Cable News Network (CNN) is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by American media mogul Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States. While the news channel has numerous affiliates, CNN primarily broadcasts from its headquarters at the CNN Center inAtlanta, the Time Warner Center in New York City, and studios in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. CNN is owned by parent company Time Warner, and the U.S. news channel is a division of the Turner Broadcasting System.

CNN is sometimes referred to as CNN/U.S. to distinguish the American channel from its international counterpart, CNN International. As of August 2010, CNN is available in over 100 million U.S. households. Broadcast coverage extends to over 890,000 American hotel rooms, and the U.S broadcast is also shown in Canada. Globally, CNN programming airs through CNN International, which can be seen by viewers in over 212 countries and territories. Starting late 2010, the domestic version CNN/U.S., is available in high definition to viewers in Japan under the name CNN HD.

History
Early history
Main article: History of CNN (1980–2003)

 

CNN's first broadcast with David Walkerand Lois Hart on June 1, 1980.
The Cable News Network was launched at 5:00 pm EST on Sunday June 1, 1980. After an introduction by Ted Turner, the husband and wife team of David Walker and Lois Hartanchored the first newscast. Burt Reinhardt, the then executive vice president of CNN, hired most of CNN's first 200 employees, including the network's first news anchor, Bernard Shaw.

Since its debut, CNN has expanded its reach to a number of cable and satellite television companies, several websites, and specialized closed-circuit channels (such as CNN Airport Network). The company has 36 bureaus (10 domestic, 26 international), more than 900 affiliated local stations, and several regional and foreign-language networks around the world. The channel's success made a bona-fide mogul of founder Ted Turner and set the stage for the Time Warner conglomerate's eventual acquisition of Turner Broadcasting.

A companion channel, CNN2, was launched on January 1, 1982 and featured a continuous 24-hour cycle of 30-minute news broadcasts. The channel, which later became known as "CNN Headline News" and then simply "HLN", eventually focused on live news coverage supplemented by personality-based programs during the evening and primetime hours.

Major events
Challenger disaster
On January 28, 1986, CNN carried the only live television coverage of the launch and subsequent explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger, which killed the seven crew members.

Baby Jessica rescue
On October 14, 1987, an 18-month-old toddler named Jessica McClure fell down a well in Midland, Texas. CNN was quickly on the spot, and the event helped make their name. The New York Times ran a retrospective article in 1995 on the impact of live video news. "If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a moving picture is worth many times that, and a live moving picture makes an emotional connection that goes deeper than logic and lasts well beyond the actual event. This was before correspondents reported live from the enemy capital while American bombs were falling. Before Saddam Hussein held a surreal press conference with a few of the hundreds of Americans he was holding hostage. Before the nation watched, riveted but powerless, as Los Angeles was looted and burned. Before O. J. Simpson took a slow ride in a white Bronco, and before everyone close to his case had an agent and a book contract. This was uncharted territory just a short time ago."

Gulf War
The first Persian Gulf War in 1991 was a watershed event for CNN that catapulted the channel past the "big three" American networks for the first time in its history, largely due to an unprecedented, historical scoop: CNN was the only news outlet with the ability to communicate from inside Iraq during the initial hours of the Coalition bombing campaign, with live reports from the al-Rashid Hotel in Baghdad by reporters Bernard Shaw, John Holliman, and Peter Arnett.

The moment when bombing began was announced on CNN by Bernard Shaw on January 16, 1991 as follows:
Because it was unable to immediately broadcast live pictures from Baghdad, CNN's coverage of the initial hours of the Gulf War had the dramatic feel of a radio broadcast—and was compared to the legendary CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow's gripping live radio reports of the German bombing of London during World War II. Despite the lack of live pictures, CNN's coverage was carried by TV stations and networks around the world, resulting in CNN being watched by over a billion viewers worldwide—a feat that led to the subsequent creation of CNN International.

The Gulf War experience brought CNN some much sought-after legitimacy and made household names of previously obscure reporters. Many of these reporters now comprise CNN's "old guard." Bernard Shaw became CNN's chief anchor until his retirement in 2001. Others include then-Pentagon correspondent Wolf Blitzer (now host of The Situation Room) and international correspondent Christiane Amanpour. Amanpour's presence in Iraq was caricatured by actress Nora Dunn as the ruthless reporter "Adriana Cruz" in the film Three Kings (1999). Time Warner later produced a television movie, Live from Baghdad, about the channel's coverage of the first Gulf War, which aired on HBO.

CNN effect
Coverage of the first Gulf War and other crises of the early 1990s (particularly the infamous Battle of Mogadishu) led officials at the Pentagon to coin the term "the CNN effect" to describe the perceived impact of real time, 24-hour news coverage on the decision-making processes of the American government.

