Neil Cavuto On Ratings Milestone: “We’ve Been Richly Rewarded For Going The Extra Mile”

Mediaite: Your competition now on cable news at 4pmET consists of programs that have been around for less than a year, but are some strong personalities, including one on MSNBC who has a business news background as well. Do you check out the competition?

Cavuto: Maybe owing fact that I have ADD, but obviously in studio I do have every other news network, business network running in both studios [on Fox Business Network also] when I’m on just to keep my eye on it. I may end up sounding more like Rain Man, but during commercial breaks I’ll ask, ‘Why do they have that and we don’t,’ or ‘Why do we have this.’ I’m not oblivious to them. I have respect for most of them. Generally, I want to be aware of what they’re up on, what they see. There tend to be talking point issues of the day. But I want to know what can we do smarter or different, that doesn’t ignore but looks at in a different light. And we’ve been richly rewarded for going the extra mile. We’re cognizant on the part of Fox not to get lazy, and not to take this success for granted.

“Without these types of incentives, we don’t get off the couch. I’m worried about that during Republican administrations, and worried about that during this Democratic administrations. This affects right or left governments around the world.”

Mediaite: Your program certainly is not a partisan show like others on FNC. So it lends greater weight to your take on how this administration has done in terms of dealing with Wall Street and business than the last one. What’s your take so far?

Cavuto: I think this particular administration, and for probably a very good reason, coming in had serious doubts about whether the biggest benefits of capitalism were doing any good or were out for their own self interest. The rescues, beginning in 2008 with the previous administration, have led to expectations that everyone can get this, everyone should get this. Sadly, people start to see self-fulfilling events. Don’t buy a house without credits, don’t buy cars without Cash For Clunkers. There are even program equivalents that give incentives to go to Home Depot or Loews. That’s what worries me. Without these types of incentives, we don’t get off the couch. I’m worried about that during Republican administrations, and worried about that during this Democratic administrations. This affects right or left governments around the world.

Mediaite: A recent “Common Sense” segment asked “Is the world broke?” Which also appears to be a slogan now of Fox Business Network. Do you really think the issue is this drastic?

Cavuto: We do, only because again and again we see it crop up. In Hungary over the weekend, which was on no one’s radar, indicating we’re in deep you know what. We’re waiting on Portugal, Spain after Greece. California is 20 billion in the red, with no sign they can get spending under control. Would we let a state go under? This is all stuff that happens when you run out of money. When you’re out of money you’re out of options – I have been there, I do know the feeling. We’re in a much stronger position when we had some money in the till.

Mediaite: Another TV ad uses the phrase, “two networks, twice the power,” using some of the biggest Fox News personalities to tout the network. Are you happy with the progress of FBN so far?

Cavuto: Very happy. Having been here at Fox News in the earliest days when it looked like I could fit all my viewers on a couch, I know of what I speak. People assumed when I left CNBC I entered witness protection. For years people would stop me on the street and say, ‘Hey, saw you on CNBC,’ and it had been a year since I left. It takes time. The one interesting thing in my experience with start-ups including when CNBC started, when FNC started – it’s the same arc of getting the word out. And we’re getting it out.

(This has been edited for length and clarity.)

> Tonight on FBN, Cavuto is hosting a special 8pm-MidnightET – “Fox Business Special Report: Election 2010”

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