Fox Business Capitalizes on Ratings Momentum Ahead of Upfronts
FBN is now the closest it has ever been to arch-rival CNBC
Brian Flood | March 30, 2016 @ 7:04 AM
Last Updated: March 30, 2016 @ 8:54 AM
Fox Business
Fox Business Network finished the first quarter of 2016 with its strongest ratings in the network’s history. FBN is now the closest it has ever been to arch-rival CNBC, narrowing the gap to 36 percent of total viewers.
The growth comes just in time for the network to look for additional ad dollars during this year’s TV upfront.
“Fox Business Network is a bigger part of the mix than it has been in the past,” Fox News’s head of ad sales Paul Rittenberg told AdAge. “This is the first time we’ve had a lot to brag about.”
Rittenberg continued, “We will be talking to advertisers about why we think it’s fair that we get an increase in spending on FBN.”
FBN ended 2015 as the fastest growing channel on television and the momentum has carried into 2016, with business day programming up 111 percent in total viewers and 130 percent in the key age 25-54 demo, compared to last year.
“Lou Dobbs Tonight” earned its first quarterly win over CNBC in total viewers and the network’s primetime ratings grew 300 percent.
Primetime ratings were boosted by FBN’s January GOP debate, which averaged 11.5 million viewers. It was the second most-watched program in network history.
Geraldo Rivera's 9 Most Shocking Career Highlights and Lowlights (Videos)
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com
Father-daughter reunion:
Rivera dramatically reunited with his daughter on live TV in Paris following the series of terrorist attacks in the French capital. His daughter, who lives in the city, was at the Stade de France when a cell of terrorists affiliated with ISIS set off explosions nearby.
Trayvon Martin:
The Fox News host found himself in hot water in 2012 when he blamed the death of Trayvon Martin on the teenager's choice of apparel. Rivera went on to say that "dark-skinned" people should make an effort not to dress "gangsta."
"The hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as George Zimmerman was," he said.
Shirtless selfie:
The 70-year-old Fox News host was roundly mocked on social media when he posted a shirtless selfie on his Twitter account. He later explained on his syndicated radio show that he was drunk and lonely when he posted the photo at 2:30 in the morning.
Al Capone's Vault:
Rivera famously promised to open a mysterious vault belonging to Al Capone on live TV in a heavily hyped 1986 special. However, once the vault was open, Rivera found little more than dirt inside, making the special one of the biggest live TV disappointments in history.
Casey Anthony "slut":
During coverage of the trial of Casey Anthony, the woman accused of killing her daughter Caylee, Rivera made waves when he called the accused a "slut" in his report. “I think it will end the prosecution case with a bang, so to speak, to show that this was a selfish, narcissistic, self-involved slut,” he said.
Get More: Comedy Central,Funny Videos,Funny TV Shows
Giving away troop location in Iraq:
Rivera was kicked out of Iraq in 2003 when he accidentally gave away the location and movements of U.S. troops during the war. He was was traveling with the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army as a war correspondent when he knelt down into the sand on live TV and drew a map of an upcoming operation.
White Supremacist brawl:
In 1988, Rivera hosted a debate on his talk show "Geraldo" between white supremacists, black leaders and Jewish activists. It wasn't long before the segment devolved into a during which the host's nose was broken.
Willowbrook documentary:
In one of his career highlights, Rivera won a Peabody award for a 1972 documentary called "Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace," which captured the horrible conditions at a school for the mentally challenged in New York.
"Obama is dead":
In the race to report on the death of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, Rivera mistakenly reported the death of the president, when he mistakenly said, "Obama is dead."
1 of 9
Fox News senior correspondent had an emotional reunion with daughter following Paris terrorist attacks
Father-daughter reunion:
Rivera dramatically reunited with his daughter on live TV in Paris following the series of terrorist attacks in the French capital. His daughter, who lives in the city, was at the Stade de France when a cell of terrorists affiliated with ISIS set off explosions nearby.
