The launch of the Trump administration’s promoted and then suspended tariffs this week affected not only the financial sector, which saw markets plummet, but also the world of TV.
In particular, TV networks that specialize in covering business news saw their ratings rise sharply.
From Wednesday, April 2 to Friday, April 4, for example, CNBC averaged 293,000 viewers during market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), 36 percent higher than the previous four weeks. For its entire daytime programming, from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on the other hand, the NBC Universal-owned network averaged 250,000 viewers, a 40 percent increase over recent weeks.
Fox Business also achieved similar results. The network attracted 234,000 viewers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, a 15 percent increase over the March average. Since the broadcasts opened, Fox Business has averaged 251,000 views. This is a 22% increase from the previous week.
Most viewers were between the ages of 25 and 52. CNBC also said it saw a significant increase in web views, with an 83 percent increase in interactions on its social media pages. Finally, the network has seen a 34 percent increase in the number of its subscriptions.
“We are happiest when we tear up the show five minutes before the top of the hour. However, we’ve been tearing up the show in middle of the broadcast,” said Liz Claman, CNBC anchor, “We’ve been moving things around like a chess board on steroids.”
Meanwhile, as TV ratings of the various networks involved in covering the economy soar upward, stock indexes continued their downward trend.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, moreover, in response to the Trump administration’s further increase of tariffs on Chinese imports, Beijing is reportedly considering reducing or even banning U.S. films from the country altogether.
