Fox Business Network is celebrating a solid start to the new year after ratings data for January 2026 showed the channel pulling in more viewers than its rival, CNBC. According to figures released by Nielsen Media Research, Fox Business secured wins across the board, beating the competition during the standard business day, the hours the stock market is open, and in total day viewership.
This marks the ninth month in a row that the network has topped CNBC in business day viewers and the 22nd consecutive month it has led in total day ratings.
The network’s ratings success was largely driven by its veteran anchors. For the fourth year running, “Varney & Co.” and “Kudlow” ranked as the two most-watched programs in business television.
Stuart Varney’s three-hour morning block averaged 300,000 viewers, giving it a 24% lead over CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.”
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In the afternoon, Larry Kudlow’s 4 PM program brought in 269,000 viewers. That number gave “Kudlow” a significant 62% advantage over CNBC’s “Closing Bell,” marking the show’s 52nd straight monthly win.
The ratings gap extended to the early morning and evening hours as well. Maria Bartiromo’s pre-market show, “Mornings with Maria,” beat CNBC’s “Squawk Box” by 5%, a victory that included coverage during the World Economic Forum in Davos. Later in the day, the lineup of “The Big Money Show,” “Making Money with Charles Payne,” and “The Claman Countdown” all contributed to the network’s lead.
In the post-market hours, “The Evening Edit” and “The Bottom Line” outperformed CNBC’s “Fast Money” and “Mad Money” by 25%.
Nielsen data also offered a look at the type of audience tuning in. Fox Business had three of the top 10 cable news programs for viewers with high incomes. Shows like “Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street” and “Barron’s Roundtable” reached audiences with a median income of over $210,100.
By the time the month closed out, Fox Business averaged 236,000 total viewers during the business day compared to CNBC’s 199,000, setting a new record high for the network dating back to late 2022.
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