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Witness History: The launch of CNN

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12/10/2020 GMT

The launch of CNN

BBC World Service - Witness History, The launch of CNN

1980 saw the launch of the first TV station dedicated to 24 hour news.

June 1980 saw the launch of the first TV station dedicated to 24 hour news, Cable News Network. It was the beginning of a shift in broadcast journalism.

In June 1980, US media mogul Ted Turner launched the first TV station dedicated to 24 hour news, Cable News Network or CNN.  Some were sceptical that there would be enough news to stay on air, others warned that the public wouldn't be interested in news 24 hours a day.  But it marked  a shift in broadcast journalism and paved the way for many more rolling news stations across the world.   Rebecca Kesby has been speaking to Senior Executive at CNN, Rick Davis, about how 24 hour news has influenced politics and what role it has to play in holding those in power to account.  Rick also takes us back behind the scenes to when he was an output producer on launch day, June 1st 1980.

(PHOTO: Ted Turner attends official CNN Launch event at CNN Techwood Drive World Headquarters in Atlanta Georgia, June 01, 1980 (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

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