Fox Business Net Will Launch In HD

New York — Fox Business Network will sport a high-definition look when it debuts next month.

Multichannel News has learned that FBN (whose new logo is pictured at right) will launch in the HD format, with feeds produced from its state-of-the-art studios in Manhattan. The enhanced feed will be available to all FBN affiliates when the service begins competing against CNBC and Bloomberg TV Oct. 15.

DirecTV’s Web site lists FBN as one of the services it plans to launch shortly as part of its vastly expanded HD lineup (see “DirecTV Defines Its Plans,” page 6). It was unclear at press time if and when the service’s other affiliates — Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications — would present FBN in HD.

Staffing also began to take shape last week as FBN, expected to launch in 31 million homes, named seven people who will perform hosting or other on-air duties and four executive producers.

The on-air talent will be familiar to Fox News Channel viewers, as each works for the cable-news leader and will continue to appear on its air.

David Asman, who joined Fox News in 1997 as a weekday anchor for Fox News Live, is currently the host of Forbes on Fox. Rebecca Gomez is a regular on Your World With Neil Cavuto and the Cost of Freedom business block on Saturdays. Dagen McDowell appears regularly on Your World With Neil Cavuto and Cashin’ In, while Cheryl Casone provides hourly market updates for FoxNews.com and partner site Yahoo! Finance.

Stuart Varney, previously the host of CNBC’s Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, has been part of FNC’s business team since 2004. He most recently has been a contributor and substitute host for Your World With Neil Cavuto. In addition, FBN will also feature Brenda Buttner of Fox News’ Bulls and Bears and business correspondent and Cashin’ In anchor Terry Keenan.

As for the production hires, FBN has secured executives from:

CNBC, with Terry Baker, who will produce weekend and primetime hours;
iVillage, with Brian Donlon, who will produce the network’s morning lineup;
ABC’s Good Morning America, as Andrew Hoffman will be responsible for the service’s daytime content.
Fox News’ Gary Schreir, who will retain a consulting editorial role for Your World With Neil Cavuto and the news-net’s Saturday morning business block, is also on board for FBN’s late-afternoon and early-evening content.

FBN has not yet revealed its programming lineup.

—Mike Reynolds

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6478726.html

Nice! Every piece of news that I've seen about this previously was mysteriously silent on the SD/HD question. I kept thinking that launching an SD network in 2007 didn't make sense, but you never know. Thanks for the good news.

Is Comcast definitely going to carry this channel in HD?

Nice! Every piece of news that I've seen about this previously was mysteriously silent on the SD/HD question. I kept thinking that launching an SD network in 2007 didn't make sense, but you never know. Thanks for the good news.

Is Comcast definitely going to carry this channel in HD?

Don't know, as of right now Comcast placed an Ad in yesterday's Star Ledger here saying they would add the channel on 106 on October 15th, the channel's launch day. Didn't say anything on HD though.

David Asman, who joined Fox News in 1997 as a weekday anchor for Fox News Live, is currently the host of Forbes on Fox.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/72/Kramer's_ASSMAN_plates.jpg/200px-Kramer's_ASSMAN_plates.jpg

hmmmm..... Oh wait, there's just one S.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/72/Kramer's_ASSMAN_plates.jpg/200px-Kramer's_ASSMAN_plates.jpg

hmmmm..... Oh wait, there's just one S.

stupid post imo

I agree. +1

Fox Business Net Will Launch In HD]

I'd rather have FOX News First.. Julie Banderas, Jamie Colby, Domenica Davis..
in HD..:D

Julie Banderas used to be on our Fox 5 news, until she left I guess for Fox News Channel. After that I switched to CBS and NBC...

I'd rather have FOX News First.. Julie Banderas, Jamie Colby, Domenica Davis... in HD..:D

Them or their long legs (which FNC cameras make sure you absolutely cannot miss when going to/away from commercial)? :rolleyes:

How can Fox Business go HD while the main Fox News Channel stays in SD? There's going to have to be some announcement to (*ahem, properly*) clarify this siuation very soon...

How can Fox Business go HD while the main Fox News Channel stays in SD? There's going to have to be some announcement to (*ahem, properly*) clarify this siuation very soon...

Don't forget, FBN is a brand new channel with new equipment and a new set (I hope) so they would have the HD equipment on startup, so why not go HD? Meanwhile, there's FNC and MSNBC, both of whom probably don't have the HD equipment necessary or are in process of getting new equipment. Don't worry, soon they will be HD as well. Just when, no one knows....

don't worry, Fox News to Launch HD Channel


http://www.tvpredictions.com/foxhd083007.htm

Interesting, and about time (for HD Newschannels, not just Fox specifically). Wonder when FiOS will get any of these (incl CNN HD).

