Fox Business dropping opinion for reality, docu-series in primetime

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Fox Business Network will unveil a new primetime lineup, dumping opinion shows in favor of reality and documentary series, a move that will make its lineup similar to rival CNBC’s.

The schedule changes mostly affect Monday through Thursday and takes effect Sept. 20, 2021 under the branding “FBN Prime.”

Kennedy” is moving to 7 p.m. eastern and will lead into primetime.

Fox is heavily branding its new lineup with phrases such as “success stories across key American industries” and “all about American greatness.”

Here’s what the new schedule looks like:

  • Mondays at 8 p.m. will feature “How America Works,” with Mike Rowe (perhaps best known from Discovery’s “Dirty Jobs”) narrating stories about Americans who work to keep infrastructure in working order.
  • Mondays at 9 and 9:30 p.m. will add “American Built with Stuart Varney” focuses on architects, engineers and designers who “help make America the leader in innovation and growth.” Varney will continue to host “Vary & Co.” earlier in the day. “American Built” started on the network’s Fox Nation streamer with Steve Doocy as host.
  • The 8 p.m. slot on Tuesdays will feature two episodes of “American Dream Home with Cheryl Casone,” a house hunting show.
  • Following that, the 9 p.m. hour will feature two episodes of “Mansion Global,” another Fox Nation show.
  • “American Gold: The Legend of Bear Gulch” is scheduled for Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and follows two brothers attempting to mine 800 acres of previously worked land for gold in Montana.
  • “The Pursuit! with John Rich” also airs back to back episodes Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Another Fox Nation transplant, this show features celebrities and entrepreneur interviews.
  • Thursday nights will feature “encore presentations” (reruns) of the “most popular” FBN Prime programming from 8 to 10 p.m.
  • Fridays will feature “Kennedy” at 7 p.m. with the rest of the scheduled that includes “Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street,” “WSJ @ Large with Gerry Baker” and “Barron’s Roundtable” remaining unchanged.

From 10 p.m. on, the network plans to air a mix of repeats and paid programming.

Originally, Fox Business differentiated itself by offering original opinion programming in primetime.

These hours can be tricky for business networks to fill since the U.S. markets are closed. CNBC has used a similar strategy, including running “Shark Tank” and other reality, competition and documentary shows with quasi-business themes.

The notable exception is CNBC’s “The News with Shepard Smith,” a live, original hour of news that’s followed by an overnight schedule of old “Dateline” and “Shark Tank” episodes as well as the CNBC original “The Profit” and repeats of “The News.”