The business news ratings were incredibly tight between Fox Business and CNBC during the second quarter. Fox Business topped CNBC in business day and total day ratings for the seventh straight quarter, while CNBC earned the win in the market hours category.
What We Know: Fox Business’ Varney & Co. and Kudlow ranked as the top two business programs. It was the 17th straight quarter that the two programs earned that title. High-profile IPOs, including SpaceX, helped fuel interest in business news throughout the quarter.
What the Numbers Show:
Business Day Viewership (M-F 9:30 AM-5 PM ET)
| Network | 2026 2nd Quarter | 2026 1st Quarter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Business | 242K | 249K | 🔻 -2.8% |
| CNBC | 234K | 224K | 🟢 +4.5% |
Market Hours Viewership (M-F 9 AM-4 PM ET)
| Network | 2026 2nd Quarter | 2026 1st Quarter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Business | 240K | 246K | 🔻 -2.4% |
| CNBC | 242K | 231K | 🟢 +4.8% |
Total Day Viewership (M-F)
| Network | 2026 2nd Quarter | 2026 1st Quarter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Business | 146K | 148K | 🔻 -1.4% |
| CNBC | 143K | 142K | 🟢 +0.7% |
What’s at Stake: The margins separating FBN and CNBC remain narrow across several dayparts, even as the network extends its streak. Because most programs draw audiences in the low hundreds of thousands, any shift in the news cycle could tighten the race quickly.
What It Means: Fox Business heads into the back half of 2026 with momentum. Still, CNBC’s audience hasn’t disappeared, and the fight for business news viewers remains far from settled.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
