SINGPORE: More people are watching Channel NewsAsia to keep up with the current market turmoil.

Viewership for the channel amongst professionals, managers, executives and businessmen (PMEBs) in September rose by more than 20 per cent from August.

Across the board, viewership was up 16 per cent, according to latest figures from market research firm TNS.

Viewership growth was more significant for those with higher earning power. For example, viewership went up by more than 40 per cent for PMEBs with personal incomes of over S$5,000 a month.

Woon Chuk Chan, vice-president for MediaCorp's Network Programming and Promotions, said: "Channel NewsAsia is more than just what you see on air. You can get us via channelnewsasia.com, and we've even got SMS news alerts, keeping you updated not just on business news but news as it develops.

"So, we think our product has gone a big 360 degrees, so it is not just on-air, but on the Web and on the go."

As the economic downturn sends shockwaves around the world, viewers would naturally want to be on top of the latest developments in the financial markets.

Channel NewsAsia has responded to that by having special one-hour bulletins of its Asia Business Tonight segment, with focus on news that impact investors, businesses and the average man in the street.

The channel is confident its ratings will remain strong over the next few months.

- CNA/ir