Fox Business Launches 'Big Money in the Morning' to Fill Bartiromo's Slot

Key points

• The new show 'Big Money in the Morning' will air from 6 to 9 a.m. ET starting October 12, replacing 'Mornings with Maria.'
• Hosts include Dagen McDowell, Brian Brenberg, Taylor Riggs, and Barron’s Josh Schafer.
• McDowell and Brenberg are leaving their evening show 'The Bottom Line,' which will be replaced by reruns of 'Kudlow.'
• Liz Claman is launching a new Friday night program, 'Claman’s Power Players,' at 7 p.m. ET.
• The noon 'Big Money Show' will add rotating co-hosts Cheryl Casone, Marcus Lemonis, and Lou Basenese alongside Jackie DeAngelis.

Background

Maria Bartiromo was removed from Fox Business in August after more than 12 years with the network. Her departure, which followed a brief announcement in September, left a significant gap in the morning schedule. Previous coverage noted that Fox had initially planned rotating anchors for her slot, but the network has now opted for a permanent multi-personality format to compete with CNBC's 'Squawk Box.'

How outlets are covering it

Variety emphasizes the strategic shift toward a 'podcast-like' feel and the competitive advantage of having multiple top personalities on air during market hours, citing Fox News Media president Jay Wallace. The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline focus on the specific logistical changes, such as the end of 'The Bottom Line' and the addition of new hosts to the noon slot. USA Today highlights the timeline, noting the new lineup begins October 12, and provides background on Bartiromo's 12-year tenure and her prior work at CNBC. All sources agree on the core personnel changes but differ in emphasis: Variety frames it as a competitive move, while others treat it as a straightforward schedule update.

Why it matters

This restructuring signals Fox Business's intent to consolidate its top talent into high-traffic morning slots to maximize viewership and compete directly with CNBC. The move also resolves the uncertainty surrounding Bartiromo's former timeslot, which had been vacant since August, and repositions key anchors like McDowell and Brenberg from evening to morning roles.

What to watch

The new 'Big Money in the Morning' program is scheduled to debut on October 12. Fox Business will also introduce 'Claman’s Power Players' on Friday nights. The network has not announced a permanent replacement for the 'Sunday Morning Futures' slot, which is currently hosted by Larry Kudlow, with a new host to be named after the midterm elections.