I have been watching CNBC quite a bit recently, and I have noticed a promo which is very minimalist, but seems to indicate a new channel could be being launched by NBC Universal under the CNBC brand. It seems to be called CNBC life, and according to the promo, it will have sports, current affiars, entertainment and other things besides, and to me, with my memory, it reminds me an awful lot of the old NBC Super Channel that "appeared" in 1993, only to disappear in 1998.
This could mean some changes to the weekend schedule of CNBC Europe, which would be interesting to see happen. What would be on CNBC life exactly? Not sure, the advert wasn't too specific, but I hope that we will get to see NBC's Today show again, which I remember from back when Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric were the hosts, now it's Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera. I also hope we will see material from MSNBC, such as Hardball with Chris Matthews and Countdown with Keith Olbermann. I would also like to see ITN providing World News again for the channel, although I have to admit I think it unlikely.
I do think however we might get to see full editions of The Tonight Show and Late Night on a small tape delay (less than 24 hours), which is better than what we're currently viewing now here in the UK and Ireland. The only thing it did say at the end of the promo was "CNBC life. February" so we won't have to wait too long to find out.
CNBC Life is a programming block on CNBC Europe starting on February 23rd. They are not giving out any further details at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI was a massive fan of NBC Europe (SuperChannel). Loved the Today show, would really love to have that channel back again.
ReplyDeleteCNBC Europe is revamping its weekend schedule later this month. Maybe this is something CNBC US should look at.
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CNBC EUROPE LAUNCHES NEW ‘LIFESTYLE’ WEEKEND PROGRAMMING
CNBC Life Saturdays and Sundays, 13.00 – 22.00 GMT
London, 13 February 2008 -- CNBC Europe, the leading business and financial TV channel, is launching a new eighteen hour weekend ‘lifestyle’ block of programming called CNBC Life. Launching on 23 February, the CNBC Life schedule will feature carefully selected premium programming across five areas: travel & leisure, sport, luxury, entertainment and current affairs.
CNBC Life has been created to appeal to CNBC Europe’s elite weekday audience of business professionals, opinion leaders and affluent individuals who are seeking programmes which are relevant to their lifestyles.
Barbara Stelzner, Vice President and Director of Programming at CNBC Europe said, “We have a very high end audience who are time poor. They don’t want to search the TV listings for interesting programming. Our aim with CNBC Life is to provide a work/life balance to our programme schedule, taking our audience from the business week, into the weekends.”
CNBC Life will start on Saturdays and Sundays at 13.00 GMT with a four hour sports block, followed by a two hour travel section and then an hour’s worth of current affairs and luxury programming. In the evening, viewers can enjoy a one-and-a-half hour block of top US entertainment favourites, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, in full and exclusive to CNBC Europe on UK television.
CNBC Life programme highlights
Travel and leisure: Four hours of programming each weekend, consisting of eight half-hour episodes from the Travel Channel, brought to CNBC Europe for the first time. Programmes in the first month include First Class Italy; Journey Into Wine South Africa; The Travel Bug Barbados; Stars and Spas; Great Drives LA to San Francisco and Postcards from Paradise.
Sports: Front row tickets to some of the best sporting events from around the world for four hours each Saturday and Sunday. CNBC Sports brings highlights from the top sporting events including the PGA Tour, Challenge Tour, Ryder Cup, FEI World Cup, ATP Tour, Wimbledon, yachting and motor sports.
Luxury: Featuring 40 new and exclusive half-hour episodes produced by The Luxury Channel, offering stylish and glossy programming with the best in luxury goods and lifestyles, in a weekly half-hour programme. Programmes in the first month cover topics ranging from The King of Diamonds to New Moscow & Luxury and The Ultimate Boys Toys.
Entertainment: Catch up on the best two episodes of the week from the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Run back-to-back and in full, exclusively on CNBC Europe each Saturday and Sunday.
Current affairs: Topical business feature programming from CNBC Europe including The Leaders, World Business and Gateway to the Middle East.
“This mix of programming is the perfect complement to our business day content. We know we have discerning viewers and we understand what their interests are and how they consume TV and have therefore, created a schedule which we believe matches their viewing needs,” continued Stelzner