Them or their long legs (which FNC cameras make sure you absolutely cannot miss when going to/away from commercial)? :rolleyes:

Yea, I kinda miss "the walk" away from the anchor desk they used to do..:)

I'd rather have FOX News First.. Julie Banderas, Jamie Colby, Domenica Davis..
in HD..:D

The eye candy would be nice, but technically speaking, there's more benefit to an aspect ratio that will accomodate Neil Cavuto's head. :)

Well, at least one of the business channels will be in HD, because CNBC so-called "HD+" should be called SD + graphics....

Not that this happened, but...

To save $$$ on FoxBusinessHD, couldn't FOX have bought HD cameras for the FoxNewsHD channel, transferred the old SD cameras to the FoxBusiness sets, then put the 640x480 picture onto the top-center left of the picture, to account for a top ticker and overscan (technically not upconverting it), and Bloomberg-ize the remainder of the graphics, a la CNBC HD+, only with a third moving ticker on the bottom for business news? Considering that FOX uses 720p for its networks, with the technical lack of upcoverting, it probably would fool people for all-HD, and cost less than going true-de-duper HD.

They probably didn't do this, and considering the name of FOX in the channel, it'll probably take viewers from CNBC right and left, even if they went true HD.

FNC has already crushed the competition. I think they want every advantage with FBC to start siphoning off CNBC's lucrative audience. If anything, they probably feel that they can weather a delay in FNC HD.

stupid post imo

Too young to have watched Seinfeld? A Seinfeld reference is never a stupid post.

I saw it yesterday. Unfortunately, Comcast carries it in SD digital ... so I have to settle for it on my 1080p LCD.

The odd thing was that the graphics were all very sharp but all the faces looked like they were deliberately blurry to hide imperfections. It looked wierd. Even the wife commented that peoples faces looked washed out ... while their tweed jackets looked sharp. Wierd !!!

This channel is showing up as 1080i for me. I thought the FOX family was all 720p? What gives?

HD news just doesn't do it for me. Not sure why.

FNC has already crushed the competition. I think they want every advantage with FBC to start siphoning off CNBC's lucrative audience. If anything, they probably feel that they can weather a delay in FNC HD.

They crushed the competition by appealing to the lowest common denominator. Hopefully they don't create another lousy channel by doing the same thing.

They crushed the competition by appealing to the lowest common denominator.

If by "appealing to the lowest common denominator" you mean appealing to common sense by the American audience, then yes, I would completely agree with you. Something that CNN and MSNBC still hasn't learned.

If by "appealing to the lowest common denominator" you mean appealing to gullible American audience, then yes, I would completely agree with you. Something that CNN doesn't do. (MSNBC, meh not that great at all)

There. Fixed it for you.

Although, I'm really surprised at the HQ of the SD picture on Comcast.

^^ I'd say CNN's Glenn Beck is by far the worst offender of lowest common denominator yellow journalism.

^^ I'd say CNN's Glenn Beck is by far the worst offender of lowest common denominator yellow journalism.

Oh, I hate watching Glenn Beck. Worst journalism on TV, equal with some of the personalities on Fox Noise.

There. Fixed it for you.

Actually it was correct the way it was. Just research on a daily basis what stories are covered and how they cover them. Do they follow them to their conclustions? Do they report everything in the story or just what suits them? For example, Gen Rick Sanchez' comments about the war. It played front page everywhere. But how many of those same media covered his comments 30 seconds later about how the media is putting our serivce men in danger by the way they are reporting the war? Only 4 and NOT CNN, NOT MSNBC, NOT New York Times. FOX News and Washington Post (not a conservative supporter by a long shot) did.

The court martial of the service men who had been cleared in two separate investigations of killing Afgany's. CNN, MSNBC, NYT, etc covered it all, EXCEPT the part where the court martial found them NOT GUILTY. Not a mention from those news services.

That is only two examples and in the last week alone.

That is what I base my comments on, not my political leanings, which are liberal. I want my media to be truthful, not ideolgical.

That is what I base my comments on, not my political leanings, which are liberal. I want my media to be truthful, not ideolgical.

Hmm, well it seems to me that the BBC is much better than all the news sources listed.

