CNN (Cable News Network) is a cable television network that was founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. It is currently owned by Time Warner. CNN is widely credited for introducing the concept of 24-hour news coverage. It is available in 86 million U.S. households and more than 890,000 U.S. hotel rooms, and it broadcasts primarily from its studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Globally, CNN boasts that its combined branded networks and services are available to more than one billion people in over 212 countries and territories.
Since CNN's launch on June 1, 1980, the network has expanded its reach to 15 cable and satellite television networks (such as CNN Headline News and CNNfn), 12 web sites, two private place-based networks (such as CNN Airport Network), and two radio networks. The network has 42 bureaus around the world and more than 900 affiliates worldwide. CNN has launched many regional and foreign-language networks around the world. CNN debuted its news website CNN.com (then referred to as CNN Interactive) on August 30, 1995, which it describes as the first major news and information website on the Internet.
CNN's global reputation was greatly enhanced in 1991 during the Gulf War, where its saturation coverage was carried around the world. It obtained much of that coverage through close cooperation with the U.S. government, which led to accusations that it did not attempt to get accurate coverage and was serving as a propaganda outlet.
CNN International now provides regional editions of its news service, in response to foreign demand for less U.S.-centric news coverage, and also rival services such as BBC World and Sky News. It uses local reporters in many of its many news-gathering centers, though they cover stories from an international (many would still say U.S.) perspective.
Within the United States, CNN has been criticized by conservatives for an alleged liberal bias, and has lost market share to the Fox News Channel. In terms of viewership, CNN is currently in second-place behind the Fox News Channel and ahead of MSNBC.
Time Warner, CNN's parent company, has donated $13,149,880 to political parties since 1989. Of that, 73% went to the Democratic Party, and 26% went to the Republican Party. [1]
