Fox Business Network Update

The Fox Business Network has been around since October and I thought it was about time to do a progress report. My assessment is that the company is making a major splash early and could alter the ways business news is delivered. Here are a few observations:

* Fox Business, unlike CNBC is more personality driven. It is true that the latter has its "money honeys", but even as a news junky, I have a hard time remembering who they all are.

* Fox Business gives each of its shows their own unique format. CNBC is driven almost entirely by stock related news and it is difficult to differentiate their shows from one another. Fox has different environments (an actual bar for "Happy Hour") and formats (such as Dave Ramsey on "financial freedom"). CNBC, which I actually like, tends to blur between the lines in a way Fox has successfully avoided.

* Fox is multi-generational in scope. With the various settings and topics, as well as with the more youthful personalities, I see Fox Business creating a bridge that will make business news more relevant to a wider audience.

Fox is still early in its venture, so I don't want to jump to any dramatic conclusions, but my gut tells me that Fox should be good for business.

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Dave Ramsey on Fox Business

My search for Fox Business is over! I found it on channel 359 on Direct TV (for others who have that service, but don't know where the channel can be found). I found the station to be very fresh, similar to its sister station, Fox News.

One of the things that always concern me about business programming is that such networks often disregard business beyond Wall Street. It is too early to see how Fox will be (unfortunately, I had to work much of the day and didn't get to watch every minute of it), but I was please to see the direction it appears to be going.

In particular, I was delighted to see the Dave Ramsey television show on Fox Business. Dave is an old friend who has been a guest on my own show back when he too was on AM 650 locally. Dave does an excellent job of addressing the "rubber meets the road" issues when it comes to personal finances. Most of our personal dollars are saved and spent on Main Street, rather than Wall Street and he provides great advise in that arena.

I know it is early, but I'm pleased to see the good things going on at the new Fox Business Network.

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