Now, you want your media to be truthful. Why not have a Middle Eastern perspective with Al-Jazeera English? Instead of listening to what the government wants people to hear, why not see what the people over there say about it? Not getting the full story is definitely not getting the entire truth.

Hmm, well it seems to me that the BBC is much better than all the news sources listed.

Actually, the BBC is just as bad and that came from a British government investigation last year. Of course, I do watch the BBC and do like that new one hour news block at 7pm ET, but they aren't really that much better, but to my disappointment.

But I shouldn't have to watch EVERY news organization in the world to get a good, "fair and balanced" idea what is going on. In my own eyes, Washington Post and FNC are doing the best job so far, but even they aren't complete either.

When people watch or read something for news and get caught up in the ideology, they are missing out. I may work for FOX, but that doesn't mean that is all I watch. To assume I do causes you to loose creditablity in my eyes because you don't know me.

Where can I find a program guide for Fox Business Channel?

Where can I find a program guide for Fox Business Channel?

http://www.foxbusiness.com/our-team/on-air/index.html

So much for the political banter. After all the discussion of the using upconverted SD cameras on CNBC HD+, any comments on FBC's PQ?

Oh, I hate watching Glenn Beck. Worst journalism on TV, equal with some of the personalities on Fox Noise.Glenn Beck's not doing any journalism, just sociopolitical opinion-based entertainment. If you look beyond his hyperactivity, he often has some pretty good points. However, in no way does he do journalism.

If by "appealing to the lowest common denominator" you mean appealing to common sense by the American audience, then yes, I would completely agree with you. Something that CNN and MSNBC still hasn't learned.

Thanks for the laugh. Talk about drinking the Kool Aid.

So much for the political banter. After all the discussion of the using upconverted SD cameras on CNBC HD+, any comments on FBC's PQ?

FBN SD looks awful nice on Comcast. Can't attest to the HD simulcast, but you can watch a video on Swanni's site that shows some of it:http://www.tvpredictions.com/dvideo101607.htm

It shows FBN HD, Smithsonian HD, and CNN HD.

FBN SD on Comcast - do you guys not notice the blurry faces ... what gives ? The graphics are tack sharp however !

Too young to have watched Seinfeld? A Seinfeld reference is never a stupid post.


Agreed!!!:):):)

Thanks for the laugh. Talk about drinking the Kool Aid.

It sure sounds like the libs are jealous. All cutdowns, but no actual arguments to be heard here... as is normal.

It sure sounds like the libs are jealous. All cutdowns, but no actual arguments to be heard here... as is normal.

Scott Norvell is London bureau chief for Fox News. Here is what Norvell fessed up to in the May 20 Wall Street Journal Europe:

Even we at Fox News manage to get some lefties on the air occasionally, and often let them finish their sentences before we club them to death and feed the scraps to Karl Rove and Bill O'Reilly. And those who hate us can take solace in the fact that they aren't subsidizing Bill's bombast; we payers of the BBC license fee don't enjoy that peace of mind.

Fox News is, after all, a private channel and our presenters are quite open about where they stand on particular stories. That's our appeal. People watch us because they know what they are getting. The Beeb's institutionalized leftism would be easier to tolerate if the corporation was a little more honest about it.

http://slate.com/id/2119864/

OOPS.

great, now we can get our right wing propaganda in hi def :D

I haven't watched much of Fox Business, but it doesn't seem like they actually cover business news. It's like an advice/self-help network that's no good at giving actual advice. David Ramsey can barely read a teleprompter, and his advice makes Jim Kramer look like some kind of Wall Street god. Then there's the Happy Hour show, where they basically just interview people in bars. Err? Is this really is a business news network that doesn't cover business news?

In fairness, I haven't caught Cavuto's show yet, but it seems like that's one of only a couple other shows on the network. This seems to have been an incredibly low budget endeavor--not what I was expecting at all.

great, now we can get our right wing propaganda in hi def :D

Like we are getting our left wing propaganda in faux hi def on CNN?

That knife cuts both ways, be careful how you swing it! :D

CNBC smokes it.

CNBC smokes it.

If that is a true statement, why has CNBC lost 10% of its audience (which is less than 250,000 viewers average of a possible 90 million as reported by Nielsen Media Marketing, FBN doesn't begin to be rated until after first of the year) from Monday through Thursday of last week? Why has FBN sold more advertising pre-launch than FOX News Channel did in the first 9 months of its existence? Why are people leaving CNBC in droves to go to FBN? No spin on this. This is all being covered in the media press on a daily basis. The media vulchers are betting after the Olympics, CNBC, along with the rest of NBC goes out of GE in a fire sale. That time frame spoken by Jeff Immelt himself, CEO of GE that NBC's future with GE will be "evaluated" after the Olympics. Media vulchers say people at CNBC are concerned they will not have jobs soon.

