Kennedy, hosted by Lisa Kennedy Montgomery, will air for the last time June 1 on Fox Business Network, B+C has learned, with reruns of the Larry Kudlow show Kudlow moving into the 7 p.m. ET slot Monday through Thursday starting June 5. 

Kudlow airs in the 4 p.m. weekday slot. The host, who was assistant to the president for economic policy and director of the National Economic Council under President Donald Trump, joined Fox Business in 2021. 

Kennedy host Montgomery will remain at Fox News Media, popping up on other programs, including Outnumbered and The Five, to discuss news, politics and pop culture. She also hosts the Fox News podcast “Kennedy Saves the World“ and is currently on a comedy tour with Jimmy Failla of Fox News Radio. 

Lisa Kennedy Montgomery joined Fox Business Network as a contributor in 2012 and Kennedy launched in 2015. She got her start in television as a VJ on MTV in 1992. 

Fridays are also seeing a change at Fox Business, with Wall Street Journal at Large with Gerry Baker no longer in the 7:30 p.m. slot, and Barron’s Roundtable moving into that slot. Barron’s Roundtable is currently on Saturdays at 10 a.m.

Baker will continue to contribute to Fox News Media. 

Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street is on at 7 p.m. on Fridays. 

Fox Business Network premieres its “FBN Prime” slate Monday, April 24. Cops joins the lineup, airing Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET. 

“We are thrilled to debut the fourth season of ‘FBN Prime,’” said Lauren Petterson, Fox Business president. “The lineup once again features touching and inspiring stories that showcase the individuals that make this country so special.”

Starting that Monday, Stuart Varney’s American Built begins season four at 9 p.m., with another episode at 9:30 p.m. The Pebble Beach golf course, the Stinger Missile and Mars Rover will be among those getting their close-up this season. 

On Tuesdays, Danielle Trotta hosts My Dream Car in the 9 p.m. slot. Season two sees the show detail the history of American automobiles and the journey of families finding, buying and resurrecting the car their parents once owned. 

Wednesdays have Mansion Global at 9 and 9:30. Katrina Campins looks at the most lavish real estate listings. 

Thursdays feature Cops, which streamer Fox Nation began airing in fall 2021. The show premiered on Fox in 1989 and shows real-life police officers doing their jobs, including marking arrests. 

Spike TV picked up Cops in 2013 after its long run on Fox. Spike became Paramount Network and Cops continued airing on the channel, until Paramount cancelled the show in 2020, amidst the protests following George Floyd’s death at the hands of law enforcement. 

“The program shines a light on the many women and men in law enforcement and conveys the unpredictable situations and interesting people they face daily to keep Americans safe,” Fox Business said. 

Fox News Media is telling advertisers they don’t have to run commercials in news coverage to take advantage of the big Fox News Channel audience in an election year.

At its upfront presentation for advertisers Tuesday, Fox News will be outlining packages that only include lifestyle and weather programming, late-night programming and connected TV programming, Jeff Collins, executive VP at Fox News Media, told Broadcasting+Cable.

Recent headlines from the $1.6 billion defamation suit that Dominion Voting Systems levied against Fox News indicated that network executives, producers and on-air personalities knew what the channel was reporting about election fraud was baloney.

Despite polls suggesting the revelations have turned off some viewers, Collins said it hasn’t affected ad revenue. 

“In fact, we’ve seen no impact,“ Collins said. “We have not had one advertiser cancel or pause or reduce their schedule with us.” 

As one media buyer said: “Most of our clients decided some time ago whether they were comfortable airing on Fox News, and any news properties, or not. That is mostly unchanged.”

An analysis by iSpot.tv found that in January and February, Fox News had 649 advertisers, little changed from the 642 advertisers it had in January and February of 2022. The biggest advertisers on Fox News were Balance of Nature, My Pillow and Nutrisystem.

Viewing Up Despite Cord-Cutting

At a time when cord-cutting is ravishing cable networks, Fox News viewership is up 11%, one of just two cable networks to grow in 2022. 

“We continue to see a lot of strength in linear,” Collins said. “We may be defying gravity right now.”

Collins said that while most of the industry is cutting back, Fox News is leaning in, investing in new programming. Since its last presentation, before the pandemic, ”we have a lot of new content that we’ve launched over the last several years. So we want to get that out front of advertisers.”

In particular, Collins says Fox News is investing in covering stories from the whole country.

