The three business networks have turned their focus to severe weather coverage today as Hurricane Sandy forced the close of the stock markets. Bloomberg TV, Fox Business and CNBC have all set special coverage plans for today that focus on the economic impact of the storm, expected to make landfall later today.

Bloomberg TV will shift into special Hurricane Sandy coverage at 1pmET, which is when the storm’s intensity is supposed to increase on the East Coast. Stephanie Ruhle and Erik Schatzker anchor the 1pmET hour, Betty Liu anchors the 2pmET hour and Trish Regan and Adam Johnson anchor from 3-6pmET. Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider is handling weather forecasts.

Fox Business broadcast a special report in place of “Imus in the Morning” this morning, anchored by Dagen McDowell and Connell McShane. FBN’s Robert Gray is in Battery Park and Sandra Smith is at the CME throughout the day. Neil Cavuto will host primetime coverage of the storm tonight beginning at 7pmET.

CNBC will have regular programming until 7pmET. The network is replacing “The Kudlow Report” with a live two-hour special report anchored by Bill Griffeth and Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.

Fox Business Network, the 3-and-half year old sibling to Fox News Channel, enters a new era Monday as the network becomes a full service client of Nielsen.

As we revealed yesterday, the network has a long road ahead to catch market leader CNBC. But the green shoots are appearing. Tuesday’s 11am hour was the second highest-rated telecast for that hour. Still, FBN EVP Kevin Magee is aware of the challenges: “We have to get the distribution up and get in front of people’s eyes. Because we know when they find us, they like what they see and they stick.”

Magee, who’s had stints at CNBC and ABC News, joined Fox News in 2000 and was given the reigns of FBN at launch. “I always say, people watch people. They watch the anchors they know. I believe that our talent is better than their (CNBC’s) talent,” says Magee. “It’s as simple as that. And we’re breaking through.”

FBN is also breaking through to the most affluent consumers. According to a Mendelsohn survey, which measures heads of households making $100,000 a year, CNBC has about 30% of that market, while FBN is next with 12%, followed by Yahoo Finance (7.6%), Bloomberg (5.9%) and the Wall Street Journal (5.6%).

TVNewser: What do you think being a full service client of Nielsen will mean to the perception of the network?

Read more

Fox Business Network is reworking its dayside lineup to make room for its latest hire, former Bloomberg TV reporter Lori Rothman.

Rothman will join Chris Cotter as co-anchor of a new 1 PM program.

At 11 AM, Dagen McDowell and Connell McShane will serve as co-anchors, with Cheryl Casone handling the noon time period solo.

Talking Biz news has the details of the new lineup.

The rest of the dayside schedule will remain unchanged.

ICN has the scoop on the programming changes coming to Fox Business Network in the wake of Alexis Glick‘s departure late last year.

Imus in the Morning will now go until 9:20amET, when Stuart Varney‘s new show, Varney & Company takes over until 11amET. Varney, a CNBC and CNN alum, joined Fox in 2004 and became an FBN anchor at the network’s launch in Oct. 2007.

Other changes to the schedule include FBN’s Dagen McDowell and Brian Sullivan co-anchoring from 11-NoonET and 1-2pmET. Cheryl Casone continues at NoonET.

TVNewser has the FBN press release with more details after the jump…

Read more

• FBN anchor Dagen McDowell is profiled by the Richmond Times Dispatch, and talks about her optimism regarding the financial crisis. “Americans are great because they can see the light at the end of the tunnel and will work their way out,” she said. “Ultimately, it’s the people that will turn this nation around.”

McDowell described how working for Fox Business Network allows her to connect with the average American. “If I can help make business interesting in the everyday lives of others,” she said, “I am thankful.”

• The Shelter Island Reporter Carol Galligan profiles MSNBC’s Willie Geist, who talks about the rapport on Morning Joe. “I think it keeps getting better because our chemistry is growing and we get each others sense of humor,” he said. “Each of us brings something different to the mix.”

Geist’s father, CBS News’ Bill Geist, says, “I’ve been in journalism for 35 years and Willie’s met more important people in the last year and a half, people of high level importance.”

(h/t Johnny Dollar)

Well, it’s Good Friday, and the markets are closed, but one business network is “open for business.” While Fox Business Network is sticking with live programming, CNBC is running documentaries. This was also the case last year on Good Friday.

As FBN’s Dagen McDowell said at the top of the 11amET hour: “Not in infomercials and taped programming, we are live because there’s business news to report.”

A snapshot from 9amET:

Fox Business Network will cover Warren Buffett‘s annual shareholder letter, which is set for release at 8amET tomorrow, during its live, four-hour program, “Your Money, Your Questions,” from 10am-2pmET.

The call-in show, hosted by Dagen McDowell, is slated to hear from someone on speed dial — FBN anchor and Buffett buff, Liz Claman.

You can follow Buffett news on CNBC.com at the “Warren Buffett Watch” blog.

With the headline “This Woman Can Make You Rich,” FBN anchor Alexis Glick gives some tips for investors in the upcoming issue of Men’s Health magazine (out on Tuesday).

Some words of wisdom: “cockiness can cost you money,” “spread your wealth” and “don’t forget bonds.”

She also talks about how investing has changed with the growing amount of financial news resources.

“The volatility is made even more gut-wrenching by the 24-7 presence of financial news on the Internet and on TV channels like the one I work for, Fox Business Network,” she writes. “Once upon a time, investors opened the newspaper to find out how their shares performed.”

• Related: FBN’s Dagen McDowell appeared this morning on CBS’ Saturday Early Show, before heading back to FBN HQ for her 10am-2pm show, Your Money, Your Questions.

Fox Business Network is adding its first live, regular weekend program, beginning this Saturday. “Your Questions, Your Money Live” will air from 10am-2pmET each Saturday.

Dagen McDowell will host the call-in show, where viewers can talk to experts about the economic crisis or personal finance issues.

The series will feature a rotating cast of FBN contributors and outside experts. This week’s panel is after the jump.

This is the first regular program on FBN on the weekends. Bloomberg is regularly live during the weekend, but CNBC is not (a taped Suze Orman show first airs Saturdays at 9pmET).

Read more

Fox Business Network will be live for eight hours Saturday, beginning at 8amET, as it covers the World Economic Summit in Washington, D.C.

Neil Cavuto reports live from the White House while Cheryl Casone, Stuart Varney, Tom Sullivan and Dagen McDowell anchor and interview experts in studio.

FBN will also host its own version of the “Summit,” inviting viewers to call in and talk to experts about the financial crisis and personal financial advice.

> Update: Bloomberg will be live, as usual, covering the Summit in D.C.