September 11 attacks CNN was the first cable news channel to break the news of the September 11 attacks. Anchor Carol Lin was on the air to deliver the first public report of the event. She broke into a commercial at 8:49 am ET and said:

“This just in. You are looking at obviously a very disturbing live shot there. That is the World Trade Center, and we have unconfirmed reports this morning that a plane has crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center.CNN Center right now is just beginning to work on this story, obviously calling our sources and trying to figure out exactly what happened, but clearly something relatively devastating happening this morning there on the south end of the island of Manhattan. That is once again, a picture of one of the towers of the World Trade Center.”

Sean Murtagh, CNN vice-president of finance and administration, was the first network employee on the air. He called into CNN Center from his office at CNN New York bureau and said that a commercial jet hit the Trade Center.

Daryn Kagan and Leon Harris were live on the air just after 9 am ET as the second plane hit the World Trade Center and through an interview with CNN correspondent David Ensor, reported the news that U.S. officials determined "that this is a terrorist act." Later,Aaron Brown anchored through the day and night as the attacks unfolded. Brown had just come to CNN from ABC to be the breaking news anchor.

Paula Zahn assisted in the September 11, 2001, coverage on her first day as a CNN reporter, a fact that she mentioned as a guest clue presenter on a 2005 episode of Jeopardy!

CNN has made archival files of much of the day's broadcast available in five segments plus an overview.

2008 U.S. election
Leading up to the 2008 U.S. presidential election, CNN devoted large amounts of coverage to politics, including hosting candidate debates during the Democratic and Republican primary seasons. On June 3 and 5, CNN teamed up with Saint Anselm College to sponsor the New Hampshire Republican and Democratic Debates. Later in 2007, the channel hosted the first CNN-YouTube presidential debates, a non-traditional format where viewers were invited to pre-submit questions over the internet via the YouTube video-sharing service. In 2008, CNN partnered with The Los Angeles Times to host two primary debates leading up to its coverage of Super Tuesday. CNN's debate and election night coverage led to its highest ratings of the year, with January 2008 viewership averaging 1.1 million viewers, a 41% increase over the previous year.

2012 U.S. election
CNN again devoted large amounts of coverage to the 2012 US Presidential campaign. One of its reporters, Candy Crowley, acted as moderator for one of the three debates between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. Some conservatives viewed her as overly partisan/biased due to her attempts at correcting statements by both candidates on the 2012 Benghazi consulate attack.

Programming
Current shows

 