“Many other networks are flying over states,“ he said. ”We’re flying into them and telling those stories and that's a really important point of distinction for us.”

Some of that programming is in nontraditional categories for a news network, and Fox News will give advertisers packages of only non-news programming if that’s what they want.

Fox Business Network’s primetime programming now features lifestyle shows like American Dream Home, Mansion Global and How America Works.

That programming has been very popular with clients because of opportunities for contextually relevant placement. For example, bedding marketer Boll & Branch sponsored segments in Mansion Global in which their sheets were featured in the bedrooms.

Lifestyle programming from the Fox Nation streaming service has also been popping up Sundays on Fox News Channel, giving an advertiser like Camping World the opportunity to sponsor Yellowstone 150, with Kevin Costner.

Fox’s late-night show, Gutfeld, has also started to attract Colbert, Kimmel and Fallon advertisers. “We’re working with clients that want to run Gutfeld-only plans,” Collins said. In terms of pricing, “I wouldn't say we're quite up to where a broadcast level would be. I would say it's a work in progress.”

Meanwhile, Fox Weather has increased distribution and leads a group of digital and streaming properties available to advertisers.

To be sure, the upfront will feature many familiar Fox News anchors and correspondents. 

Election-Ready

But most crucially the big story coming up is the election and Fox News expects to generate big numbers with debates, primaries and ultimately Election Day.

“It’s coming and it’s coming quickly,“ Collins said. ”The first Republican debate is going to be this summer. It’s coming actually before the upfront.”

Four years ago, the first Republican debate in August drew 24 million viewers. 

“We expect and anticipate, given the competitive field, that there’s going to be as much interest,” Collins said. “We’re also excited to be able to talk about the fact that we’re reaching a more politically diverse audience than any other network out there, with more Democrats and independents watching Fox News than the cable news competition.”

Collins said he is planning to bring in four major sponsors for election coverage across the Fox News portfolio. Some of those conversations are already going on and might result in deals before there is movement in the overall upfront market. 

Fox News will hold aside some election inventory for movie studios, streaming services and other advertisers launching new products that want to reach the large audiences it expects to attract.

Collins said Fox is willing to work with advertisers in the currencies they want to use, but at this point most alternative currencies are being used on a supplemental basis. “People still want to see their Nielsen currency and transact on that. That, by and large, is what we’re seeing, but they want secondary looks and secondary reads to be able to go a level deeper.”

Fox News offers research on business outcomes and return on investment. “We are in my mind, the most efficient and effective medium out there for an advertiser’s messaging,“ Collins said. “In any sort of ROI study, we perform very well.” 

While the end of last year and the beginning of the first quarter were rough, Collins said that over the last several weeks and months business has been picking up. 

“I wouldn't attribute that to anything that’s been written about us,” he said. ■

Fox Business Network anchor Liz Claman is looking forward to covering CES 2023 in Las Vegas next month.

Last year, because of COVID-19, most of Claman’s competitors stayed away from the massive consumer electronics showcase. Their loss, Claman told Broadcasting+Cable.

“Why wouldn’t we go? That’s what we do in journalism,” she said. The big story was the supply chain clog caused by a shortage of microchips. “Every single thing on the millions of square feet at CES needs a microchip. People needed technology more than ever during COVID and during the lockdown and these were the companies that were right at the forefront, stepping it up.”

This year, Claman will be back and Fox News Media is one of CES’s official media partners for the first time.

“We are thrilled to welcome Fox Business to our fantastic lineup of top-tier media partners from around the world for CES 2023,” a CES spokesperson said.

Claman has been covering CES since her early days in the TV business as a cub reporter for WSYX Columbus, Ohio, in 1989. “I convinced them to send me and a cameraman because technology is the way of the future,“ she said. “I was fascinated and I was hooked completely.”

Fox News becoming an official CES media partner was exciting to Claman. “I probably levitate three feet off the ground when I hear that because it is the most important trade show in America and the most important tech trade show in the world, in my opinion,” she said.

The arrangement will bring additional exposure to all of Fox News’ platforms and enables Fox News to stream content within the CES Digital Venue.

The official media partner designation will also give Fox Business additional access to companies and executives, Claman said.

The day before the conference starts, she will be doing her show live from Qualcomm’s headquarters in San Diego. “I’m going to be there with the CEO. They’re the largest chipmaker for smartphones but they’re expanding big into the auto business,” Claman said. “There are more than 1,000 microchips in your average electric vehicle and Qualcomm wants to own that. They will be at CES, but we’re grabbing them first.”

