CNBC’s prime time viewership sets records

CNBC’s viewers during the day may be at a two-decade low, but its prime-time viewership set records in 2014.

CNBC was 2014’s fastest-growing cable network among adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 in prime time. Year over year, the network grew 48 percent among adults 25-54 and 70 percent among adults 18-49.  The network also delivered its highest prime-time ratings since 2001 among adults 25-54.  Across all telecasts, CNBC’s original reality programming drew 32 percent more adults 25-54 than in 2013.

CNBC’s exclusive off-network cable run of “Shark Tank” has drawn more viewers 25-54 than any program on CNBC to date.  CNBC’s popular original series “The Profit” is the network’s most-watched original series ever.  Season two of “The Profit” was CNBC’s most-watched original season to date among adults 25-54 and adults 18-49, and the Nov. 11 episode was CNBC’s most-watched original series telecast to date.

CNBC announced Thursday that “The Profit,” one of CNBC’s biggest prime-time success stories featuring serial entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis who saves struggling businesses while investing his own cash in the process, will return for a third season in the Spring.

CNBC also announced Thursday it has approved two new series to premiere in 2015: “Blue Collar Millionaires” and “Restaurant Confidential: New York.”

However, this TVNewser report by Chris Ariens one one of the new shows stated, “But daytime, once the bread and butter of the channel, is losing viewers at a rapid clip. In business day, 9:30a-5pmET, CNBC delivered its lowest rated year since 1995 among total viewers and its lowest rated year in the demo since 1992.”