FOX Business Network Outpaced CNBC During 2Q

FOX Business Network (FBN) crushed CNBC in business day, market hours and total day viewers for the second consecutive quarter in 2Q’25. According to Nielsen Media Research, Kudlow and Varney & Co. continued to rank as the top two business programs.

During the second quarter of 2025, FBN dominated CNBC in business day viewers, nabbing a 17% advantage (216,000 total viewers), market hours with a 9% advantage (207,000 total viewers) and weekday total day with a 15% advantage (137,000 total viewers).

FBN’s 4PM/ET programming, Larry Kudlow’s Kudlow (4PM/ET) continued its reign as the number one program in business news with 308,000 total viewers, an 82% advantage over CNBC’s Closing Bell. This marked the 15th straight quarterly win over its competition. Meanwhile, Stuart Varney’s three-hour market opener Varney & Co. (9 AM/ET-12 PM/ET) secured a 29% lead (263,000 total viewers) over CNBC’s Squawk on the Street/Money Movers, marking the program's 13th consecutive quarterly win.

In FBN’s first Friday 7:30-8PM/ET quarter win since 2020, Barron’s Roundtable (Fridays, 7:30-8 PM/ET) outranked CNBC’s programming with a 25% advantage (71,000 total viewers). Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street (Fridays, 7-7:30 PM/ET) saw a 61% (98,000 total viewers) lead compared to CNBC’s programming.

Maria Bartiromo’s three-hour pre-market program, Mornings with Maria (6-9 AM/ET) delivered its highest rated quarter since 2022 in total viewers, notching 122,000 total viewers and a 3% advantage over CNBC’s Squawk Box. Notably, in the 2 PM/ET hour, Making Money with Charles Payne (2-3 PM/ET) saw its highest rated quarter since 2023 with 165,000 total viewers. Additionally, The Big Money Show (12-2PM/ET) and The Claman Countdown (3-4PM/ET) both scored their highest rated quarters since 2022 with 177,000 and 174,000 total viewers, respectively. 

The network’s post-market programs, The Evening Edit (5-6PM/ET) and The Bottom Line (6-7PM/ET) saw double-digit advantages over CNBC’s programming. The Evening Edit saw a 35% lead over Fast Money 199,000 total viewers, which marked its fifth consecutive win. The Bottom Line had a 36% edge over CNBC’s Mad Money with 164,000 total viewers.

➣Below is the data according to Nielsen Media Research:

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

• FBN: 216,000 total viewers
• CNBC: 185,000 total viewers

Market Hours Viewership (M-F 9 AM-4 PM/ET) 

• FBN: 207,000 total viewers
• CNBC: 190,000 total viewers

Total Day Viewership (M-F) 

• FBN: 137,000 total viewers
• CNBC: 119,000 total viewers

**Program Specials Excluded​**

Sourcing: Nielsen, Live + SD 2Q’25 (3/31/25-6/29/25). 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).