Claman will also host the CES 2023 Leaders in Technology Dinner for the fourth time and have a discussion with the dinner’s headline speaker Adena Friedman, president and CEO of NASDAQ.

“As one of the most respected business journalists in America, we’re honored to have Liz join us again on the stage at CES to lead this thought-provoking conversation,” said Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, which puts on CES.

Interviewing Friedman will be interesting because the NASDAQ is home to many disruptive tech companies, Claman said. Claman plans to ask Friedman what she sees for 2023, what she’s seen on the conference floor and how the exchange plans to grow at a time when the initial public offering market has dried up and the special purpose acquisition company market has shriveled.

Claman will be scouring the convention looking for the technology that everyone will want to have on their hands, while avoiding the flashes in the pans.

While Fox Business will have a prime broadcast location, Claman plans to drag her crew from one end of the huge conference to the other.

“I didn’t fly 3,000 miles across the country to sit at CES,” she said. “I drive my team crazy. I’m walking, I’m moving, I’m running. They’re going to have 2 million square feet of space to cover. We can go live from anywhere on that floor. We’ll map it out and run from guest to guest. It’s a little frantic but, I live for it. I love the challenge.”

As a CES veteran, Claman knows some tricks for covering the sprawling event. “I have a whole system of what should I wear. And believe me, they’re not high heels. It’s fun to see the newbies show up in skirts and stilettos and then by the end of the day they can’t move.”

At last year’s CES she took to TikTok at the handle @RedFoxLiz and now has about 250,000 followers. This year, she might make TikTok videos live from the CES floor. The new media attracts different viewers. “Sometimes I’m walking down the street and people will point at me and say you, you you’re the . . . TikTok lady who does the stock-market stuff,” she said, adding, “my kids are thrilled and mortified.”

Speaking of kids, there is one thing that can keep Claman away from opening day at CES. She’ll be dropping her son Julian off at USC. “At some point, I’ve got to be a mom,” she said. ■

Fox Business Network is celebrating its 15th year in the competitive and expanding financial business genre with an eye on offering viewers comprehensive coverage of the financial markets through a variety of news and opinion-themed shows.

Leading the network's charge is veteran Fox News executive Lauren Petterson, who took over as president of Fox Business in 2019. Petterson, who also serves as Fox News Channel's head of talent development, has looked to position Fox Business as a network that appeals to both the financial community as well as individual investors looking for financial guidance though original programming featuring such network personalities as Stuart Varney, Charles Payne and Neil Cavuto. 

The network's "FBN Prime" block of celebrity-driven, primetime original programming seeks to broaden the network's reach by appealing to general audiences with shows from Mike Rowe (How America Works) and Kelsey Grammer (Historical Battles for America: Crucial Conflicts). Fox Business has also teamed with sister digital service Fox Nation to offer such original series as American Dynasty.

Petterson discusses the network's programming strategy as well as the impact of market uncertainty on the financial network business in an interview edited for space and clarity. 

MCN: How would you define Fox Business Network’s brand and programming strategy? 

Lauren Petterson: I think the business consumer has changed so much over the last couple of years. I see these graduates from college now managing their own money and buying their own stock. So it's not just speaking to the institutional investor anymore — which by the way, is certainly important — but it’s talking to the individual investor as well. It's everyone from Wall Street to your street. So when I came over, what I really wanted to do was not talk down to people but to inform, entertain and have a conversation with them. Business news does not have to be boring; let's not use fancy jargon or be condescending and elitist, because money hits everyone. So we still obviously cover the markets, and we have the big names in business news, but we’ve also made a point to focus on the key kitchen table issues. I think that's why we've seen our recent success because we're not doing financial news only, but we’re doing business news.

MCN: How has the network differentiated itself from other business-themed networks in the marketplace? 

LP: Our competition is really speaking to the institutional investor — if you’re not part of a publicly traded company, you don’t get to come on and tell your story. We do those things as well, but covering the markets during the day is a very small piece of the pie. I want to build a bigger pie, so you have to invite more people to have a seat at the table. One way we’ve done that is launch our Town Hall series once a month where we invite a live studio audience to talk with experts in the field. [The experts] are not talking down to them but trying to help them understand some pretty complicated things. Stu Varney in particular does an amazing job of making things digestible in an engaged way that feels personal. That’s one of the ways we differentiate ourselves during the day, and because of it we’ve added so many blue chip advertisers like Vanguard, PNC Bank and Bristol Myers Squibb, just to name a few. 

