CNBC Extends Live Broadcasting Hours as Euro Crisis Deepens

CNBC EMEA extended its live broadcasting hours Thursday as an unprecedented day of economics and politics swept across the Eurozone.

At lunchtime, 'Strictly Rates' pre-empted US Squawk Box to examine the Greek debt crisis and the fast developing political crisis gripping the country, and also cover the European Central Bank's decision on interest rates.

The ECB's decision, the first for incoming bank chief Mario Draghi, was to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, a move which many market analysts had been predicting.

CNBC markets reporter Silvia Wadhwa had promised to "eat her hat with a feather in it" if the ECB cut rates, sparking a live camera shot of her chewing a feather and commenting "the hat was fine but the feather is hard to chew."

The US market open was also pre-empted as CNBC broadcast the entirety of Mario Draghi's first press conference un-interrupted.

Louisa Bojesen, who at this point had been on air for just over three hours, briefly handed viewers back to CNBC US, and Squawk on the Street, before returning to screens some 40 minutes later to host an extended, two hour edition of European Closing Bell.

All in all, CNBC EMEA broadcast an additional 4 hours and 20 minutes of live European coverage on Thursday, something which will doubtlessly be welcomed by viewers across the region.

Bojesen, who was billed to cover for regular presenters this week, has made a big impact on-screen and has handled the fast-moving news flow across the Eurozone with impeccable professionalism.

A CNBC spokesperson has confirmed to News on News that the network has reporters in Cannes, Athens and across the major European capitals ready to provide further extended live coverage if the economic and political volatility continues.