Weekdays
EST	Program	Host(s)	Location	Description
5a-7a	Early Start	John Berman  andZoraida Sambolin	New York	An early morning news show.
7a-9a	Starting Point	John Berman  andChristine Romans		The channel's morning news program.
9a-11a	CNN Newsroom	Carol Costello	Atlanta	Rolling news coverage
11a-12p		Ashleigh Banfield	New York
12p-1p	Around the World	Michael Holmes  andSuzanne Malveaux	Atlanta	CNN's international news program.
1p-2p	CNN Newsroom	Suzanne Malveaux		Rolling news coverage
2p-4p		Brooke Baldwin
4p-5p	The Lead with Jake Tapper	Jake Tapper	Washington D.C.	Topic-oriented news program
5p-7p	The Situation Room	Wolf Blitzer	Washington D.C.	Daily headline stories  focusing on politics,  homeland security  and human interest stories.
7p-8p	Erin Burnett OutFront	Erin Burnett	New York	A discussion of the  day's top news with  journalists and contributors.
8p-9p	Anderson Cooper 360°	Anderson Cooper		Nightly news and talk,  series-documentary program
9p-10p	Piers Morgan Live	Piers Morgan		Nightly interview program,  simulcast to CNN International
10p-11p	Anderson Cooper 360°	Anderson Cooper		Nightly news and talk,  series-documentary  program (repeat from 8pm)
Saturday
EST	Program	Host(s)	Location	Description
6a-7:30a	Early Start Weekend	Randi Kaye	Atlanta	A look ahead at the  day's top news and events.
7:30a-9:30a	CNN Saturday Morning
9:30a-10a	Your Bottom Line	Christine Romans	New York	A personal finance show  with a focus on the  viewer's bottom line.
10a-12p	CNN Newsroom	Randi Kaye	Atlanta	Updates of the latest  news around the world.
12p-1p		Fredricka Whitfield
1p-2p	Your $$$	Ali Velshi	New York	Breaks down the business  news of the week and shows  the viewer how it impacts  their bottom line.
2p-4:30p	CNN Newsroom	Fredricka Whitfield	Atlanta	Updates of the latest  news around the world.
4:30p-5p	Sanjay Gupta MD	Dr. Sanjay Gupta		Tune in for a 30-minute  medical news program  with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
5p-6p	CNN Newsroom	Don Lemon		Updates of the latest  news around the world.
6p-7p	The Situation Room	Wolf Blitzer	Washington D.C.	Weekly look at political news
7p-8p	CNN Newsroom	Don Lemon	Atlanta	Updates of the latest  news around the world.
8p-9p	CNN Special  Investigations Unit /  CNN Presents /  Other specials			Various special  programming
9p-10p	Piers Morgan Live	Piers Morgan	New York	Nightly interview program,  simulcast to CNN International
10p-11p	CNN Newsroom	Don Lemon	Atlanta	Updates of the latest  news around the world.
Sunday
EST	Program	Host(s)	Location	Description
6a-7:30a	Early Start  Weekend	Randi Kaye	Atlanta	A look ahead at the  day's top news and events.
7:30a-8a	Sanjay Gupta  MD (repeat)	Dr. Sanjay Gupta		Tune in for a 30-minute  medical news program  with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
8a-9a	CNN Sunday  Morning	Randi Kaye		A look ahead at the day's top news and events.
9a-10a	State of the Union  with Candy Crowley	Candy Crowley	Washington D.C.	The people and issues  driving politics in a way  we can all relate to and understand.
10a-11a	Fareed Zakaria GPS	Fareed Zakaria	New York	Takes a comprehensive  look at foreign affairs  and the policies shaping our world.
11a-12p	Reliable Sources	Howard Kurtz	Washington D.C.	Critical look at the media issues
12p-1p	State of the Union  with Candy Crowley (repeat)	Candy Crowley		The people and issues  driving politics in a way  we can all relate to and understand.
1p-2p	Fareed Zakaria GPS(repeat)	Fareed Zakaria	New York	Takes a comprehensive  look at foreign affairs and  the policies shaping our world.
2p-2:30p	The Next List	Dr. Sanjay Gupta	Atlanta	Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores  the latest in ideas and innovation  that are pushing the boundaries  of technology, education, entertainment,  the arts and the natural sciences.
2:30p-3p	CNN Newsroom	Fredricka Whitfield		Updates of the latest  news around the world.
3p-4p	Your $$$ (repeat)	Ali Velshi	New York	Breaks down the business  news of the week and shows  the viewer how it impacts their bottom line.
4p-6p	CNN Newsroom	Fredricka Whitfield	Atlanta	Updates of the latest news around the world.
6p-8p		Don Lemon
8p-9p	State of the Union with  Candy Crowley /  CNN Special Investigations  Unit / CNN Presents			Various special programming
9p-10p	Piers Morgan Live	Piers Morgan	New York	Nightly interview program
10p-11p	CNN Newsroom	Don Lemon	Atlanta	Updates of the latest news around the world

 

On-air presentation
In December 2008, CNN introduced its new graphics package, a comprehensive redesign replacing the existing style that had been used since 2004. The design replaced the scrolling ticker that had been in use since 2001, with the ticker space now carrying headlines both manually put in and taken from the RSS feeds of CNN.com, and rebranded as 'the flipper'. Also, since March 1, 2009, the redundant CNN HD logo has been missing from the bottom left corner of the screen. CNN's new graphic design is similar to its sister channel, CNN International. The CNN logo itself has remained relatively unchanged since the channel's launch, except that it was originally displayed in yellow, the removal of a 3-D 'shadow' effect, and other design choices to acclimate the logo for both modern times and advances in graphical technology, making it the only Turner network besides Turner Classic Movies to retain their original logo through their entire history.

On January 10, 2011, CNN introduced its most recent graphics package, in conjunction with the network-wide switch to a 16:9 letterbox format from 4:3. Both of CNN's standard-definition and high-definition feeds now carry the same 16:9 format; however, video footage broadcast in standard-definition on either feed is not pillarboxed, resulting in black bars on the top and bottom of the screen as well as the left and right. World Business Today and World One, which both began to be simulcast from CNN International on January 17, 2011, are still both broadcast in the 4:3 picture format on the CNN SD feed.

The 'flipper' was retired on February 18, 2013 and replaced with the traditional ticker once again, in line with Jeff Zucker's new leadership of the network. After a day with a blue background with white text, the ticker was reconfigured with blue text on a white background to match the look of the 'flipper'.

