludes Specials & Repeats