No one is smoking no one at CNBC and CNBC itself isn't even saying things like that and has gone into a defensive posture for the past month trying to fight off FBN before it ever hit air. Why does a channel who has THREE times the audience potential and is in all of the financial cities (unlike its competition), and will have for the forseeable future, sweat a start up channel like CNBC is?

That is where your smoke is.

Like we are getting our left wing propaganda in faux hi def on CNN?

That knife cuts both ways, be careful how you swing it! :D

CNN is left wing? someone should let glenn beck in on that

The total irony of Fox...

I saw an advertisement for Bloomberg Television on FOX News......

I LOL'd

The total irony of Fox...

I saw an advertisement for Bloomberg Television on FOX News......

I LOL'd

It is simple economics. That is where the viewers are. You don't buy advertising on a channel no one watches. And it isn't as uncommon as you might think. That is the irony.

Yeah, but we don't know what facet of the CNBC audience has siphoned to Fox, and more importantly, whether they'll stay. If it's people who sit at home on their couches with no jobs and not the big screens in the Wall Street offices where the coveted demos are, then CNBC isn't really going to care.

Certainly CNBC is being cautious. They watched Fox roll in and decimate MSNBC and CNN. You can't look a gift horse in the mouth.

But Fox itself has said that splitting CNBC's audience just leaves everyone dead. They have to grow the appeal of business news (which, rightly or wrongly, they've decided to do by apparently shying away from business news altogether). Neil Cavuto alone cannot make a network, but right now that looks to be Fox's strategy. Certainly it's a low cost, low risk strategy, which is smart enough.

Why has FBN sold more advertising pre-launch than FOX News Channel did in the first 9 months of its existence?OK, that's easy: There's the Fox News halo effect this time around. When Fox News Channel was initially launced, nobody really knew what is was all about or how big it was going to get. We have FNC to use as a benchmark this time; its ratings, it's influence -- the advertisers believe that people will be more receptive to FBN now than they thought of FNC in its first months. Really, FNC is FBC's biggest advertisement to advertise.

The media vulchers are betting after the Olympics, CNBC, along with the rest of NBC goes out of GE in a fire sale. That time frame spoken by Jeff Immelt himself, CEO of GE that NBC's future with GE will be "evaluated" after the Olympics. Media vulchers say people at CNBC are concerned they will not have jobs soon.Interesting. Now we know why GE went so cheap on the CNBCHD upgrade...

Yeah, but we don't know what facet of the CNBC audience has siphoned to Fox, and more importantly, whether they'll stay. If it's people who sit at home on their couches with no jobs and not the big screens in the Wall Street offices where the coveted demos are, then CNBC isn't really going to care.

Here is what the industry thinks. Take from it what you want. These are the people who report on the media every day.

CNBC has stated they are the channel for Wall Street and they talk the Wall Street lingo. That limits your audience from the get go. CNNfn tried to take a different tactic to make Wall Street more understandable but it was quite boring and no one watched and it went the way of the dinosaurs. FOX knew this. And your comment below about splitting CNBC's audience does no one any good points out what is already known. You HAVE to talk to the couch potatoes and soccer moms and amateur day traders. People CNBC ISN'T talking to. Both Mr Murdoch and Mr Ailes have said that in public. CNBC has realized that it has a glaring hole in its armor but it is too late now. FBN is on the air and people (what few there are) are sampling and based on the numbers that CNBC has lost in a week to week and year to year comparision, the industry is saying FBN is on a roll and CNBC could very well be in decline, even though FOX has decided to give FBN a long lead time to see what develops and to see what needs to be adjusted with FBN, which WILL happen over the coming months. And the Wall Street Journal effect hasn't been talked about or kicked in for that matter. Even the media outlets that make their money on bashing FNC has stated that FBN has something going that CNBC doesn't. Who would have thunk that?

Certainly CNBC is being cautious. They watched Fox roll in and decimate MSNBC and CNN. You can't look a gift horse in the mouth.