Former programs

 

Program	Terms	Description
Both Sides with Jesse Jackson	1992–2000	A political talk show, hosted by civil rights leader and two-time presidential  candidate Jesse Jackson, that aired Sundays. Each program began with  a short taped report on the topic by CNN Correspondent John Bisney.  The show ran from 1992 to 2000.
Capital Gang	1988–2005	One of cable news' longest running programs, focusing on discussion  of the political news of the week. The original panelists were Pat Buchanan,  Al Hunt, Mark Shields and Robert Novak. When Buchanan left CNN to run  for president, Margaret Warner, Mona Charen and later Margaret Carlson and  Kate O'Beirne became regular panelists. Capital Gang aired Saturday  nights at 7 pm eastern from 1988 to 2005.
Crossfire	1982–2005	A political "debate" program, anchored by hosts from left-wing and right-wing  ideologies, that aired during prime time and daytime until mid-2005.  Originally hosted by Tom Braden and Pat Buchanan, other hosts  included Robert Novak, Michael Kinsley, John H. Sununu,Bill Press,  Geraldine Ferraro, Mary Matalin, Tucker Carlson, James Carville and Paul Begala.
Evans and Novak		Saturday night political interview program with Rowland Evans and  Robert Novak. The name changed to Evans, Novak, Hunt & Shields  in 1998 when Al Hunt and Mark Shields became permanent panelists.  When Evans died in 2001, the name changed to Novak,  Hunt & Shields for its final year on CNN.
Next@CNN	2002–2005	A scientific and technology oriented program hosted by Daniel Sieberg.  Aired on weekends.
Inside Politics		A political program that aired Monday through Friday from 3:30 pm  to 5 pm eastern. Replaced by The Situation Room in 2005.
Wolf Blitzer Reports	2001–2005	A daily look at the day's stories that aired live from Washington at 5 pm eastern.  Replaced by The Situation Room in 2005.
NewsNight with  Aaron Brown	2001–2005	A hard-news program anchored by Aaron Brown which took an in-depth  look at the main U.S. and international stories of the day. Was axed from  CNN's schedule on Saturday, November 5, 2005,  leading to Brown's immediate resignation from CNN.
CNN Daybreak		A first look at the day's stories that aired live from New York City at 5 am eastern.
CNN Sports Sunday		Co-anchored by Bob Kurtz and Nick Charles.
Connie Chung Tonight	2002–2003	Hosted by Connie Chung. Cancelled in March 2003.
Freeman Reports		One of the original programs from 1980. Host Sonja Freeman interviewed  guests and took live telephone call-ins regarding current news events  and other topics of interest. For a brief period, the program featured  a live audience in Atlanta. Freeman's former time slot is now occupied by Larry King.
People Now		Another original program. Host Lee Leonard interviewed celebrities  and discussed entertainment news in a one hour program live from  the CNN Los Angeles bureau. Leonard was replaced by Mike Douglas,  who himself was replaced by Bill Tush in December 1982.
Pinnacle with Tom Cassidy	Unknown–2004	Business news and leaders.
Computer Connection		Technological issues.
Future Watch		Technological issues.
Science and Technology Week	Unknown–2001	Weekly half-hour featuring scientific and technology reports and comments  on the week's news on those subjects. Anchored most recently by Miles O'Brien.
Your Health		Health news.
Style with Elsa Klensch		Weekly half-hour show on Saturday mornings that featured news on style and fashion.
TalkBack Live	1994–2003	A call-in talk show with a live audience hosted most recently by Arthel Neville.
On The Story	Unknown–2006	CNN's interactive "week-in-review" series featuring an in-depth look  at the story behind some of the week's biggest stories. Anchored  byAli Velshi. However, the show was suspended in June 2006,  then later cancelled in July 2006.
Burden of Proof	1995–2001	A show that discussed the legal issues of the day, hosted by  Greta Van Susteren and Roger Cossack.
Newsstand	1999–2001	News magazine.
Newshour		Daily news.
Sonya / Sonya Live in L.A.	1987–1994	A weekday call-in show airing at 1 pm eastern in the late 1980s  and early 1990s hosted by Dr. Sonya Friedman.
CNN Live Today	2001–2006	Daily look at what's making the news, airing live from Atlanta  Monday through Friday at 10 am eastern. Anchored by Daryn Kagan.
Live From...		A lively look at the day's stories airing live from Atlanta at 1 pm easterm.  Anchored by Kyra Phillips.
CNN Live Saturday /CNN Live Sunday		A look at what's making the news on the weekends, airing live from Atlanta.  Anchored by Fredricka Whitfield 12PM to 6 pm eastern andCarol Lin 6PM  to 11 pm eastern. Replaced in 2006 by CNN Newsroom Weekend.
CNN Saturday Night /CNN Sunday Night		The channel's weekend evening news program, airing at 6 pm eastern  and 10 pm eastern. Anchored by Carol Lin. Replaced in 2006  by CNN Newsroom Weekend.
People in the News	Unknown–2005	CNN's feature-format program with People magazine profiling  newsmakers from politics, sports, business, medicine and  entertainment. The program aired on the weekend and was  first hosted by Daryn Kagan and later by Paula Zahn.
Diplomatic License	1994–2006	Weekly program on CNNI hosted by Richard Roth, focusing  on the United Nations.
Global View	1994–1999	International policy interview show hosted by world affairs  correspondent Ralph Begleiter, aired weekly on CNN  classic (1994–1995) and CNN International (1994–1999). Program began with Begleiter package on subject,  followed by lengthy interview with international figure and  ended with brief "Reporter's Notebook" segment featuring  insider tidbits from the host's extensive travel covering global  politics. Produced by Pam Benson with Joann Sierra.
Live From The Headlines	2003	Was Paula Zahn's prime-time show after moving from her  morning slot, airing from 7 pm to 9 pm eastern and later  co-hosted by Anderson Cooper; replaced by Paula Zahn Now in 2003.
Paula Zahn Now	2003–2007	Was a look at the current issues affecting the world, with  former CBS and Fox News anchor Paula Zahn. Last  broadcast was on Thursday, August 2, 2007.
CNN Tonight	2001	Anchored by Bill Hemmer at 10 pm eastern and  Catherine Callaway at 1 am eastern/10PM pacific.  Brought back in late 2009 to replaceLou Dobbs Tonight as  a placeholder until new programming debuts in 2010.
First Evening News	2001	Bill Hemmer anchors half-hour news show at 6 pm in  June or 7 pm in July to September 10.
The Spin Room	2001	Tucker Carlson and Bill Press host a political talk show  that aired at 10:30 pm eastern.
Greenfield at Large	2001–2002	Anchored by Jeff Greenfield in New York City that aired  Monday through Friday at 10:30 pm eastern.
CNN NewsSite	2001	Anchored by Joie Chen from Atlanta that aired Monday  through Friday at 4 pm eastern. Integrated the news  and internet.
The Point with Greta Van Susteren	2001–2002	Primetime news and interviews. Canceled when  Greta Van Susteren moved to Fox News.
Ballot Bowl	2008	Election news in 2008.
Lou Dobbs This Week
Lou Dobbs Tonight	1980–2009	Anchored by Lou Dobbs, the program originally aired  as Moneyline before re-launching as Lou Dobbs Tonight in 2003.
Campbell Brown	2008–2010	A political debate show hosted by Campbell Brown.  Ended after Brown resigned from CNN.
Rick's List	2010	Anchored by Rick Sanchez, the host would discuss  the day's news with viewers via social networking sites such  as Facebook and Twitter. Sanchez was fired from the channel  after making controversial statements on a radio show  (see Controversy for further details).
Larry King Live	1985–2010	Hosted by Larry King, it was the most watched (and longest running)  program on CNN, with over one million viewers nightly.
In the Arena	2010–2011	Originally titled Parker Spitzer and hosted by Kathleen Parker  and Eliot Spitzer, it was a program that discussed  the day's news with top journalists and contributors.
John King, USA	2010–2012	A program that discussed the day's political news.

