Why isn't Willard's new deal with Marketwatch.com at FoxBusiness.com?

TALKING BIZ NEWS EXCLUSIVE

Earlier this week, Marketwatch.com announced that it was introducing a new investing newsletter written by Fox Business Network star Cody Willard.

The question is why did Fox Business allow a business news rival, albeit one in the News Corp. family to take one of its star personalities and create a revenue-generating project? Marketwatch is charging $199 for the newsletter, with a special introductory rate of $99.

In addition, FoxBusiness.com could have used Willard’s newsletter as a promotional tool, much in the same way TheStreet.com uses Jim Cramer’s writing, much of which is behind a pay wall on that site. The newsletter could have driven more unique visitors and page views to the site.

Talking Biz News posted these questions to Fox Business. Here is the response from Kevin Magee, head of the network:

“Foxbusiness.com doesn’t do paid newsletters. We may some day, but we don’t now. Cody still does his blog for us and is still part of our foxbusiness.com team, but to do a paid news letter, our colleagues at Marketwatch could help.”

To Talking Biz News, however, it’s a lost opportunity.