TORONTO – Amid chaos comes opportunity, goes the cliché – but it’s one that rings true for CTVglobemedia’s BNN – Business News Network as it covers our very volatile global economy.
Since the economic crisis began in earnest in September, and with international stock markets seeing their darkest days in over two decades, BNN has delivered its highest monthly ratings in history. In September, BNN reached 2.3 million viewers with an average minute audience of 17,400, up 39% from September 2007. In the key A25-54 demo, ratings almost tripled from the previous year. (Ratings figures provided by BNN are from Nielsen Media Research).
As news of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy hit during the third week of September, ratings peaked at 19,800 viewers. When global market panic ensued following the initial rejection of the U.S. government’s US$700 billion bailout package on September 29, BNN delivered its highest ever single-week audience, with an average of 25,000 viewers tuning in.
As well, BNN.ca has proved to be a popular source for online coverage of the crisis, attracting nearly double the average daily traffic when the bailout package was rejected. After the bailout was passed, page views skyrocketed to a one-day high of over 188,000 on October 6, more than triple the daily average for the month. User engagement is stronger than ever, with video start statistics increasing nearly 90% year-over-year. Online video requests peaked on October 6, at almost 60,000.
“(W)hen an economic crisis of this magnitude happens we do everything we can to provide our viewers with real-time information so they know exactly what’s happening and how it affects them,” said Jack Fleischmann, general manager of BNN, in a press release. “Our viewers are directly affected by the markets and, with their money at stake, we are working hard to deliver the information they need to protect their finances.”
As the financial sector now moves into earnings season, BNN will sit down with some of the country’s top financial newsmakers to see how companies will fare in the wake of the economic crisis. Over the next week, guests include David Wilson, chair of the Ontario Securities Commission, and Dwight Duncan, Ontario Minister of Finance, says the release.