I completely agree, but Dan Abrams comments last week about FBN doesn't do anything but signal CNBC is on full red alert defense as if FBN is about to overtake them, which CLEARLY has yet to happen. Even FOX has said they expect it to take several years to overtake CNBC, not the first week. If CNBC were confident in their product, they wouldn't be throwing the baby out with the bathwater after the first week. I would think the people at FBN are laughing their butts off on that.

But Fox itself has said that splitting CNBC's audience just leaves everyone dead. They have to grow the appeal of business news (which, rightly or wrongly, they've decided to do by apparently shying away from business news altogether). Neil Cavuto alone cannot make a network, but right now that looks to be Fox's strategy. Certainly it's a low cost, low risk strategy, which is smart enough.

I have been watching FBN this past week and I am not a financial wizard, just ask my wife!! :D But if I have the choice of watching Donny Deutsch on CNBC smooze financial high rollers or Dave Ramsey on FBN tell me how to get ahead in the world, guess which one I am watching? That is the difference. And who knows, Ramsey could become the O'Reilly of FBN! :D :D ;)

Here is what the industry thinks. Take from it what you want. These are the people who report on the media every day.

CNBC has stated they are the channel for Wall Street and they talk the Wall Street lingo. That limits your audience from the get go. CNNfn tried to take a different tactic to make Wall Street more understandable but it was quite boring and no one watched and it went the way of the dinosaurs. FOX knew this. And your comment below about splitting CNBC's audience does no one any good points out what is already known. You HAVE to talk to the couch potatoes and soccer moms and amateur day traders. People CNBC ISN'T talking to. Both Mr Murdoch and Mr Ailes have said that in public. CNBC has realized that it has a glaring hole in its armor but it is too late now. FBN is on the air and people (what few there are) are sampling and based on the numbers that CNBC has lost in a week to week and year to year comparision, the industry is saying FBN is on a roll and CNBC could very well be in decline, even though FOX has decided to give FBN a long lead time to see what develops and to see what needs to be adjusted with FBN, which WILL happen over the coming months. And the Wall Street Journal effect hasn't been talked about or kicked in for that matter. Even the media outlets that make their money on bashing FNC has stated that FBN has something going that CNBC doesn't. Who would have thunk that?



I completely agree, but Dan Abrams comments last week about FBN doesn't do anything but signal CNBC is on full red alert defense as if FBN is about to overtake them, which CLEARLY has yet to happen. Even FOX has said they expect it to take several years to overtake CNBC, not the first week. If CNBC were confident in their product, they wouldn't be throwing the baby out with the bathwater after the first week. I would think the people at FBN are laughing their butts off on that.



I have been watching FBN this past week and I am not a financial wizard, just ask my wife!! :D But if I have the choice of watching Donny Deutsch on CNBC smooze financial high rollers or Dave Ramsey on FBN tell me how to get ahead in the world, guess which one I am watching? That is the difference. And who knows, Ramsey could become the O'Reilly of FBN! :D :D ;)

I agree. I'm a big watcher of CNBC in the morning while getting ready for work and you can totally see the diff between FBN and CNBC. CNBC talks the lingo that Wall Streeters know. FBN, at least from what I've seen during the mornings talks a bit of WS lingo but they also try to appeal to the average investor and non-investor. Where the folks at FBN sit on couches or talk at a table for two, the CNBC folks are around a desk. The feel of the two are diff but you generally get the same info. Alexis Glick does job on Money for Breakfast on FBN but her cost host is so cheesy. That dude needs the boot. I like the 3 folks on Sqawk Box on CNBC but FBN feels less stuffy.

I'm about to go there but it is what it is. The women on FBN, at least what I see in the morning are much nicer to look at than the men on CNBC. The women on FBN also know how to dress for the audience especially that Liz MacDonald. ;)

What's up with the shrunken screen size on FBN HD when it goes to commercial?

I also find FBN to be like Fox News. Too much news that is dumbed down and full of off the hip commentary. Even today, their London Bureau person for FBN was correcting leading questions by the FBN NY personality. I'll take CNBC and the professional market commentary any day. But I am apt to watch FBN more from time to time if they would just correct the screen size thing. I do think the Happy Hour should could be better, but I do like the concept.

That is where your smoke is.


foxeng

A bit touchy are you? I'm not debating any of your figures. I'm all for FBN being a success. I was happy when FIOS added it. However, when I want info on the market and what is going on, Squawk Box 'smokes" Money for Breakfast. Maybe that will change, but for now that is my opinion.

foxeng

A bit touchy are you?

No, not really. I think FBN is taking the correct course, get on and then see what works. CNBC is trying to keep their head above water. No one is smoking anyone, that's all.

