Variety takes a look at CNBC

Variety reporter Michael Learmonth writes about business news network CNBC, noting that the cable network has plans to expand its evening audience.

Learmonth writes, “With a hit in Jim Cramer’s ‘Mad Money’ at 6 p.m. and ‘On the Money’ at 7, [CNBC President Mark] Hoffman is now attempting to establish a beachhead at 8 by testing a mix of programming.

“‘We’ve tried to make it so when people get home from work or get off the clock that there is some traditional CNBC fare for them to tune in to,’ Hoffman says.

“Shows include ‘CNBC Prime,’ a repackaging of the best taped pieces of the week; ‘CNBC Documentaries’; live, single-topic ‘Town Hall’; and ‘Fast Money,’ a round-table of traders talking about the markets.

“Michael Eisner’s ‘Conversations’ will also air in the timeslot as new episodes become available.”

Later, Learmonth noted, “But from May 2005 to last month, CNBC had increased every hour during Business Day compared with the previous year, reversing a four-year slide. So far in 2006, total viewers have rebounded to 211,000. Still small, but for the first time in years, CNBC’s numbers are heading in the right direction.”

Read more here.