Not that we give too much weight to Nielsen numbers (except when we do) but the latest unconfirmed figures leaking from the TV ratings company suggest a mere 6,300 people are watching the very expensive Fox Business Network during any given weekday; CNBC attracks some 283,000. Nielsen, however, won't confirm those numbers because, while it agreed to monitor FBN's audience since its launch, the arrangement was to not make ratings figures public for the better part of the first year because they fell below Nielsen's own ratings threshold. (Thirty-five thousand viewers, or a one-tenth ratings point, is required.) Maybe offering a stock market wrap up report at a frickin' BAR was actually not what laymen viewers were looking for.
NETWORK LOYALTY CNBC is said to be threatening guests who also appear on Fox Business Network, telling some that they won't be welcome on the peacock's financial network if their two-timing continues. [24/7WS]
After an interview on the Fox Business Network, to discuss his recent Big Picture column about a possible recession, Dow Jones newswriter John McAuley died of cardiac arrest while waiting for the subway. [FBN]
It seems every time Tim Arango switches jobs, or wants to switch jobs, we hear about it.
The Fortune reporter who may have hinted at wanting a job at Fox Business Network, and definitely hinted at wanting out of the New York Post, has landed a position at the Times.
Arango will take over the corporate media beat for the Times, which has been vacant since Richard Siklos left the paper for Fortune this summer. At Fortune, both Arango and Siklos covered corporate media.
Seems like the two of them just pulled a Dan Patrick-Rick Reilly on Fortune and the Times. Sadly, their switch was probably not as profitable.
If Cody Willard’s grandfather could see him now, he would not be proud. At least that’s what the Fox Business Network anchor fears.
Twice last night at the Fox Business Network launch party, inside the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Willard mentioned that his grandfather, who was a cowboy, would be disappointed in his grandson for needing make up before going on air. But what is Willard to do? As he said, “Fox Business causes bad skin.”
But the best way to spot a Fox Business Network anchor is not by blemishes, which were well-concealed, but lack of body fat. That, and every female Fox Business anchor we spoke to made a point of touching our arm during the conversation. It felt so intimate—like we were real friends! Perhaps it was to stay warm? Or a lesson they learned in refinery school? CONTINUED »
When the Fox Business Network celebrates its launch at the Metropolitan Museum of Art tonight, don't think they're doing it for the PR buzz. Nope, it's just an in-house celebration of course — since Fox's unwritten policy dictates that you should never signal the media to expect something amazing from you. Says FBN communications chief Irena Brigant: "[If a new offering doesn’t succeed], a lot of people often later blame the media. They say, ‘You know what, it was the media that really set the expectations high.’ No, actually it was the PR people that set the expectations through the roof, and couldn’t deliver upon them."
Which is why they've invited, and received confirmation from, Ivanka Trump — a guest who will always deliver, and never leave you feeling disappointed. Unworthy, perhaps, but never disappointed.
"When it was all said and done Friday, the list of the world's largest media conglomerates, based on market cap, looked like this: News Corp. was first at $67.79 billion, followed by Time Warner ($67.32 billion), Disney ($65.62 billion), Sony ($45.29 billion), Viacom ($26.98 billion) and CBS ($21.11 billion)."
Which is a boring/financy way of saying News Corp. has officially passed Time Warner as the most valuable media company in the world. And that those Wonderbra-wearing wunderkinds over at Fox Business Network are, presumably, here to stay.
NBC Universal prez Jeff Zucker sums up his impressions of the Fox Business Network: "Looking at the channel for about five seconds, I happened to catch one of their anchors interviewing the Naked Cowboy (street busker Robert Burck, who performs in his underwear) in Times Square. When I saw that, I decided it was time to turn back to CNBC." [TVNewser]
Is CNBC sweating through its Old Spice High Endurance because of the Fox Business Network, as Fortune magazine claims? After the biz channel's mostly unimpressive debut, perhaps not. And that's the same sentiment Fortune has about Portfolio.
At last night's "meet the new staffers" (you know, the ones they've been lapping up) cocktail party at Porter House, Fortune chief Andy Serwer could be spotted blowing smoke off his finger gun and making jabs at Joanne Lipman. Machismo!
Si Newhouse may still care about Portfolio's future, but his Time Inc. rivals certainly don't. Or at least that's the face they're wearing in public.
Bringing together the whole meta evening was the Fortune cover story on the Fox Business Network from former New York Post-it Tim Arango, who, it's worth noting, was shopping himself to TV networks not too long ago. CONTINUED »
In case you were wondering, Fox Business Network (or FBN, as it's called by those in the know) will not publicly release its ratings until approximately 6-9 months from now. It will, however, continue to publicly release still frames of its ridiculously hot anchorwomen on a semi-frequent basis.
Oh, Fox Business Network. Despite hiring female anchors who could launch a successful side-career as toothpaste girls and impressing Alessandra Stanley with your "Chatty Cathy" approach to the financial market, you've still got your work cut out for you.
The first giant, waving red flag? The critics are already comparing you to Portfolio. On the plus side, things can only get better.
[TheDeal]
"A Perky Debut for the Fox Business Network!" proclaims Alessandra Stanley's in her correction-free evaluation of the news gals' first day on the job. Naturally, she's referring to the anchors' so-called "sunny dispositions," although, judging by their clingy, brightly colored news frocks (and pervy news prez, Roger Ailes) we're thinking the characterization works on many levels. [NYT]
Felix (like the cat) Gillette (like the razor) might have had something else on his mind when he wrote a profile of Donny Deutsh for the New York Observer this week.
The Big Idea has made marginal ratings gains, from 138,000 in 2006 to 158,000 in 2007, but the show still routinely garners less than 50,000 viewers. In the third quarter, the show’s scratch rate was 26%.
So as much sex appeal Deutsch might have for middle-aged women, his ratings growth probably doesn't merit a profile.
The article might have been inspired by the upcoming launch of the Fox Business Network, which will no doubt vie for the same “main street” business owner viewers as The Big Idea.
Seeing as they both Deutsch and Rupert Murdoch have no financial need to work and live in the Trump Park Avenue building, relating to demographic shouldn’t be a problem.
Editorial Director
