Business News Network

Infobox_TV_channel
name = Business News Network (BNN)
logofile = Business News Network logo.svg
logoalt = Business News Network logo
logosize = 200px
launch = September 1, 1999 (ROBTv)
March 12, 2007 (BNN)
closed date =
picture format =
share =
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share source =
network =
owner = CTVglobemedia
CTV Television Inc.
slogan =
country = Canada
broadcast area = National
headquarters = Toronto, Ontario
former names = Report on Business Television
replaced names =
sister names =
timeshift names =
web = [http://www.bnn.ca BNN]
terr serv 1 =
terr chan 1 =
sat serv 1 = Bell TV
sat chan 1 = Channel 504
sat serv 2 = Star Choice
sat chan 2 = Channel 508
cable serv 1 = Available on most Canadian cable systems
cable chan 1 = Check local listings, channels may vary
sat radio serv 1 =
sat radio chan 1 =
adsl serv 1 =
adsl chan 1 =
online serv 1 =
online chan 1 =

Business News Network (BNN) is a Canadian English language cable television specialty channel, which airs business news and analysis. The downtown Toronto-based station is owned by CTV Television Inc., a division of CTVglobemedia. Its day-to-day operations are run by CTV News.

History

As Report on Business Television (ROBTv)

The network was licensed in 1996 to a joint venture of Thomson Corporation, WIC and Cancom. It began broadcasting on September 1, 1999 under the name "Report on Business Television" (although using the abbreviation "ROBTv"), borrowing the name from the Globe and Mail financial section "Report on Business".

In 2000, CanWest Global acquired WIC and its interests including ROBTv and acquired Cancom's interests as well. in which WIC was a minority partner. As well, Thomson transferred control of ROBTv to Bell Globemedia, a newly formed media company in which Thomson held a 20% interest at the time. Thus, following legal threats from BGM, BGM assumed full control on November 2, 2000. Shortly thereafter ROBTv was given a new logo and assumed the full name of Report on Business Television and was no longer referred to as ROBTv.

As Business News Network (BNN)

On March 12 2007, Report on Business Television was renamed "Business News Network", although no channel format or schedule change occurred. The name change occurred to give exclusive rights to the "Report on Business" name to the "Globe and Mail" and for the channel to have its own identity. Network executives also stated that they were unhappy that viewers would sometimes pronounce the acronym ROBTv as "rob" TV rather than "r-o-b" TV.

Programming

A large majority of the programing found on BNN is produced in-house, although it also carries content from other sources including Bloomberg Television. Originally it was the Canadian broadcast partner of CNNfn, an American business news channel, which closed in December 2004.

BNN features a televised stock ticker with real-time data from the TSX, NYSE, NASDAQ as well as many international exchanges. Based in Toronto, BNN also has a news bureau located at the NASDAQ Market Site in New York City's Times Square.

BNN attracts approximately 5,000 regular viewers daily and has a strong viewership outside of the home (in gyms, restaurants, offices, etc.) which is not reflected in its ratings. This is a situation also faced by networks with high out-of-home viewing patterns such as CNBC.

pecial programming

The network hosts a series of special presentations throughout the year, including valued specials for tax and RSP seasons. In Fall 2006, Report on Business Television hosted its first "Live On Location" event in Toronto where a studio audience was featured during two of the broadcaster's most popular shows, "Market Call" with Jim O'Connell and "SqueezePlay" with Amanda Lang and Kevin O'Leary. This marked the first time viewers had the opportunity to go live in person with the station during regular programming.

In May 2008, the Network re-launched BNN.ca, featuring their first-ever online contest called "The BNN.ca $25,000 Challenge". The updated BNN.ca showcased a new video player allowing investors to search, sort and personalize BNN video; and the new player increased availability of past BNN video by allowing viewers to access content for an unlimited period of time online. Other added features on the site:

* Blogs
* Market Monitor
* Feature Video on the Home Page
* Online Stock Ticker
* Hot Stocks
* Guest Picks
* Indices
* Latest/Popular News tracking

Noted programs

* "Market Call"
* "Talking Tax"
* "Small Caps"
* "Stars & Dogs"
* "workopolis TV"
* "GetConnectedTV"
* "SqueezePlay"
* "The Business News"
* "MoneyTalk"
* "Market Call Tonight"
* "After Hours"
* "Trading Day"
* "Strictly Legal"
* "The Street"
* "Market Morning"
* "Berman's Call"
* "Lunch Money"
* "Commodities Report"

From 6:00 a.m. EST to 8:00am EST each day, BNN simulcasts Bloomberg Television's "Morning Call"

On-air hosts and contributors

* Mike Agerbo
* Paul Bagnell
* Andrew Bell
* Pat Bolland
* Mark Bunting
* Martin (Marty) Cej
* Michael Cochrane
* Jon Erlichman
* Howard Green
* Michael Hainsworth
* Michael Kane
* Pat Kiernan
* Amanda Lang
* Niall McGee
* Jacquie McNish
* Linda Nazareth
* Kevin O'Leary
* Kim Parlee
* Bruce Sellery
* Linda Sims
* AJ Vickery
* Paul Waldie
* Andy Willis

Logos

External links

* [http://www.bnn.ca BNN]