FOX Business Network (FBN) is set to close out 2025 as the top business network leading CNBC with double digit wins in business day, market hours and total day viewers for the first time in network history, according to Nielsen Media Research.
FBN’s Kudlow and Varney & Co. were the top two business programs for the year, marking the network’s fourth consecutive year with the top two spots. Meanwhile, CNBC notched its lowest rated year since 1992 with primetime viewers.
In commenting on the ratings, FOX News Media President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace said, “FOX Business Network has become the destination for top CEOs, financial experts, and key officials throughout Washington. Our best-in-class team is the reason why we are the only business network to see year-over-year growth and an historic win over CNBC.”
Delivering double digit wins across the board for the first time ever, FBN closed out the year notching 227,000 business day viewers with a 20% lead, 221,000 market hour viewers with a 14% lead and 140,000 total day viewers with a 17% lead over its competition. CNBC struggled to maintain its primetime audience seeing its lowest rated year since 1992 with 113,000 viewers and 27,000 Adults 25-54 viewers.
In commenting on the ratings, FOX News Media President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace said, “FOX Business Network has become the destination for top CEOs, financial experts, and key officials throughout Washington. Our best-in-class team is the reason why we are the only business network to see year-over-year growth and an historic win over CNBC.”
Delivering double digit wins across the board for the first time ever, FBN closed out the year notching 227,000 business day viewers with a 20% lead, 221,000 market hour viewers with a 14% lead and 140,000 total day viewers with a 17% lead over its competition. CNBC struggled to maintain its primetime audience seeing its lowest rated year since 1992 with 113,000 viewers and 27,000 Adults 25-54 viewers.
Continuing their reign as the top two business programs, Kudlow and Varney & Co. saw double-digit wins over their hourly competitors for the fourth consecutive year. The top show in business news, Larry Kudlow’s eponymous Kudlow (4PM/ET) nabbed 290,000 viewers beating Closing Bell by an astounding 72%. Following in second, the market opener Varney & Co. (9AM-12PM/ET) saw 276,000 viewers, besting Squawk on the Street/Money Movers by 32%. Additionally, the network held five of the top 10 business programs with total viewers including Kudlow, Varney & Co., The Evening Edit, The Big Money Show and The Claman Countdown.
The pre-market: Mornings with Maria (6-9 AM/ET) anchored by Maria Bartiromo, topped its competition Squawk Box by 16% with 125,000 viewers, its third straight yearly win. During market-open hours, The Big Money Show (12-2 PM/ET) saw 194,000 viewers, Making Money with Charles Payne (2 PM/ET) delivered 180,000 viewers and Liz Claman’s The Claman Countdown (3 PM/ET) captured 181,000 viewers to close out the year.
Additionally, FBN saw five of the top 15 most affluent cable news programs with younger viewers. Programs included Varney & Co., Kudlow, The Big Money Show, The Claman Countdown and The Evening Edit with an average income of $141,360 or greater.
📺Ratings data for 2025 to date according to Nielsen Media Research:
Business Day (M-F 9:30 AM-5 PM/ET)
- FBN: 227,000 total viewers and 12,000 A25-54
- CNBC: 189,000 total viewers and 41,000 A25-54
Market Hours (M-F 9 AM-4 PM/ET)
- FBN: 221,000 total viewers and 12,000 A25-54
- CNBC: 194,000 total viewers and 43,000 A25-54
- FBN: 140,000 total viewers and 11,000 A25-54
- CNBC: 120,000 total viewers and 27,000 A25-54
*Program Specials Excluded
Sourcing: Nielsen, Live + SD. Big Data + Panel, 2025td (12/30/24-12/05/25). 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). Cable News Median Income: Nielsen, Live + SD - Big Data + Panel, 2025td (12/30/24-12/05/25) Cable News Program Ranker M-F Total Day 6a-6a - A25-54 Median Income, 27+ telecasts, excludes specials and repeats. 2025 Nielsen data is preliminary through 12/5/25 and will be updated upon release of Nielsen Final ratings.
Sourcing: Nielsen, Live + SD. Big Data + Panel, 2025td (12/30/24-12/05/25). 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). Cable News Median Income: Nielsen, Live + SD - Big Data + Panel, 2025td (12/30/24-12/05/25) Cable News Program Ranker M-F Total Day 6a-6a - A25-54 Median Income, 27+ telecasts, excludes specials and repeats. 2025 Nielsen data is preliminary through 12/5/25 and will be updated upon release of Nielsen Final ratings.