What I have found is that CNBC appears to have a dual mandate. It appears as if the show is about both the show and the person that hosts that show. It is as if the anchor is allowed to build their own brand at the same time.
In contrast, Bloomberg is more about restraining personality. It is closer to a traditional news show in that they try to minimize the personality and opinion of person feeding the news. It is as if Bloomberg is the republicans and CNBC is the democrats.
I think both networks offer content, and when I am trading from a private office, I have a split screen with both on. I prefer lower key people because trading is already nerve wrecking and the last thing you need is something else riling your nerves. Imo the most professional person on CNBC is Mary Thompson. They should clone her and have her report more often, if not be an anchor. Her voice is always soothing, I rarely know where she stands on what she is reporting on. She allows me to make up my own mind.
I always wonder who is responsible for the content on the shows. For example, I am enjoying Street Signs more and more because imo the tone of the show tries to balance ethics and morals with business news that can make you money. It is imo the most complex show in this sense. But is this the decision of the producer or of the anchor? To be frank, I am surprised this is the format because the people that watch these channels are mostly cut-throat-botton line-by-the-numbers people, where compassion and contrast has no place. When Dylan Ratigan came down on the CME floor, they booed him off the pit. I am probably in the small minority in enjoying this format.
One final note. At every trading firm I am at, either Bloomberg or CNBC is on. On the CBOE floor people have their own little tv's to share every row of MMs or so. I would say the volume is almost always very low or on mute. It is on mostly for surprises, earnings, market moving news, FED decisions, unemp reports, etc, or so that you can turn the volume up if something interests you.