CNBC finished 2015 up +31 percent during prime time in the key A25-54 demo and has now delivered eight consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth among the demo. 2015 was CNBC’s most-watched year among the demo since 2001. Since prime time was so good to the business network, its adding two new original programs: Billion Dollar Buyer and Follow the Leader. Both shows premiere in March.
“We know there’s an appetite for high quality programming that dives into the world of small business and celebrates the American Dream,” CNBC evp Jim Ackerman said. “With the addition of ‘Billion Dollar Buyer’ and ‘Follow the Leader,’ to our already robust lineup, CNBC continues to be the home for programs that celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit.”
Meanwhile, Fox Business Network was the fastest-growing network in all of cable for 2015 – including prime time. Although many would argue that prime time for CNBC and FBN is actually Business Day, for which CNBC is not using Nielsen numbers anymore. (Nielsen admits they can’t accurately measure business day financial networks because they only provide estimates of in-home audiences.)
FBN beat CNBC for Business Day for a three-hour span on Jan. 7 during a chaotic day of breaking financial news. FBN’s Business Day delivered 41,000 vs. CNBC’s 34,000 in the demo. FBN’s key market shows swept CNBC from 2-5 p.m. ET with Intelligence Report with Trish Regan, Countdown to the Closing Bell and After the Bell beating CNBC in the demo. Lou Dobbs Tonight’s special coverage of the markets also edged CNBC’s coverage with 148,000 vs 145,000 total viewers.