Fox Business Network Shifting Primetime Focus, Drops 3 Series

6:02 PM PST 2/9/2012 by Michael O'Connell

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In a move to make room for an incoming series from Melissa Francis and boost business coverage, "FreedomWatch," "Power & Money" and "Follow the Money" leave the schedule in February.

Fox Business Network is doing away with its evening lineup.

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The four-year-old cable news channel announced late Thursday that it plans to air encores of its early evening business programs between 8:00 and 11:00 p.m., before a new series from Melissa Francis debuts later in the year.

As a part of the move, FreedomWatch with Judge Andrew Napolitano, Power & Money with David Asman and Follow the Money with Eric Bolling are all off the lineup, effective Feb. 20. In their place, encores of The Willis Report, Cavuto and Lou Dobbs Tonight will air at 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 p.m., respectively.

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“Neil Cavuto, Lou Dobbs and Gerri Willis are the most trusted names in business news and this new lineup affords Fox Business viewers additional access to their no-nonsense take on the day’s financial events," network EVP Kevin Magee said in a statement. "We look forward to Judge Napolitano, David and Eric continuing to make significant contributions to both Fox Business and Fox News. In addition to daily branded segments, each of them will be showcased throughout future programming on both networks.”

Eventually, FBN will move the original broadcast of The Willis Report to 8:00 p.m., making room for Francis' upcoming series to enter the schedule at 5:00 p.m., and giving the network live financial-focused coverage through 9:00 p.m.

At the time of the news, FBN said that Asman, Bolling and Napolitano would all maintain significant presence on the network and sister net, FNC.