Cheddar is an American live streaming financial news network founded by Jon Steinberg in 2016, targeting millennials with technology and business coverage broadcast from the New York Stock Exchange, acquired by Altice USA in 2019 for $200 million.
Meaning and Symbolism
- The vibrant pink color (#fa2685) breaks convention in financial news, which traditionally uses authoritative blues and reds
- The bold, unexpected color targets younger audiences who reject traditional business news aesthetics
- The energetic tone conveys the fast-paced, digital-first nature of streaming news
- The pink differentiates Cheddar from CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business through anti-establishment positioning
- The unconventional palette reflects millennial and Gen Z preference for authentic, unconventional brands
History and Evolution
Jon Steinberg, former president of BuzzFeed, founded Cheddar in 2016 with backing from investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Comcast Ventures, and Goldman Sachs. Steinberg envisioned a financial news network designed for streaming platforms and social media distribution rather than cable television. Cheddar launched with live broadcasts from the New York Stock Exchange floor, positioning as “CNBC for millennials” with shorter segments, less jargon, and broader cultural coverage alongside business news.
The network gained distribution through partnerships with Twitter, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and Pluto TV, reaching millions of cord-cutters. Cheddar produced three hours of live content daily, covering technology, innovation, media, and business with personalities who spoke to younger audiences. Altice USA acquired Cheddar in 2019 for $200 million, integrating the network into its Altice News properties alongside News 12. In 2021, Cheddar rebranded to Cheddar News with expanded programming covering broader news topics beyond finance. The network continues streaming operations through digital platforms while Altice explores cable distribution opportunities.
Typography and Design
The Cheddar wordmark features bold, modern sans-serif typography in the network’s signature pink (#fa2685). The unconventional color choice for financial news immediately signals Cheddar’s positioning against traditional business media. The clean, simple typography ensures readability across streaming platforms from mobile phones to smart TVs.
The pink appears consistently across on-screen graphics, studio design elements, and digital marketing. The design system emphasizes approachability and energy appropriate for audiences raised on digital media rather than cable news. The bold color creates instant brand recognition when Cheddar content appears in social media feeds alongside traditional news outlets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Cheddar logo? The Cheddar brand identity was developed internally to create distinctive positioning against traditional financial news networks through unconventional color choices and millennial-focused aesthetics.
When was Cheddar acquired by Altice USA? Altice USA acquired Cheddar in 2019 for $200 million, integrating the streaming financial news network into its broader news media properties.
What does the pink color in the Cheddar logo represent? The vibrant pink breaks financial news conventions to signal Cheddar’s millennial and Gen Z positioning, conveying energy, approachability, and rejection of traditional business news formality.