However, when I want info on the market and what is going on, Squawk Box 'smokes" Money for Breakfast. Maybe that will change, but for now that is my opinion.

That may be true. Morning shows are always the toughest to get right. I am sure there will be all kinds of tweaking and moves in the next year as they fine tune it. It took 4 years of trying before FOX and Friends came together on FNC. Nothing is perfect right out of the box and FBN will go through its versions as well.

Glen Beck is on Headline News, not the main CNN.

is global warming a myth ?


:D

Local Cable Co just added this channel. I have to admit I really like the 16:9 layout of scrolling info and displays. The commentary and anchors are shooting for a different vibe than the CNBC brand. Very interesting.

I've been watching this channel the last few weeks on Directv. The layouts not too bad; I'd like to see some true 16x9 shots, but the content seems to be very good and somewhat refreshing compared to CNBC.

I also like the use of the space. I wish The Weather Channel (HD) would do something similar for weather.

Other than the local breaks using the whole 16:9 (at least on DirecTV) to show US regional maps, is there anything on TWC yet in HD?

Other than the local breaks using the whole 16:9 (at least on DirecTV) to show US regional maps, is there anything on TWC yet in HD?

Some of their special programs. I believe in 2008 they're going HD.

I've been watching this channel the last few weeks on Directv. The layouts not too bad; I'd like to see some true 16x9 shots, but the content seems to be very good and somewhat refreshing compared to CNBC.

The program box is a 720p 16:9 AR that is letterboxed shifted extreme up in a 4:3 720p squeeze box. The normal two 16:9 wings are then shifted into one single wing on the right side (what they call the HD Wing) so the 480i 4:3 version is everything but the HD Wing downconverted to 480i so it fits on a 4:3 480i set. That is why when commercials come on, you see them with side curtains within the letterbox as the rest of the graphics stay there. The studio camera shots are true 720p in that letterbox.

Pretty ingenious if you ask me. I have never seen anyone use the full 16:9 screen and still have it 4:3 friendly at the same time.

http://www.w4cl.net/blog/fbn1.jpg
This is actually the full 16:9 picture in a 4:3 letterbox screencap which is why you see black bands on the top and bottom of the picture. In reality they are not there. The graphic data on the right is the HD Wing that is left out on the 4:3 downconversion.

Back to more important matters: The woman - I think her name is Rebecca- that co-hosts the 5pm "Happy Hour" on FBN is quite the looker. And for some reason, she never fails to wear a very short skirt. Yes, you could say she was attractively built.

Her name is Rebecca Gomez. She was on FNC for several years before she was posted to FBN when the network started. (nice Beatles reference!)

Interesting discussion. A quick fun story if I may...

Up until the summer of 2000, Chicagoans had a long running show on our WCIU-TV 26 indie channel called "Stock Market Observer". From 1963 until 1985, it was hosted by the effable Jack Taylor and Kurt Renz, among others, but Jack is still on the radio, on a suburban station in the northern suburbs. It was ahead of its time: Jack hosted for 7 hours a day(!) minus a 30 minute lunch break he took, and then Kurt and a female anchor with a guest took over. It was hardcore stock traders, commodity brokers in their studios talking about stuff. Meanwhile, you could hear the loud clatter of panels with numbers changing like the old airport tickers, telling you the flight status. In the later years, a 4-line ticker for the AMEX, NASDAQ, Dow Jones, and one other for commodities (can't remember which one it was). The transmitter for the longest time was on the Chicago Board of Trade building; even though it was at high power, it was subject to multipath from taller buildings. Still, people would watch it, including me. If "Underdog" on channel 32 was on a rerun I had seen an umpteenth time, I'd flip over to Jack and he'd tell me why the grain market was down this month. From Hogs to bellies, from oil to natural gas, to the DJIA all delayed the mandatory 15 minutes, mind you, it was a great show. It's listed in the Guiness Book of World Records for the show telecast the most hours!

But many of you have forgotten, or didn't know, that a "folksy" business news network had already come about on cable. There was the serious "Financial News Network", with host Bill Griffeth (yep, same guy on CNBC now, and what a day they had on the 1987 crash, I was riveted to their coverage):

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEED61F3FF931A15756C0A967958260

When they merged with the folksy "Consumer News and Business Channel", it got renamed CNBC, and we know the story from there. No matter what political side of the fence you are on, it will be very interesting to see what happens from here. History so far shows two financial networks can't happen, as has been shown with the late CNNfn. We shall see, this will be interesting!