MCN: What has been the strategy behind the network’s ‘FBN Prime’ block of programming, which features programming from celebrities like Mike Rowe and Kelsey Grammer?

LP: When I came over, we looked at what we should be doing in primetime. We had some opinion shows, which didn’t make a lot of sense because the Fox News Channel owns that space at night. We thought about doing more live business coverage, but that didn’t make much sense either, because the data shows that the business viewer has had their fill and disappears around dinner time. We know our viewers want value, they want to be inspired, they’re very entrepreneurial and believe in the American dream, so what would that look like? We’ve had Mike Rowe on as a guest over the years, and we thought, ‘Who’s better at explaining how America works?’ So we partnered with him on a show that looks at ordinary people doing extraordinary things to keep the lights on and to keep food on the table. With Kelsey, we’re dipping into the history space. History is so tied in with business news and how our viewers feel and think. It is the same with American Built with Stu Varney. The content is brand-safe and has brought in a boatload of new advertisers. 

MCN: Given all of the market uncertainty that the country is facing, how do you see the business news landscape developing through the rest of the year and into 2023?

LP: I think the audience is going to continue to grow. The viewers are for the most part back to work and back to their morning habits, so we’re up [in ratings] about 85% in the mornings over the last nine months. As people have gone back to work they’re craving more information about their money, so we’re watching the linear channel grow. We’re going to keep investing in the linear channel, but we’re certainly looking at other pieces of our business on the streaming and digital side. YouTube has been a great platform for us — our growth there is up almost 200%.

MCN: Do you foresee more competition coming into the marketplace?

LP: Yes I think so, not only from new financial networks but from the major networks as well. I think the other media companies are just discovering that there’s something called inflation that we’ve been talking about for 11 months, so I think you’re going to see more financial coverage. I’m already seeing more business reporters, economic experts and analysts on the networks now. But we own the space in a very unique way, so bring it on. ▪️

Fox Business Network on air host Charles Payne will host a February 23 Black History Month-themed special focusing on successful African-Americans in business.

The show, Making Money with Charles Payne: Black History and Achieving the Dream, will celebrate success stories of Blacks in business and politics, according to network officials. 

For the special episode Payne will be joined by former former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, real estate investment company Peebles Corporation CEO Don Peebles and Virginia Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Sears, said the network. 

Also: Weekly Cable Ratings: Fox News Extends Primetime, Total Day Streak

Eric Spinato, a senior head booker and senior story editor for Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, died over the weekend, the network announced on air Monday.

He was described as "a driving force" in launching Fox Business in 2007.

Also Read: FBN Tackles Run-Offs

CNN reported that Spinato's brother, Dean, said on social media that his brother had died of COVID-19.

Maria Bartiromo saluted Spinato as a dear friend and talented colleague. Fox did not disclose his age but according to reports he was 52.

"Please pray for the family of Eric Spinato," tweeted Kayleigh McEnany, former White House Press Secretary under President Trump. "This is a sad and tragic loss for the Fox family. I worked with Eric after college, and he was wonderful. Sending prayers." 

Before joining Fox, Spinato had been senior program producer at MSNBC (Rita Cosby: Live & Direct) and before that an editorial producer and anchor for CNN (Paula Zahn Now).

He had served an earlier stint at FNC as senior producer and head booker from 1998 to 2004, according to his Linked In profile.

Also Read: Fox News Streaming Service Expands

His resume also included news producer for The Montel Williams Show, assignment editor at News 12 Long Island and managing editor at WLNY-TV Melville, N.Y.

He had a BA in communications of arts, TV and radio from the New York Institute of Technology.

Fox Business Network has signed New York based investigative reporter Lydia Hu as a correspondent, the network said Thursday.

Hu will begin her tenure as a New York based correspondent at the channel on Feb. 15, network executives said. 

Also Read: Larry Kudlow Joins Fox Business Network

Hu formerly worked as a general assignment reporter for NY1 in New York, covering among other stories the plight of New York City hospitals throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to joining NY1, Hu served as an investigative reporter and weekend evening anchor at Fox affiliate WRBC-TV in Birmingham, Ala. She got her start in the industry as an intern in the investigative unit at New York NBC affiliate WNBC-TV.