 

 

Staff
Main article: List of CNN anchors
On July 27, 2012, CNN president Jim Walton announced he was quitting at CNN after working there over 30 years. He remained with the network until the end of the year. In January 2013, former NBCUniversal president Jeff Zucker replaced Walton.
Political contributors
On January 29, 2013 James Carville, Mary Matalin and Erick Erickson were let go as contributors.

 

Liberals: · Paul Begala · Hilary Rosen · Jamal Simmons · Marjorie Clifton · Penny Lee · Maria Cardona · Alicia Menendez · Christine Pelosi · Stephanie Cutter · Robert Zimmerman · Roland S. Martin · Donna Brazile · Lanny Davis

Conservatives: · Marsha Blackburn · Ed Rollins · William Bennett · Nancy Pfotenhauer · Amy Holmes · Tara Wall · David Frum · Rich Galen · Margaret Hoover · Susan Molinari · Leslie Sanchez · Terry Holt · Kraran Hanretty · Cheri Jacobus · Dana Loesch · Gretchen Hamel · Ari Fleischer · Kevin Madden · Alex Castellanos · Sam Dealey

Political analysts
Jack Cafferty, Commentator
Gloria Borger, Chief Political Analyst
Candy Crowley, Senior Political Correspondent
Jeffrey Toobin, Senior Legal Analyst
Bill Schneider, Senior Political Analyst
David Gergen, Senior Political Analyst
John King, Chief National Correspondent
Jill Dougherty, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

High definition
The 1080i high definition simulcast of CNN launched in September 2007. All studio shows are aired in HD, as well as special events.

