CNBC’s Business Day programming, from 5am to 7pm Monday through Friday, averaged 70,000 viewers in the coveted 25-54 demo in Oct. 2006 — its best time period performance in two and a half years (since April 2004).

Business Day was up 71 percent versus an Oct. 2005 average of 41,000 demo viewers. Every CNBC show from 6am to 8pm increased its demo audience over last October.

The network’s “year-to-year gains were largest during market hours (94,000 A25-54 from 9:30-4:00p), up 92% versus last October (49,000),” according to an internal ratings release…