Also Read: FBN Tackles Senate Run-Off

Former White House Economic advisor Larry Kudlow, himself a former business show co-host (CNBC's Kudlow & Cramer), is joining Fox Business Network as a contributor. 

He will host his own weekday program in addition to providing "expert financial analysis on domestic and global affairs across all Fox News Media platforms."

"Fox News Media was among the first news organizations in the country to understand the critical importance of the relationship between Washington and Wall Street," said Kudlow. "I’ve long admired their insightful coverage and am excited to join many of my former colleagues now at FBN, creating a show that speaks to the real issues truly impacting Americans."

Kudlow was assistant to the president for economic policy and director of the National Economic Council starting in 2018.

Trish Regan has exited Fox Business Network, Fox confirmed Friday.

Regan said she was leaving to spend more time with her family during the current crisis, but the exit comes only a couple weeks after she got blowback for saying coronavirus concerns were a "scam" propagated by foes of President Trump.

"Fox Business has parted ways with Trish Regan - we thank her for her contributions to the network over the years and wish her continued success in her future endeavors," said Fox Business in a statement. "We will continue our reduced live prime time schedule for the foreseeable future in an effort to allocate staff resources to continuous breaking news coverage on the Coronavirus crisis."

"I have enjoyed my time at Fox and now intend to focus on my family during these troubled times," said Regan in a statement. "I am grateful to my incredible team at FOX Business and for the many opportunities the network has provided me. I’m looking forward to this next chapter in my career."

Fox's Neil Cavuto has been named by the Business News Visionary Awards (BNVA) to the class of 2020. He is one of 52 business journalists to be honored and showcased weekly both online and in a book being published early next year.

Cavuto has been employed at CNBC, Fox News and Fox Business Network. As senior VP of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, Cavuto oversees a team of correspondents, anchors and producers.

"Neil recognized the potential to make broadcast business journalism understandable to every type of viewer, not just professionals," said Dean Rotbart, BNVA chair and editor in chief.

Cavuto started his career as bureau chief for The Nightly Business Report. He joined Fox Business Network in 2007 and currently hosts Cavuto: Coast to Coast as well as Cavuto Live and Your World with Neil Cavuto on Fox News.

"I think the one thing you learn from people who stand out in this industry, in any industry, is the key to their longevity is their work ethic," Cavuto said.

Lauren Petterson has been named President of FOX Business Network (FBN), replacing longtime network executive Brian Jones, the network said Thursday.

Petterson, who most recently served as senior vice president of morning programming and talent development for FNC, will oversee operations for the 12-year old Fox Business, as well as continue to oversee talent development at Fox News Channel, according to network officials. Petterson will report to Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott.

“Lauren has extraordinary skills in developing programming and working with talent and I am confident she will lead FOX Business to even further success,” Scott said in a statement.

Added Petterson: “I’m thrilled to take on this new, challenging role at a pivotal time in business news and look forward to working with such a dedicated and talented staff both on and off the air.”

Jones, who was named the network’s first ever president in 2017, had helmed the launch team for Fox Business in 2007, and during his tenure oversaw the ratings increases over CNBC during key market hours and early evening timeslots.

“Brian is a talented executive and a distinguished colleague who built Fox Business and accomplished a great deal during his 20 years of combined service at both FBN and FNC,” said Scott. “We wish him continued success as he embarks on his next chapter.”

RELATED: For Brian Jones, It’s All Business Leading a Net On a Roll

Jones added, “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Lauren for several years. Always a kind, creative and collaborative colleague, I’m sure she will lead the hard working Fox Business team to the next level.”

Fox Business Network is remaking and expanding its primetime lineup.

The net said Tuesday (Sept. 18) it will be moving Trish Regan to 8 p.m. to host a new show, Trish Regan Primetime, about the intersection of policy and Wall Street. That bumps Kennedy Live to 9 p.m. and means the the business news network will have live programming until 10 p.m.

"[W]e are excited to extend our live programming through 10PM, ensuring all of our viewers get the most robust and comprehensive look at how the political economy affects their everyday lives," said FBN President Brian Jones.

Regan's new show will feature a rotating group of experts looking at how Washington policy affects the economy, markets and personal finance.

The show debuts Oct. 15, but it would have had plenty to talk about Tuesday as the Trump Administration announced $200 billion in tariffs, a trade policy that has tech companies nervous about its impact on their business and consumers.