Starting late 2010, the domestic version CNN/U.S., is available in high definition to viewers in Japan under the name CNN HD. If this is a one-off case or the beginning of an international roll-out of CNN HD with more countries to come is unclear.

Formerly during American Morning, CNN HD viewers saw weather forecasts in graphic form on the sides of the screen (American cities on the right, and cities outside of the U.S. on the left). This feature was removed in November 2009.

The documentary Planet in Peril was CNN's first documentary program produced in HD, followed by Black in America (Its sequel Black in America 2 also aired in HD). Its spinoff Latino in America was also in HD. CNN HD also used to display a CNN HD logo (the normal CNN logo with the letters HD in a different, gray colored font next to it) on the bottom left corner of the screen. It was last used on February 28, 2009.

Special events
All special events are aired in full HD. During primary and caucus nights, America Votes 2008 was produced in complete HD with Wolf Blitzer anchoring from CNN's main New York studio which was renamed the CNN Election Center. During this time, CNN HD viewers got additional information on the side of their TV screens such as poll numbers, charts and graphs. This also happened for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the 2008 Republican National Convention, the 2008 United States Presidential Debates, the 2008 United States Vice Presidential Debate and the 2008 Election Day coverage on November 4, all of which were also shot in HD. Other special events such as Presidential speeches and press conferences are aired in HD.

CNN's political coverage in HD was given mobility by the introduction of the CNN Election Express bus in October 2007. The Election Express vehicle, capable of five simultaneous HD feeds, was used for the channel's CNN-YouTube presidential debates and for presidential candidate interviews.

Coverage
Initial carriage of CNN in HD on cable and satellite systems was limited. DirecTV was the first provider to carry it, adding it mid-September 2007. By June 2008, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, AT&T U-verse, Rogers Cable, Midcontinent Communications, Bright House Networks, and Dish Network launched carriage of CNN HD. CNN is also rebroadcast during theCaribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) mid-day and evening news in Barbados.

Other platforms
Online
CNN debuted its news website CNN.com (initially an experiment known as CNN Interactive) on August 30, 1995. The site attracted growing interest over its first decade and is now one of the most popular news websites in the world. The widespread growth of blogs,social media and user-generated content have influenced the site, and blogs in particular have focused CNN's previously scattershot online offerings, most noticeably in the development and launch of CNN Pipeline in late 2005.

In April 2009, CNN.com ranked third place among online global news sites in unique users in the U.S. according to Nielsen/NetRatings; with an increase of 11% over the previous year.

CNN Pipeline was the name of a paid subscription service, its corresponding website, and a content delivery client that provided streams of live video from up to four sources (or "pipes"), on-demand access to CNN stories and reports, and optional pop-up "news alerts" to computer users. The installable client was available to users of PCs running Microsoft Windows. There was also a browser-based "web client" that did not require installation. In July 2007 the service was discontinued and replaced with a free streaming service.

The now-defunct topical news-program Judy Woodruff's Inside Politics was the first CNN program to feature a round-up of blogs in 2005. Blog coverage was expanded when Inside Politics was folded into The Situation Room. In 2006, CNN launched CNN Exchangeand CNN iReport, initiatives designed to further introduce and centralize the impact of everything from blogging to citizen journalism within the CNN brand. CNN iReport which features user-submitted photos and video, has achieved considerable traction, with increasingly professional-looking reports filed by amateur journalists, many still in high school or college. The iReport gained more prominence when observers of the Virginia Tech Shootings sent-in first hand photos of what was going during the shootings.

As of early 2008, CNN maintains a live broadcast available to those who receive CNN at home. CNN International is broadcast live, as part of the RealNetworks SuperPass subscription outside US. CNN also offers several RSS feeds and podcasts.

On April 18, 2008 CNN.com was targeted by Chinese hackers in retaliation for the channel's coverage on the 2008 Tibetan unrest. CNN reported that they took preventative measures after news broke of the impending attack.

The company was honored at the 2008 Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards for development and implementation of an integrated and portable IP-based live, edit and store-and-forward digital news gathering (DNG) system. The first use of what would later win CNN this award was in April 2001 when CNN correspondent Lisa Rose Weaver covered, and were detained, for the release of the U.S. Navy crew of a damaged electronic surveillance plane after the Hainan Island incident. The technology consisted of a videophone produced by 7E Communications Ltd of London, UK. This DNG workflow is used today by the network to receive material world wide using an Apple MacBook Pro, variousprosumer and professional digital cameras, software from Streambox Inc., and BGAN terminals from Hughes Network Systems.

