CNN

U.S. center-left

Background

CNN launched in 1980 as the first 24-hour cable news channel, founded by Ted Turner, and built its reputation on live breaking-news coverage such as the 1991 Gulf War. It changed corporate hands several times, passing through Time Warner, AOL Time Warner, AT&T's WarnerMedia (2018), and since 2022 Warner Bros. Discovery, after WarnerMedia merged with Discovery Inc. Under CEO Mark Thompson (since 2023), CNN has cut staff and pushed a digital/streaming overhaul, including a 2025 restructuring and launch of CNN Max, in response to declining cable viewership. CNN has long drawn conservative criticism for perceived liberal bias and been a frequent target of President Trump, who has called it "fake news"; in September 2026 the White House revoked its press credentials, which CNN is challenging in court alongside other outlets. A pending acquisition by Paramount Skydance, whose leadership (the Ellison family) has closer ties to the Trump administration, has raised questions about whether CNN's editorial independence and tone toward the White House could shift once the deal closes.

Sources

1. Who Owns CNN? | The Motley Fool
2. Major TV networks halt video coverage of Trump over CNN ban - The Washington Post
3. How Biased is CNN? 2026 Rating & Analysis - Biasly
4. Warner Bros. Discovery to split into two, separating CNN and cable networks from streaming - CBS News
5. Paramount Skydance Wins Warner Bros. Discovery After Netflix Drops Out - Britannica Money
6. FCC approves foreign investment in Paramount-Warner Bros. merger - Spokesman-Review
7. Paramount makes concessions to salvage $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery deal - NPR
8. CNN chief Mark Thompson announces sweeping overhaul of news network - CNN Business
9. CNN announces layoffs as it revamps its schedule and digital strategy - CNN Business

Profile compiled 2026-09-24; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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