CNBC IN PRIMETIME BREAKS NEW RECORDS IN 2015

The Only Cable Network to Post Eight Consecutive Quarters of Year-Over-Year Growth Among P25-54

Expands Programming Slate with Two New Original Primetime Series Coming in March

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. - January 12, 2016 - After a record breaking primetime performance in 2014, CNBC kept the momentum going in 2015 with a 31% increase in the key P25-54 demographic. CNBC has now delivered eight consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth among P25-54; the only cable network to deliver such significant gains. This was CNBC's most-watched year among P25-54 since 2001.

Building on that success and momentum, CNBC is expanding its programming slate adding two new original primetime series to the lineup. BILLION DOLLAR BUYER, from Endemol Shine North America, follows one of America's wealthiest businessmen, Tilman Fertitta, as he gives small businesses the opportunity of a lifetime. FOLLOW THE LEADER, from Relativity Television, and hosted by financial expert and journalist Farnoosh Torabi, goes inside the sharpest business minds in the world to unlock their truths about making it big.

"We know there's an appetite for high quality programming that dives into the world of small business and celebrates the American Dream," said Jim Ackerman, EVP, Primetime Alternative, CNBC. "With the addition of 'Billion Dollar Buyer' and 'Follow the Leader,' to our already robust lineup, CNBC continues to be the home for programs that celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit."

BILLION DOLLAR BUYER, premiering Tuesday, March 22 at 10PM ET/PT, introduces promising companies across the country to one of America's most successful businessmen: billionaire hospitality mogul Tilman Fertitta, Chairman, CEO, and sole shareholder of Landry's, Inc. Fertitta oversees more than 500 properties and over 50 leading restaurant, hotel, and entertainment brands, ranging from high-end properties like Mastro's and Morton's The Steakhouse, to such mainstream destinations as Rainforest Café, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Saltgrass Steak House, and five Golden Nugget Casinos. With an annual supply spend of $2 billion, his buying power is second to none. Now, he's personally scouting the country for the most innovative new products America's entrepreneurs have to offer - everything from food and drink for his restaurants and casinos, to linens and spa products for his hotels. In each hour-long episode, Fertitta will spend time with two small businesses, sample their goods, get to know their owners, and assess their compatibility with Landry's, Inc. He'll point out flaws in their product and operations, share his expertise, and push for improvements. In the end, he'll decide whether to place a transformative purchase order with one of the companies, both, or neither.

These businesses are about to come face-to-face with the most powerful customer they'll ever meet: the BILLION DOLLAR BUYER.

BILLION DOLLAR BUYER is produced for CNBC by Endemol Shine North America with David Tibballs and Robin Feinberg as executive producers. Jim Ackerman and Luke Bauer are the executive producers for CNBC.

In each 30-minute episode of FOLLOW THE LEADER, premiering Wednesday, March 23 at 10PM ET/PT, host Torabi, will spend 72 hours embedded in the life of a different superstar entrepreneur to learn how this wildly successful businessperson ticks. Torabi's mission is to dig deep and discover their individual philosophies, methods and practices to earn big bucks - and viewers can take away this knowledge and apply it to their own lives.

Along the way, Torabi will find out what makes these brilliant earners special - are they more driven, smarter, more ruthless, and more charismatic than the rest of us? Torabi will take viewers on a journey around the world to find out.

Featured entrepreneurs include John Paul DeJoria, Co-Founder & Chairman of the Board, John Paul Mitchell Systems and The Patrón Spirits Company; Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO of VaynerMedia, serial entrepreneur and investor; Lyor Cohen, CEO, 300 Entertainment; Michael Dubin, Founder and CEO of Dollar Shave Club; and many more.

FOLLOW THE LEADER is produced for CNBC by Relativity Television and The Jay and Tony Show with Tom Forman, Jay Blumenfield, Anthony Marsh, Brad Bishop and Lisa Singer as executive producers. Jim Ackerman and Marshall Eisen are the executive producers for CNBC.

For more information, visit cnbcprime.com. Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CNBCPrime and follow us on twitter @CNBCPrimeTV.

About CNBC:

With CNBC in the U.S., CNBC in Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, CNBC World and CNBC HD , CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business information to approximately 386 million homes worldwide, including more than 97 million households in the United States and Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries.

CNBC also has a vast portfolio of digital products which deliver real-time financial market news and information across a variety of platforms. These include CNBC.com, the online destination for global business; CNBC PRO, the premium, integrated desktop/mobile service that provides real-time global market data and live access to CNBC global programming; and a suite of CNBC Mobile products including the CNBC Real-Time iPhone and iPad Apps.

CNBC is a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. For more corporate information, visit www.nbcuniversal.com.