Todd Bonin, senior executive producer of “Squawk on the Street” on CNBC, spoke to Talking Biz News about the show as it celebrates its 20th anniversary this week.
The program focuses on breaking news through the lens of high-profile interviews and CNBC reporting. “Squawk on the Street” has led CNBC’s coverage of stock market volatility and historic initial public offerings such as Facebook, Twitter, and Alibaba.
Here is an excerpt:
What has the show meant for viewers?
I think what makes us most proud, from our anchors to our editorial team, is how indispensable our show has become to our viewers. We hear from CEOs, billionaire investors, financial planners to those watching their 401k and retirement accounts everyday – how integral we are to their mornings. We take our mission seriously – though there is palpable great fun and energy in doing it. We remind each other often of the words of our founding anchor, Mark Haines, “No Free Passes.” We proudly play for the viewer and no one else.
How has the show evolved the past 20 years?
We understood from the start that an opening bell show must feel immediate, urgent, and in the moment. Viewers wake up, tune in, and expect to know what’s happening right now. That may sound simple, but it’s a mission we take seriously: if the news isn’t fresh, it isn’t worth serving. Each morning is a sprint to the start—never a carryover of yesterday’s assumptions about what today should be.
The show thrives on the strength of our anchors and the dedication of our exceptional editorial team. Our anchors are relentless and that energy permeates the entire staff. Audiences count on us to break news, deliver essential analysis, and bring newsmakers directly to them, and we love the pressure that comes with those expectations.
A true gamechanger was the move to the floor of the NYSE to our Post 9 home in 2012. For what we do for a living, we consider it some of the greatest real estate — just a few feet from the bell podium. The partnership with the NYSE has meant a great deal and on many of the market’s biggest moments, we have had a front row seat to history.
