WSJ Deal with Fox Business is Not a Done Deal

Wednesday, 19 October 2011 21:06

Written by Talking Biz News

The Wall Street Journal has not decided if it will form a partnership with Fox Business — since both are owned by News Corp. — similar to the newspaper’s current arrangement with CNBC when that deal ends next year, the Journal’s top editor told Joe Strupp of Media Matters for America.

Strupp writes, “When asked if the Journal would forge a similar deal with Fox Business once the CNBC arrangement ends, Thomson said:

“‘Not necessarily. Because, in part, you look at what’s happening with WSJ Live and the amount of video we are doing ourselves. The possible permutations are far more than that presumption allows.’

“Asked if there could be an outcome where the Journal is not aligned with Fox Business as it has been with CNBC, Thomson again left the door open.

“‘Quite honestly, we just have to examine what the options are at the time. Before then, we have contractual obligations to CNBC which we will honor.’

“He later added: ‘In the end, there are all sorts of ways of looking at it. If you look at Fox Business news and what they’ve done and how they’re building it up, it’s an increasingly successful operation. So you have that on one hand.

“‘On the other hand, clearly, you can see from what we’re doing on WSJ.com, WSJ Live, the app, we’re doing, depending on the day, three to four hours of video ourselves now. That’s another option.’”