First on TVNewser: Maria Bartiromo’s new Fox Business show officially has a name and a place in the FBN lineup. Beginning February 24, the former CNBCer will host “Opening Bell with Maria Bartiromo” from 9-11amET.
Bartiromo officially joined FBN from CNBC, where she anchored “Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo,” last month. She made her first FBN appearance yesterday and she will be on “The O’Reilly Factor” making her first Fox News appearance tonight.
The launch of Bartiromo’s show sets off a slew of changes to the FBN lineup. With Bartiromo going on the air at 9amET, “Imus in the Morning” will end 20 minutes earlier. “Varney & Co.,” which currently airs from 9:20 to 11amET, will slide to 11am to 1pmET. “Markets Now,” FBN’s four-hour block helmed by a rotating cast of FBN anchors, will be condensed to one hour and will air from 1pmET-2pmET.
Fox Business has also announced the hire of Deirdre Bolton, who joins the network after 15 years at Bloomberg TV. When Bolton officially joins FBN later this year, she will take over the 1pmET hour with an as-yet-unnamed show.
The channel has also announced a few other programming changes: “Money with Melissa Francis” will move from 5pmET to 2pmET. In a reversal of the primetime shakeup FBN implemented in 2012, “The Willis Report with Gerri Willis” will move back to 5pmET and “Cavuto” will move back to 6pmET, with a re-air at 8pmET.
“Our new schedule will enhance our ability to deliver timely key business news and we are thrilled to debut fresh programming with an all-star team,” Fox Business EVP Kevin Magee said in a statement.