As stock markets dropped heavily across the world yesterday, the young Fox Business Network was the only U.S. financial news cable channel live throughout the day. The decision by CNBC to stay with taped programming Monday was being questioned today as the U.S. markets saw a steep decline.
Variety’s Sam Thielman writes about FBN landing the “big scoop” yesterday. “Because FBN emphasizes live programming so much, it was poised to cover the day’s market plunges live,” he wrote.
Worldwide Exchange, the only live program on CNBC yesterday, aired from 4-6amET and covered the close of the trading day in Asia and the opening of the European markets.
Despite their global CNBC channels which were live, the American network stuck with the original taped schedule. A CNBC spokesperson tells TVNewser, “We will not comment on internal editorial decisions.”
The spokesperson also noted the high web traffic from yesterday: “Our audience turned to CNBC.com in record numbers for a steady stream of breaking news, plus analysis and advice from our reporters around the world.”
An FBN spokesperson says of the programming decision, “First in Business Worldwide? More like First in Tape.”
>Related: Although they may have missed the boat yesterday, Verne Gay of Newsday writes, “Today is the day, no doubt about it, to watch CNBC.”