Fox Business Network taps insiders as anchors

NEW YORK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - News Corp's (NWSa.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Fox Business Network on Wednesday named five Fox News Channel insiders to be the first on-air news anchors ahead of the channel's highly anticipated October debut.

The launch of the network, which will compete with General Electric's (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) CNBC, comes after News Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch sealed a $5.6 billion deal to buy Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones & Co Inc DJ.N.

Media watchers are waiting to see if any high-profile anchors from CNBC or Time Warner Inc's (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) CNN decide to defect to the Fox Business Network, which is scheduled to launch on Oct. 15.

The new anchors are David Asman, Cheryl Casone, Rebecca Gomez, Dagen McDowell and Stuart Varney, who will all retain their roles at the Fox News Channel.

Fox News anchors Brenda Buttner and Terry Keenan will also contribute to the new business channel.

Asman, a former Wall Street Journal editorial features editor, is the host of "Forbes on Fox."

Casone, a former freelance business correspondent for CNN, is a correspondent for Fox News's business unit and contributes hourly market updates for FoxNews.com.

Gomez, a former Lifetime Television anchor, is a business correspondent for Fox News and appears regularly at top-rated business show "Your World with Neil Cavuto."

McDowell, a former personal finance columnist for TheStreet.com, is a business correspondent for Fox News, appearing regularly on Cavuto's show.

Varney, the former host of CNBC's "Wall Street Editorial Board with Stuart Varney," is a veteran on Fox News' business team, and also has served as a substitute host on "Your World with Neil Cavuto."