As part of the expansion, Making Money moves from 6 p.m. to the 2 p.m. slot that had been the home of Regan's The Intelligence Report. The Evening Edit With Elizabeth McDonald moves to 6 p.m., but Lou Dobbs will remain in his 7 p.m. slot.

When Brian Jones was officially named as Fox Business Network’s first-ever president in May, he inherited a channel on a major ratings roll. The financial news outlet posted a record second quarter in total viewers and increased its audience year-to-year in the quarter by 12%. More importantly, Fox Business has beaten its chief rival, CNBC, in total viewers across the business day (9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) for a network-record three consecutive quarters, dating back to third-quarter 2016.

Jones, who was senior vice president of operations when Fox Business launched in 2007 and most recently served as the network’s executive VP, spoke to Multichannel News programming editor R. Thomas Umstead about the network’s ratings fortunes, as well as the overall cable news business.

Related: 10 TV News Titans [subscription required]

MCN:You are taking over a network that’s on quite a ratings climb. How would you define the Fox Business brand?
Brian Jones: It’s an exciting time. We have a fantastic staff and to see them finally get the recognition that they deserve after 10 hard years of slogging through this is great. We have some fantastic young journalists, and some of the most experienced business journalists that have ever been put together [on a team]. We talk to people, not at people, and we try to put these very important economic concepts into relatable, approachable terms that people understand. We’re talking about health care, tax reform and jobs. You know, these are things that impact every American regardless of economic strata in this country. So we try to give them information that they can use to either keep more of the money that they have or make more money for their families.

MCN:What is it about this current environment that has allowed Fox Business to build its year-to-year ratings growth?
BJ: I think people found the network. We launched it [in 2007] right at the start of the financial crisis. Back during the internet boom, you couldn’t talk to anybody that wasn’t involved in the stock market, but that all went away. … At the same time, the whole media landscape was either changing or fragmenting. So then what happens is that people need actionable information to protect themselves and protect their families. Then, because of those two [Republican primary] debates [telecast by FBN], viewers found in us a network that they liked, and they saw that we have the deepest bench in economic business that’s ever been put together — Maria Bartiromo, Stuart Varney, Neil Cavuto and Lou Dobbs. The lineup is replete with experience in context and analysis so that people can make actionable decisions.

MCN:How do you view today’s cable news landscape?
BJ: I think it’s just an important time for news. I think newspapers — and especially the digital side of newspapers — are growing because people need information. This is a very volatile time, and important issues like health care, taxes, jobs and technology are affecting and will affect you and your kids and your family’s future, and you want the information to put that in context so that you can make the right decision.

MCN:Having said that, what challenges does Fox Business faces as it continues growing?
BJ: I think we’ll be able to solidify our business day because that’s where we do the best journalism and the best coverage of these important issues. Our next challenge, and it’s always been a challenge, is reaching younger viewers. I’ve got kids in their 20s, and they don’t watch business news. They don’t yet understand the importance of this. So it’s getting this information in the younger people’s hands so that they understand when they start getting married and buy houses and buy cars and start planning for their futures that there’s a home for them to go to get information to make those decisions.

MCN:So exactly how do you reach a millennial viewer that’s not necessarily depending on linear cable news networks for information?
BJ: From a business perspective, we’re making sure that our product is available on any platform. I want the person walking down the street with a smartphone or in a home with a tablet or on the [over-the-top] platforms that are emerging to be able to access our content. We are platform-neutral, and as the industry changes we have to make sure that people are aware it’s out there.

We want to make sure that the information on this network is something that helps the entire family. So we choose topics and then put that information in context so that a younger person who is trying to just get going in their first job or their first serious relationship knows what banking means and what the new laws mean to them and how it’s going to affect their first paycheck.

MCN:Recently the network suspended on-air host Charles Payne amid sexual harassment allegations. Where does the network stand with regard to Mr. Payne?
BJ: I can’t talk to employee situations. It is still under investigation and we’ll wait for the outcome of that investigation.

MCN:Have the allegations and the investigation tainted the Fox Business brand at all?
BJ: No, I mean we are focusing on the mission that I just outlined.

Fox Business Network has re-signed on-air host Charles Payne to a multi-year agreement, the network said Wednesday (June 7).

As part of the agreement, Payne will continue to host the network’s Making Money weekninght series, which launched in 2014. The program, which explores investment opportunities based on the day’s top stories, has seen a double-digit increase in both total viewers and the advertiser friendly 25-54 demographic over the past year, according to FBN.