Bears Roaring As Birthday Nears, But FBN Remains Bullish

Financial-News Outlet Sees Positive Outlook for Growth

By MIke Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 10/13/2008 7:44:00 AM

The bear market overwhelming the financial sector — roiled by the economic crisis of the past few weeks — couldn't be happening at a better time for the Fox Business Network.

As FBN approaches the anniversary of its Oct. 15, 2007, launch, the network remains bullish about its prospects in providing financial news to both the Wall Street and Main Street sets, and closing the gap on sector leader CNBC.

The financial upstart has built on an initial base of 30 million homes (the largest launch in cable history) and will count some 43 million subscribers by the end of October. FBN recently signed deals with U.S. Cable and Insight Communications, which next month will begin making FBN available in standard-definition in all of its markets, including Columbus, Ohio, and Louisville, Ky., and its HD feed in many of them, according to Melani Griffith, senior vice president of programming and video services at Insight. The rollouts are expected to be completed by year-end.

In addition to rollouts with its affiliate-launch partners, FBN has gained “millions of homes” from the National Cable Television Cooperative, according to Fox senior vice president of affiliate relations Tim Carry.

Thanks to the fierce resolve of Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, few at Fox are under the impression that success will come quickly or easily. Fox News executive vice president Kevin Magee noted that it took sister service Fox News Channel five years to displace CNN at the top of the cable-news ratings charts. “Then, people said it was unbelievable that it happened so quickly,” he said last Tuesday during an interview in his office, where FBN and CNBC aired side by side.

“Eighty percent of the time I like what I see there,” pointing at the upstart, “better than that one.”

Others might disagree. Andrew Tyndall, who monitors the news programs and networks through the Tyndall Report, said that now-defunct CNNfn also focused more on consumer issues than high finance, and that CNBC would not likely be caught by surprise as CNN was with FNC..

“I don't think [FBN] has made much of an impression,” he said. Tyndall was critical of FBN's efforts to make itself more of a fixture on Main Street, saying there had been only “little crossover” by FBN personalities onto other news outlets during the recent financial crisis.

Au contraire, say the folks at Fox. Alexis Glick appeared on ABC's The View and 20/20 — where Happy Hour's Cody Willard was scheduled to appear on Oct. 10 — and on CBS's The Early Show. Liz Claman has also appeared on the CBS program.

Those personalities and other talent, including Neil Cavuto,senior vice president and managing editor business news for Fox News Channel, as well as FBN contributors Eric Bolling and Charles Payne, have appeared on radio shows, and have significantly increased their presence on Fox broadcast-affiliate newscasts during the crisis.

There have also been FBN simulcasts on Fox News. Glick and Dave Asman have hosted Fox News at 5 p.m. during America's Election Headquarters, while talent from Jenna Lee to Bolling and Brian Sullivan have appeared on FNC.

FBN will also look to build brand and anchor awareness via the multipart series Opportunity in America, beginning Oct. 17. On-air talent will bring viewers to their hometowns and see how they are holding up during the downturn. Claman's return to Beverly Hills, Calif., is scheduled to air first.

The network's reporting mission is geared toward Main Street. Cavuto said FBN is succeeding, judging by anecdotal evidence from e-mail messages, phone calls, passers by and response to call-in shows. He said there was also positive viewer reaction to the network when it aired on-site at the Democratic and Republican political conventions.

Tyndall did credit FBN for building awareness through its weekend coverage during the early stage of the crisis, while CNBC remained in infomercials. Added Magee: “That first weekend (Sept. 27 to 28), [CNBC] really did a great disservice to their audience. While we were reporting on lawmakers talking about the recovery plan, they were in an infomercial about girdles.”

Already, Fox has taken some public swings at its bigger competitor. FBN on Sept. 30 placed ads in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal smacking CNBC for sticking to its normal weekend schedule and trotting out the tagline, “We own this story.”

Then, last Friday, FBN ran ads in those publications, promos on its air, as well as spots on CNBC, via local avails in key Time Warner Cable and Comcast markets, with a headline asking “Can You Afford To Watch CNBC?” From there, it excerpts various quotes and predictions from Mad Money host Jim Cramer, including lines from his Oct. 6 appearance on NBC's Today show, saying, “Whatever money you may need for the next five years, please take it out of the stock market right now, this week.”

CNBC officials declined to comment for this story.

For its part, the financial-news sector leader is having a strong year by many measures.

