Why Fox Biz is secretive about its ratings

Neil Cavuto of the Fox Business Network spoke with Paul Bond of the Hollywood Reporter about coverage of the financial crisis five years ago and what Fox Business is doing currently.

Here is an excerpt:

What’s the best programming you have for the five-year anniversary?

Monday is the first trading day after the anniversary, and we’ll be exploring what we learned and how vulnerable we still are. One thing we’ll touch on is that a lot of things have not changed.

Why is FBN secretive about its ratings?

I don’t think we are secretive. I can’t get ratings obsessed. We put out the best product and hope people watch. That serves us well. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. But I could have said the same thing five years into Fox News, where it was like I was in the witness protection program. It takes time, to be honest.

So if you’re not secretive, how many people watch?

I don’t have exact numbers. I go by which newsmakers we can get on our air. I know it might strike you as odd, but I don’t think in terms of what brings ratings. That would be like politicians changing in an instant because of polls. And if I get pathetic ratings, I won’t be here, nor should I be. We’re building it, people will respond to it, and they’ll be inclined to stick with it.

Read more here.