Fox Business Network is off to a hot start in 2018.
Per Nielsen, January 2018 was FBN’s most-watched month ever in Business Day, averaging 255,000 total viewers on weekdays in the 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. time period. And as business news dominated the headlines, from the Dow surpassing 26,000 to the government shutdown and Trump’s visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, FBN scored its eighth consecutive monthly win over CNBC in total viewers.
Jan. 2018: Business Day (M-F, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET)
FBN: 255,000 total viewers / 31,000 A25-54
CNBC: 203,000 total viewers / 39,000 A25-54
Additionally, Fox Biz scored six of the top seven rated news programs on business television in total viewers, led once again by Lou Dobbs, whose eponymous show was the most-watched business news program for the 21st consecutive month. Varney & Co. (which had its highest-rated month ever) Countdown to the Closing Bell With Liz Claman, Cavuto Coast to Coast, After the Bell, and The Intelligence Report with Trish Regan, Risk & Reward all continued to place in the top 10 business news programs in total viewers, and defeated their timeslot competition in total viewers.
FBN’s pre-market coverage also posted double-digit gains year over year in January, with Maria Bartiromo’s Mornings with Maria +35 percent over last year.
Despite Fox Business’s dominance when it comes to total viewers, CNBC maintained its advantage in January among adults 25-54, the demographic news advertisers pay the most attention to. CNBC also won January across total day (6 a.m. – 6 a.m.), and in prime time, when it airs entertainment originals.
Jan. 2018: Total Day (6 a.m. – 6 a.m.)
FBN: 143,000 total viewers
CNBC: 161,000 total viewers
Then there was “Davos week.” CNBC Squawk Box co-host Joe Kernen managed to get a sit-down with Pres. Trump, the first time POTUS had given an interview to a “mainstream” TV news outlet outside of Fox since his infamous interview with NBC’s Lester Holt last May.
The Trump-Kernen interview took place on Thurs, Jan. 25, and aired the following morning on Squawk Box.
Mornings With Maria topped Squawk Box in total viewers (149,000 vs. 136,000) that Friday morning, but CNBC, once again, won in the A25-54 demographic.
Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 (6 – 9 a.m. ET)
FBN’s Mornings with Maria: 149,000 total viewers / 18,000 A25-54
CNBC’s Squawk Box: 136,000 total viewers / 34,000 A25-54