The case against FOX Business channel?
Daniel Gross in Slate puts forth the notion that it’s not going to be a slam dunk for FOX Business Channel to overtake CNBC the way FOX News overtook CNN. I think CNBC is somewhat vulnerable but Gross makes some interesting points that Roger Ailes will have to overcome in order for the new FOX Business Channel to succeed. Nut graph…
It’s an open question if Ailes can replicate his Fox News success in business news. Fox News Channel succeeded because it easily and smartly defined itself in opposition to what its core audience perceived to be bias on the part of the other networks. But nobody regards CNBC and Bloomberg TV the way Fox viewers regarded CNN and MSNBC. And CNBC has solid right-wing credentials. Mark Haines, the host of Squawk Box, routinely greets his colleagues at CNBC Europe by asking what’s going on in Socialist Land. CNBC’s idea of a leftist is a Wall Street Democrat like Roger Altman. And the network has given over an entire show to supply-sider Larry Kudlow. The gang at CNBC bears some resemblance to the House Republican caucus—an all-white, overwhelmingly male group in which centrists are branded as liberals and marginalized.
Gross’s article carries the whiff of a liberal point of view and that needs to be kept in mind. But one thing is certain. If there’s one thing that we’ve learned it’s that Roger Ailes is no dummy and if there is a way to displace CNBC, Ailes; who used to run CNBC, is probably the one guy who can do it.
YEA, but the thing to keep in mind is most viewers of a BUSINESS CHANNEL are in offices and the such and NOT counted in the ratings. ALSO aile’s has to wonder IF the Fox Business Channel will cut into the Fox “news” channel’s audience. If that is the case, he may be robbing peter to pay paul.
Comment by Hairy — June 23, 2005 @ 9:24 pm
Jon Klein said he didn’t worry about HLN Prime cannibalizing CNN.Funny because Grace usually beats every show except LKL on CNN. I’m sure Cavuto will go to FOX Biz and take his viewers with him.
Comment by anonymous — June 25, 2005 @ 11:07 pm
“And the network has given over an entire show to supply-sider Larry Kudlow.” Larry Kudlow, hah! What a pompous lowbrow blowhard. He’s becoming known as “the Nutty Professor aka the “mad scientist of finance”. I think he’s just rolled up his sleeves too tight and cut off the blood flow to his better judgement. Bwhaa,ha,ha,ha,ha!
Comment by Roger — August 7, 2005 @ 5:37 pm