Record month for CNBC

Boosted by the current economic crisis, business news network CNBC reported its best ratings ever in October in terms of viewers, according to measured audience data from Nielsen.

CNBC’s business day — Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. — had its best month ever in total viewers with an average of 502,000 and was up 92 percent from last October, when the network averaged 262,000 viewers.

In terms of adults between 25 and 54, the business day reported an average of 150,000 viewers, up 97 percent from October 2007, which was its best overall month since March 2001 and its best October ever.

During stock market hours — 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the network recorded its best month ever with an average of 637,000 viewers, up 93 percent from October 2007. In the 25 to 54 age group, viewers were up 88 percent to 179,000 during market hours.

The prime time hours of 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. had their best month since March 2003 in total viewers with an average of 248,000, up 36 percent from October 2007. That’s the slot’s best October since 2001.

All CNBC programs from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. each had their best month ever in total viewers in their respective time periods.

The vast majority of CNBC’s audience isn’t measured by Nielsen because Nielsen doesn’t measure out-of-home viewing. Much of CNBC’s viewing takes place out of home and in places such as C-suites, executive offices, offices, trading floors, restaurants, health clubs and other locations.