NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FOX Business Network (FBN) broke ratings records throughout the first quarter of 2016, achieving new highs across all key day parts in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo, according to Nielsen Media Research. In business day (9-30am-5pm), FBN narrowed the gap with rival CNBC to its smallest ever, pulling within 36 percent of 25 year old business network for the quarter. In addition, FBN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight earned its first quarterly win over CNBC in total viewers.
Ending 2015 as the fastest growing channel on television, FBN’s first quarter has shown continued momentum with Business Day programming up 111 percent in total viewers and 130 percent in the demo compared to 1Q 2015. In addition, the network notched a series of ratings firsts this quarter, most recently, sweeping CNBC in both total viewers and the demo for the first time ever on March 22nd.
Averaging 133,000 total viewers and 23,000 in the demo during Business Day, FBN came within the smallest margin ever against CNBC which had 208,000 viewers with 40,000 in the demo for the quarter. In addition, FBN’s Varney & Co , CAVUTO: Coast to Coast, Intelligence Report with Trish Regan, Countdown to the Closing Bell and After the Bell all set new network ratings highs in both total viewers and the demo for the 9AM-5PM/ET time block. Pre-market programs FBN:AM and Mornings with Maria both saw their highest rated quarter ever in both total viewers and the demo.
Post-market coverage also notched new highs, Deirdre Bolton’s Risk & Reward delivered FBN’s best performing 5-6PM/ET timeslot ever in both total viewers and the demo, while Making Money with Charles Payne saw a personal best across the board. Lou Dobbs continued his winning streak against CNBC to nine consecutive weeks and scored the network’s first-ever quarterly win in total viewers with 209,000 compared to CNBC’s 143,000.
Primetime ratings were fueled by FBN’s January 14th GOP debate which earned 11.5 million viewers, making it the second most-watched program in network history. Averaging 228,000 total viewers and 60,000 in the demo, FBN’s primetime saw ratings increase more than 300 percent across the board with shows Kennedy, Stossel and Strange Inheritance all setting new ratings records for their timeslots.
