Maria Bartiromo Packs The House!

By Gia Pace, NBC Universal

The first two days here in Vegas were FREEZING cold and dry.  The past few days have finally been warm and sunny and visitors from around the world can now kick back, relax and enjoy looking at the cool, new gadgets that the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show has to offer.

 

Since 10:00 am yesterday, the NBC Universal booth has been buzzing and filled to the brim with eager convention goers itching to get their hands on a free 2 gig SD card and a chance to win great prizes.  Live broadcasts are happening all around, but CNBC programming has dominated the schedule for the past two days.

 

CNBC's show, Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo aired yesterday and today from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm PST an drew large crowds.  I never saw fewer than 75 people crowding the small space surrounding the portable set and sometimes there were even more.  The crowd was energized and excited to be seeing the live broadcast.  There was a variety of CES related guests that were interviewed by Maria on the set and lots of other business coverage from the floor of the stock exchange. 

 

It is amazing how the CES attendees just love Maria.  This phenomanum is nothing new.  Last year, I remember her show being all the rage, attracting large crowds of admirers (mostly men).  It amuses me that there is always the same reaction from the audience and I must admit that I get a kick out of listening in on them like a fly on the wall.  They are almost all on their cell phones talking to friends and family members telling them to turn on CNBC and keep an eye out for them on the tube.  It goes something like this, "Hey I am watching Maria Bartiromo at CES".  Then I imagine the person on the other end says, "Who" because next I sometimes hear them explaining, "Maria Bartiromo from CNBC."  

Well now the CNBC crew is finishing up their CES 2009 appearance and just about to pack-up and go home after a few long days and hard work.  Until next year.