Marketwatch.com‘s Jon Friedman writes about the serious side of the much talked (and blogged)-about rivalry between CNBC anchors Maria Bartiromo and Erin Burnett. (on MSNBC recently, Burnett was referencing Bartiromo when she said “my good friend Maria Bartiromo… yes, I want that on the record, been great friends for a long time.”)
Friedman writes: “CNBC is counting on Bartiromo and Burnett, among others, to help the General Electric subsidiary fight off a serious challenge from the Fox Business Network. It begins operations on Oct. 15.”
“The business media are regarding Fox as a significant threat to CNBC. Fox will undoubtedly assemble fiercely competitive anchors and reporters – and throw its considerable marketing muscle behind the new venture.”
Friedman writes about being at the TVNewser party just days after anchor Liz Claman left CNBC. “When I pointedly asked her where she expected to be working next, she quipped: ‘I’m going to cross up everyone and join Al Jazeera!”
With her CNBC non-compete ending the day FBN launches, the smart money is on a Claman move to Fox.