CNBC is expected to generate almost $628 million in affiliate and advertising revenue, according to SNL Kagan estimates, with cash flow margin at 56%. Sources indicate the network is on pace for record profits in 2008. On the ratings side, 2008 has been CNBC's best year in many moons. The network recorded its most its most-viewed day, September and third quarter ever with total viewers during its business-day programming.

On Sept. 29, the day the Dow Jones Industrial average lost 777 points, CNBC set its all-time record with total viewers, with 726,000 during its 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. business day. It posted a 46% rise to 373,000 from September 2007's average, which was the network's best month with the daypart since March 2001. The first week of October was CNBC's best-ever with 541,000 business-day watchers.

Those figures dwarf those for FBN.

Data obtained by Multichannel News, though, shows that FBN's Nielsens have been rising during the financial crisis. In the most recent full week from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, FBN averaged 32,000 viewers during its business-day period of 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. In primetime, it averaged 57,000 that week.

By way of comparison, Fox News averaged 20,000 and 30,000 viewers in total day and primetime, respectively, during October 1997, its first-year anniversary month.

For all of September, the service had 13,000 business-day watchers on average and 26,000 in primetime. From when the crisis first erupted on Sept. 15 through Oct. 7, FBN's business-day period averaged 24,000 and 42,000 in primetime. Most of FBN's top 10 most-watched periods — led by 124,000 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 29 and 104,000 in the earlier hour that night — have occurred during these recent tumultuous weeks.

FBN said the network is not a full-service Nielsen client and not publicly rated at this time. It was unclear when that transition would be made.

CNBC's established position and coverage aside, FBN's Nielsen shortfalls can be attributed to various other factors: its fledgling status, a more than 50 million-home disparity in subscribers — CNBC has 95 million subscribers — and its positioning largely on digital cable.

Indeed, outside of its expanded-basic positioning on Time Warner Cable in Manhattan, FBN resides on digital tiers, making it harder to find viewers and generate ratings points.

“I think what we are clearly seeing is people finding us and liking us,” said Cavuto. “And let's face it: We're a tough find on a lot of digital cable systems. We're way up there on the channel spectrum.”

Carry said some steps will be taken next year to help lift the profile of FBN, which he said is in “a delta between analog and digital” and at a disadvantage to CNBC.

“The network is a year old and we have great distribution, but our job next year will be to get more people to find it.”

To that end, Carry said the plan is to complement a reprise of the Fox & Friends promotional program that Fox News Channel ran in 2006 and 2007 next year, with an FBN initiative aimed at driving tune-in for the network. The FBN program will also be “a revenue generator for our affiliates. There has been a good response on a local ad sales level” for insertion of the network.

He’s also very confident that FBN more than holds its own with CNBC relative to talent and content, when consumers see it in the high-definition space. “We’re different and we look better,” he averred.

Insight’s Griffith said FBN’s HD position is impressive. “FBN winged-HD screen look is good and provides viewers with additional information,” she said. “FBN is 100% true HD and we appreciate that it’s difficult to do news in HD.”

Griffith noted that Insight, which conducts monthly polling from its various districts, tabulating call-center and email, has found that FBN has been one of the most requested channels since its launch. She added that Dave Ramsey, a nationally syndicated radio talk-show personality, who offers financial advice on the network during primetime, has a strong following in Louisville.

“Dave Ramsey is hot in Louisville,” she said. “I think viewers are going to be excited.”

Louisville might not be the only new market that will open up to Ramsey and rest of FBN’s lineup in the near future.

Sources close to negotiations indicate that FBN is closing in on a deal with one of three main holdouts: Dish Network, Cablevision and Cox.

Meanwhile, Magee says FBN will continue to pursue viewers, CNBC and profitability, which is not expected to come until 2011, like Aesop’s shelled character – along a steady course and pace.

“We want to make the shows so good that cable operators can’t afford not to have FBN on,” he said, “just like they can’t afford not to have Fox News Channel.”

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6604709.html

why isnt "happy hour" at the bull n bear bar ?

edit: renovations to bar.

Fox Business Network's Studio G video tour
video length 2:45 (http://vimeo.com/4203575)

Broadcasting & Cable Senior Editor Glen Dickson gets a sneak preview of Studio G, Fox Business Network's new high-tech studio overlooking 6th Avenue from the third floor of News Corp.'s headquarters in New York City.


original source (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/video/B_C_VIDEO/1970-Video_Tour_Fox_Business_Network_s_Studio_G.php)