On October 24, 2009 CNN launched a new version of their CNN.com website, revamping it adding a new "sign up" option where users may create their own user name, a new "CNN Pulse" (beta) feature along with a new red color theme. However, most of the news archived on the website has been deleted.
CNN also has a channel in the popular video-sharing site YouTube, but its videos can only be viewed in the United States, a source of criticism among YouTube users worldwide.

In April 2010, CNN announced via Twitter its upcoming food blog called "Eatocracy," in which it will "cover all news related to food – from recalls to health issues to culture."

CNN had an internet relay chat (IRC) network at chat.cnn.com. CNN placed a live chat with Benjamin Netanyahu on the network in 1998.

Films
Main article: CNN Films
CNN reported in October 2012 that the network formed CNN Films to distribute and produce made-for-TV and feature documentaries. Its first acquisition was a documentary entitledGirl Rising, a Meryl Streep-narrated documentary on the struggles of girls' education.

Specialized channels
CNN Airport Network
CNN Chile A Chilean news channel launched on December 4, 2008.
CNN en Español
CNN International
CNN TÜRK A Turkish media outlet.
CNN-IBN An Indian news channel.
CNNj A Japanese news outlet.

HLN
n-tv German 24-hour news channel in German language. In 2009, on air graphic (DOG position and news ticker) is like CNN. Owned by RTL Group

Former channels
CNN Checkout Channel (Out-of-home place-based custom channel for grocery stores started in 1991 and shuttered in 1993)

CNN Italia (an Italian news website launched in partnership with the publishing company Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso, and after with the financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, launched on November 15, 1999 and closed on September 12, 2003.)

CNN Pipeline (24-hour multi-channel broadband online news service, replaced with CNN.com Live)

CNN Sports Illustrated (also known as CNNSI), CNN's all-sports channel, closed in 2002.

CNN+ (a partner channel in Spain, launched in 1999 with Sogecable)
CNN.com Live
CNNfn (financial channel, closed in December 2004)

Experiments
CNN launched two specialty news channels for the American market which would later close amid competitive pressure: CNNSI shut down in 2002, and CNNfn shut down after nine years on the air in December 2004. CNN and Sports Illustrated's partnership continues today online at CNNSI.com. CNN's former website now redirects to money.cnn.com, a product of CNN's strategic partnership with Money magazine. Money and SI are both properties of Time Warner, along with CNN.

Bureaus

 

CNN bureau locations

 

The CNN Center in Atlanta

 

CNN in New York City

 

CNN Center studios

Note: Boldface indicates that they are CNN's original bureaus, meaning they have been in operation since CNN's founding.

United States
Atlanta (World Headquarters)
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Los Angeles
Miami
New Orleans
New York City
San Francisco
Washington, D.C. Columbus
Denver
Houston
Las Vegas
Minneapolis
Orlando
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Raleigh-Durham
Seattle

Worldwide
Many of the following bureaus have been closed or—due to the financial crisis—their budget cut:

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Middle East regional headquarters)
Baghdad, Iraq
Bangkok, Thailand
Beijing, China
Beirut, Lebanon
Berlin, Germany
Bogotá, Colombia
Cairo, Egypt
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Havana, Cuba
Hong Kong (Asia/Pacific regional headquarters)
Islamabad, Pakistan
Istanbul, Turkey
Jakarta, Indonesia
Jerusalem, Israel
Johannesburg, South Africa
Lagos, Nigeria
London, United Kingdom (European regional headquarters)
Madrid, Spain
Mexico City, Mexico
Moscow, Russia
Nairobi, Kenya
New Delhi, India
Paris, France
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rome, Italy
Santiago of Chile, Chile
São Paulo, Brazil
Seoul, South Korea
Sydney, Australia
Tehran, Iran (until the 2009 election when foreign media were expelled from the country)
Tokyo, Japan
In parts of the world without a CNN bureau, the network will use local affiliate station reports which will be used to file a story.

Controversy
Main article: CNN controversies
In a joint study by the Joan Shorenstein Center on Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University and the Project for Excellence in Journalism, the authors found disparate treatment by the three major cable channels of Republican and Democratic candidates during the earliest five months of presidential primaries in 2007: "The CNN programming studied tended to cast a negative light on Republican candidates—by a margin of three-to-one. Four-in-ten stories (41%) were clearly negative while just 14% were positive and 46% were neutral. The network provided negative coverage of all three main candidates with McCain faring the worst (63% negative) and Romney faring a little better than the others only because a majority of his coverage was neutral. It's not that Democrats, other than Obama, fared well on CNN either. Nearly half of the Illinois Senator's stories were positive (46%), vs. just 8% that were negative. But both Clinton and Edwards ended up with more negative than positive coverage overall. So while coverage for Democrats overall was a bit more positive than negative, that was almost all due to extremely favorable coverage for Obama."

