Fox Business Network has delivered its highest-rated quarter in network history in both Total Day and Business Day viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The network, which has seen audience growth throughout all key dayparts year over year, also notched record program highs across the board during the first quarter.
As markets reacted to increasing uncertainties surrounding the global coronavirus pandemic, FBN delivered 173,000 total viewers across Total Day, up 27 percent compared to first quarter 2019 and marking its most-watched quarter ever. Additionally, the network saw its highest-rated quarter ever in Business Day with 242,000 total viewers, up 28 percent. Market Hours also ushered in a new record with 249,000 viewers, up 28 percent.
For 14 out of the past 15 quarters, FBN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight (7 PM/ET) and Varney & Co. (9 AM-12 PM/ET) have dominated the business news landscape as the number one and two programs in business television. Delivering a record 422,000 total viewers (up 22 percent), Lou Dobbs’ signature evening analysis show also notched its 17th straight quarter outpacing CNBC in the 7 PM/ET hour. Meanwhile, Varney’s three hour market-open program delivered its most-watched quarter ever (308,000 total viewers, up 29 percent) as it continued its reign as the number one markets program in America, beating CNBC’s Squawk on the Street/Squawk Alley shows by 4 percent.
Nearly all FBN programs posted strong quarterly viewership gains year over year. Leading into Business Day, anchor and global markets editor Maria Bartiromo’s signature pre-market program Mornings with Maria (6-9 AM/ET) drew in 115,000 total viewers, seeing its highest-rated quarter in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic.
Additionally, CAVUTO: Coast to Coast (12-2 PM/ET) anchored by managing editor Neil Cavuto, and Making Money with Charles Payne (2-3 PM/ET) both scored their highest-rated quarters ever in total viewers. Providing critical market-close coverage, The Claman Countdown (3-4 PM/ET) anchored by Liz Claman notched its most-watched quarter since 2018 and After the Bell (4-5 PM/ET) co-anchored by Connell McShane and Melissa Francis saw its second highest-rated quarter ever in total viewers. FBN:AM also pulled in double-digit growth in total viewership (+63 percent) and the key demographic (+67 percent) year over year.
During post-market coverage, The Evening Edit with Elizabeth MacDonald (6-7 PM/ET) scored its 14th uninterrupted quarterly win over CNBC’s signature show Mad Money and the network’s highest rated 6-7 PM/ET hour ever with 239,000 total viewers. Additionally, Bulls & Bears hosted by David Asman at 5 PM/ET and Kennedy hosted by Lisa “Kennedy” Montgomery at 9 PM/ET both saw their largest audiences ever in both total viewers and the key demo. FBN’s weekly primetime programs Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street (Fridays, 9-9:30 PM/ET), WSJ at Large (Fridays, 9:30-10 PM/ET) and Barron’s Roundtable hosted by Jack Otter (Fridays, 10:00-10:30 PM/ET) also delivered program records for the quarter.
On March 23rd, FBN commenced a new scaled back programming lineup in an effort to allocate resources towards breaking news coverage surrounding the global outbreak and economic crisis. The new 6 AM-7 PM/ET live schedule, which moved Lou Dobbs Tonight to a temporary 5 PM/ET timeslot, delivered FBN’s highest rated month ever in Business Day (292,000 P2+) and Total Day (197,000 P2+) ratings. Year over year, all FBN shows nabbed increases across total viewers during the month of March with the majority of programs notching record highs.
While FBN hit historic highs across programming viewership for the quarter, FOXBusiness.com also saw milestone growth. According to Adobe Analytics, the month of March delivered FBN’s top five days in page views leading FoxBusiness.com to a record month in page views, unique devices and video views. Notably, March 13th marked an all-time high among page views and unique devices for Foxbusiness.com, driven by news of the markets closing in bear market territory.