Lou Dobbs most-watched business news host for 34th straight month

Fox Business Network’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight” was the most-watched program in business news for the 34th consecutive month in February, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Dobbs, who came to Fox Business in 2011 after a long run at CNN, averaged 376,000 viewers per night to take the top spot in business news.

{mosads}Fox Business’s “Varney & Co” hosted by Stuart Varney was second with 253,000 viewers, followed by CNBC’s “Fast Money Halftime Report” hosted by Steve Wapner. CNBC’s “The Exchange” with Kelly Evans and “Trish Regan Primetime” with former CNBC host Trish Regan rounded out February’s top-5 in total viewers.

In the key 25-54-year-old demographic that advertisers covet most, CNBC outpaced Fox Business, averaging 34,000 viewers in the category to FBN’s 21,000.

In total viewers in the “Business Day” category that runs primarily during market hours from 9:30 a.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST, Fox Business averaged 205,000 total viewers to CNBC’s 190,000 viewers.

Fox Business was launched in 2007, with several CNBC anchors, hosts and reporters, including Neil Cavuto, Melissa Francis, Liz Claman, Charles Gasparino Stuart Varney, Trish Regan and Maria Bartiromo, making the move to the 21st Century-owned network.

CNBC, which is owned by Comcast, was launched in 1989.

— Updated at 5:20 to clarify that “Lou Dobbs Tonight” was the most-watched business news program for the 34th consecutive month.