Payne has been with the network since its launch in 2007, having initally served as a contributor, providing market commentary across both FBN and Fox News Channel.

“Charles’ ability to identify news-driven investment opportunities has made his show appointment viewing for the business audience,” said Brian Jones, president of Fox Business Network in a statement. “We’re thrilled to have him continue in his role as host of Making Money, which is the number one program in its timeslot. 

Fox Business Network anchors moderating the early GOP presidential debate Thursday said of Sen. Rand Paul that “it’s his loss” if he in fact opts out of the event, as he has said he will.

“It’s his loss, really, when you think about the many millions of Americans that are tuning in on Thursday night and want to hear these substantive policy issues discussed,” Trish Regan told Multichannel News on Tuesday, speaking by phone from the event venue in North Charleston, S.C. “By him not participating he’s losing out on a huge number of people that could have heard his message.”

Sandra Smith, her co-moderator for the 6 p.m. preliminary-round debate that precedes the main event at 9 p.m., said New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie scored points in the undercard event on Nov. 10, the first time FBN hosted debates. Since then Christie, while still trailing several other candidates in the race, has gained enough in the polls that he is in the leaders’ debate on Thursday. “That first debate is still key for these candidates to be in a position to make a big move if they want to,” Smith said. “There’s less people in that first debate. They clearly can get their message across if they choose to.” 

Paul, the Kentucky senator, balked after FBN on Monday set the slates for the main GOP presidential debate, which includes top-seven poll leaders Donald Trump; Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio; Dr. Ben Carson; Christie; Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. FBN's Neil Cavuto and Maria Bartiromo will moderate the main event.

Paul, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum would appear in the undercard.

"I don’t think the media should have the power to predetermine elections," Paul told CNN Monday (Jan. 11). He said he thought FBN made a mistake by "pre-deciding to exclude certain people from the stage,” and that he would make that point in protest over the next couple of days.

"I won't participate in anything that wasn't first-tier because we have a first-tier campaign," he said of the undercard event.

Smith and Regan said it was too early to count out any GOP candidate, ahead of the first voting contest, the Iowa caucuses, and the first state primary, in New Hampshire. Regan said she was born and raised in New Hampshire and knows that voters there wait until the last minute to decide, sometimes changing their minds several times before deciding. 

“I think anything can still happen,” Regan said.

While the Nov. 10 FBN debates were focused mainly on economic issues, domestic and international issues are more on the table this time around. Voters’ interests have changed, too since Nov. 10, when the economy was probably their top concern. Now, the moderators said, terrorism is top on voters’ minds. The economy is still huge though, especially with the stock market gyrations in recent weeks. 

“It’s not tough to come up with good questions,” Smith said Tuesday afternoon. “Right now we are finely tuning the ones we have.” They planned to go over them again today following last night’s final State of the Union address by President Obama. While Gerald Seib of The Wall Street Journal had joined them in moderating the Nov. 10 undercard, the Journal is not co-sponsoring Thursday's debate so the moderating falls on Smith and Regan alone.

John Eggerton contributed to this report.

As expected Fox Business Network generated a record audience of 13.5 million viewers for its Republican Presidential debate telecast Tuesday night.

The fourth nationally televised Republican debate also drew a record 3.7 million viewers in the network’s target 25-54 demo, according to network officials. The network’s early Republican Presidential debate averaged 4.7 million viewers and 866,000 watchers in the adult 25-54 demo, according to the network.

The debate also drove Twitter traffic throughout the telecast.

Fox Business joins Fox News, CNN, and CNBC in garnering record-setting audiences for Republican Presidential debates since August.

Up next is broadcast network CBS' Nov. 14 Democratic Presidential Debate telecast and CNN's  Dec. 15 Republican debate event.

Fox Business Network has hired Jon Hilsenrath as a contributor to various programs on both FBN and Fox News Channel. 

Hilsenrath currently serves as chief economics correspondent for Wall Street Journal. He will continue his responsibilities with the publication, where he has worked since 1997. Prior to his current role, Hilsenrath served as the Wall Street Journal’s markets editor.

Hilsenrath is a seasoned veteran of business and financial reporting, and the recipient of multiple awards in his field. Hilsenrath has also previously appeared on network television in programs such as CNBC’s The Santelli Exchange.