CNBC's Fast Money Seeing Ratings Decline

CNBC's post-market show, Fast Money, has seen its ratings decline precipitously on a year over year basis. As ZeroHedge has noted, 2Q 2020 is down 28% in the key 25-54 age demographic compared to 2Q 2009. Comprehensive viewership has declined by 7% yr/yr. Insiders have told Benzinga that the deterioration in ratings has executives at NBC concerned, especially following rumors that Comcast CMCSA may put CNBC on the block once it completes its buyout of NBC Universal. According to multiple sources, CNBC executives have had several meetings to try to figure out how to fix the show and boost its ratings performance. The dismal ratings by one of the network's flagship programs comes at the one year anniversary of Dylan Ratigan's move over to MSNBC. Ratigan has just received a glowing review from the New York Times. Ratigan was very compelling as the moderator on Fast Money and provided the show with a lot of levity. That role has been assumed by Melissa Lee. Entertaining and unpredictable personality Jeff Macke also left the show in the last year. The current composition of Fast Money traders may not be registering with the audience as well as in prior years, and it appears that CNBC has been experimenting with different combinations of panelists on the show. The demographic and ratings numbers have been included below, courtesy of Nielsen Media Research. 2Q 2010 vs. 2Q 2009 for Fast Money: 2Q 2010: 207,000 P2+ and 54,000 A25-54 2Q 2009: 226,000 P2+ and 75,000 A25-54 % difference: -7% P2+ and -28% A25-54 June 2010 vs. May 2010 for Fast Money: June 2010: 208,000 P2+ and 50,000 A25-54 May 2010 2009: 270,000 P2+ and 67,000 A25-54 % difference: -23% P2+ and -25% A25-54 June 2010 vs. June 2009 for Fast Money: June 2010: 208,000 P2+ and 50,000 A25-54 June 2009: 224,000 P2+ and 68,000 A25-54 % difference: -7% P2+ and -26% A25-54 Learn how to find the best stocks to trade each day in our 70 page E-Book and 90 minute online video for free.