Paul Shea of ValueWalk.com writes that CNBC is not mentioned in a NBC Universal memo detailing the company’s 2012 achievements, a surprising omission given that the business news network is one of its most profitable operations.
Shea writes, “The memo, which is printed in its entirety below, take a verbose tour of the company’s offerings, their achievements in the last year and the roads used to get there. However, The document did not offer a hint of the existence of CNBC, a sign that something may have gone awry at one of the company’s most iconic properties.
“CNBC has for years been regarded as one of the centerpieces of the NBCUniversal empire. That may be changing, recent reports, including one from the New York Daily News, have suggested that ratings for some of the cable channels top shows, including Squawk Box and Closing Bell, plummeted in 2012.
“It clearly has not been a good year for CNBC, but for the company to be left out of a memo reflecting on 2012 things must have been simply awful. Ratings between December 2011 and December 2012 fell by 14%. In the highly sought after 25-54 demographic viewership fell by 15%. 2012 was the worst year for the company since 2005.
“The only program to see growth for 2012 at CNBC was the documentary hour beginning at 10 p.m., all of the channel’s most important properties saw their ratings fall in the twelve months, and programs like Squawk Box have fallen to 2006 ratings levels. Something is wrong at CNBC.”
Read more here.
