Asia Squawk Box

Infobox Television
show_name = Asia Squawk Box


caption =
format = business news program, talk show
camera =
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runtime = 180 minutes (3 hours)
creator =
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producer =
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presenter = Rico Hizon
(1998)
Cecilia Zecha
(1998-2000)
Christine Tan
(2000-2002)
Bettina Chua
(2002-2005)
Martin Soong
(2005-04-25-present)
Amanda Drury
(2007-03-26-present)
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country =
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language = English
network = CNBC Asia
first_aired = 1998-02-02
last_aired = present
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list_episodes =
preceded_by = 6:30-7AM SIN/HK/TWN (1999):
"Breakfast Briefing"
6AM-7AM (2003):
"Asia Wake Up Call"
9AM-10AM:
"Asia Market Watch"
followed_by = 6AM-7AM:
"Squawk Australia"
related = details here
website = http://www.cnbc.com/id/15838831/site/14081545/
imdb_id =
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"Asia Squawk Box" is a television business news program on CNBC Asia, aired Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. (Hong Kong/Singapore/Taiwan time). This programme is also aired on CNBC World in the United States at the respective time (6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday without daylight saving time, 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. with DST), and on CNBC Europe on Sundays at 23.00 UK time.

Format

Debuting in 1998, "Asia Squawk Box" (ASB) covers the opening of the Asian markets and is presented by Martin Soong and Amanda Drury. There is occasionally a guest host. Recently, the show has let its guest hosts join in on the second and third hour just like its US and European counterparts. Regular contributors include Arnold Gay, Sri Jegarajah, Cheng Lei, Saijel Patel, Emily Chan (Hong Kong), Kaori Enjoji (Tokyo) and Jeffrey James (Sydney). Interviews with CEOs other analysts are also an essential part of the show.

History

"Asia Squawk Box" debuted in February 1998 at 8.00 Singapore time in February 1998 when CNBC Asia merged with Asia Business News and it was presented by former CNBC Asia Morning Call personalities Rico Hizon (now with BBC World) and Geoff Cutmore (currently the main presenter of the show's counterpart in Europe, "Squawk Box Europe"). Bernard Lo and Cecilia Zecha came in to eventually replace Cutmore and Hizon respectively. In October 1998, "Asia Squawk Box" was extended to 90 minutes and in late 1999, the show started at 7.30 SIN time. In April 2000, "Asia Squawk Box" moved to 7.00 SIN time. Christine Tan assumed anchoring duties in July 2000 and on 30 October 2000, the show was extended to 2 hours with the last half-hour being named Squawk Plus.

In July 2001, "Asia Squawk Box" aired for a full 3 hours like its US counterpart from 7am to 10am SIN time. Around this time, Steven Engel was added to the team as a stockwatcher. In late 2002, Bettina Chua took over as anchor as Christine Tan was reassigned to the evening hours. As a result of the cancellation of "Asia Wake Up Call", "ASB" moved to the 6 to 9am SIN time timeslot.

In April 2005, Martin Soong assumed the anchoring duties for the program after Chua's departure from the network. Since 2006, the Asian version of "Squawk Box" has been guided editorially by Senior Producer Derrick McElheron, who also helped launch CNBC's "Worldwide Exchange". As of 2006-10-30 (the same day the Asia network debuted a new graphics package similar to its US and European siblings), the show began using the titles in use by its US counterpart since late 2005, replacing the previous one, seen below, that was used from 2004-2006.

2007 Relaunch

On 26 March 2007, with McElheron at the helm, "Asia Squawk Box" was relaunched with a new live set, replacing the virtual set it had used since its creation, and a new co-presenter in Amanda Drury. On that day, the show started using the current US music package and returned to the 7 to 10am timeslot and now being preceded to give way to a new programme, "Squawk Australia".

Extended programming

When the Australian financial markets close, CNBC Asia pre-empts "Squawk Australia", and may opt to extend "ASB" to 4 hours, the longest time for the show ever. This was first seen on 9 April 2007.

Facts

*Maria Bartiromo, who was part of the original "US Squawk Box" team until the mid-2000s was a guest co-anchor on "ASB" in 2006. She was also a regular on "ASB" from late 2000 to early 2002 when the U.S. reverts back to standard time from daylight saving time (late-October to March of the following year) to recap the US trading day. At other times of the year, she appeared on the now canceled "CNBC Today" and "Asia Wake Up Call".

ee also

*"Squawk Box"
*"Squawk Box Europe"
*"Squawk Australia"

External links

* [http://www.cnbc.com/id/15838831/site/14081545/ "Asia Squawk Box" official website]