CNN has been accused of perpetrating media bias for allegedly promoting both a conservative and a liberal agenda based on previous incidents. Accuracy in Media and the Media Research Center have claimed that CNN's reporting contains liberal editorializing within news stories.

CNN is one of the world's largest news organizations, and its international channel, CNN International is the leading international news channel in terms of viewer reach. CNN International makes extensive use of affiliated reporters that are local to, and often directly affected by, the events they are reporting. The effect is a more immediate, less detached style of on-the-ground coverage. This has done little to stem criticism, largely from Middle Eastern nations, that CNN International reports news from a pro-American perspective. This is a marked contrast to domestic criticisms that often portray CNN as having a "liberal" or "anti-American" bias. In 2002, Honest Reporting spearheaded a campaign to expose CNN for pro-Palestinian bias, citing public remarks in which Ted Turner equated Palestinian suicide bombing with Israeli military strikes.

Chicago Sun-Times. June 5, 2007. As said by Ted Turner, founder of CNN, "There really isn't much of a point getting some Tom, Dick or Harry off the streets to report on when we can snag a big name whom everyone identifies with. After all, it's all part of the business." However, in April 2008, Turner criticized the direction CNN has taken. Others have echoed that criticism, especially in light of CNN's drop in the ratings.

On April 24, 2008 beautician Liang Shubing and teacher Li Lilan sued commentator Jack Cafferty and CNN $1.3 billion damages ($1 per person in China), in New York, for "violating the dignity and reputation of the Chinese people". This was in response to an incident during CNN's "The Situation Room" on April 9, where Cafferty stated his opinion that "[the USA] continue to import their junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food" despite his view that "[the Chinese leaders were] basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years". Further, amid China's Foreign Ministry demand for an apology, 14 lawyers filed a similar suit in Beijing.

In June 2009, musician M.I.A. stated she did an hour-long interview with CNN condemning the mass bombing and Tamil civilian fatalities at the hands of Government forces in Sri Lanka in 16 weeks the same year, "and they cut it down to one minute and made it about my single Paper Planes. When I went to the Grammys, I saw the same reporter from CNN, and I was like, "Why did you do that?" And she said, "Because you used the G-word."" "Genocide. I guess you’re not allowed to say that on CNN," raising questions concerning CNN's coverage and commitment to free speech.

On November 11, 2009, longtime CNN anchor Lou Dobbs resigned on air after discussions with CNN President Jonathan Klein, who had agreed to a release from his contract "that will enable me to pursue new opportunities." He had previously expressed to Klein that he wished to go "the opinion route". Dobbs' advocacy journalism style coverage of immigration, Obama birthers and free trade topics has attracted controversy both to him and to CNN.

On July 7, 2010, Octavia Nasr, senior Middle East editor and a CNN journalist for 20 years, was fired after she expressed on her Twitter account admiration for a liberal-minded Muslim cleric who had recently died, casting doubts on the company's commitment to freedom of speech.

On October 1, 2010, CNN anchor Rick Sanchez was fired after remarks he made during an interview with comedian Pete Dominick at a radio show the previous day about prejudices he faced during his television career, at CNN and jokes about him by comedian Jon Stewart. Calling him a "bigot" before retracting this and describing him instead as "prejudiced" and "uninformed", the interviewer invoked Stewart's faith as an example of how Stewart was "a minority as much as you are". Sanchez stated his view that Jewish people were not an oppressed minority in America, and his view that "everybody that runs CNN is a lot like Stewart" before stating "And a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart."

In October 2011, Amber Lyon told a European news service that she had been directed by CNN to report selectively, repetitively, and falsely in order to sway public opinion in favor of direct American aggression against Iran and Syria, and that this was common practice under CNN. She subsequently reconfirmed this in detail, addressing the degraded state of journalistic ethics in an interview with American radio host Alex Jones, during which she also discussed the Bahraini episode, suggesting paid-for content was also taken fromGeorgia, Kazakhstan, and other states, that the War on Terrorism had also been employed as a pretext to pre-empt substantive investigative journalism within the US, and that following the Bahrain reporting, her investigative department had been terminated and "reorganized", and her severance and employee benefits used as a threat to intimidate and attempt to purchase her subsequent silence.

Lyon had met with Tony Maddox, president of CNN International, twice about this issue in 2011 and had claimed that during the second meeting she was threatened and intimated to stop speaking on the matter. Lyon spoke heavily on RT (TV Network) about this claiming that CNN reporters, headed by Maddox, have been instructed to over-cover Iran as a form of propaganda, and that CNN International has been paid by the Bahraini government to produce and air news segments intentionally painting them in a positive light.