Happy Birthday CNN: Turning 30 Today

Posted Jun 1, 2010 by Walt Belcher

Updated Jun 1, 2010 at 09:18 AM

CNN (Cable News Network) signed on the air on June 1, 1980.

The network was created by Atlanta broadcasting and marketing mogul Ted Turner.  It was his idea. Originating out of Atlanta, CNN was the leader in 24 hour news coverage. Today it faces competition from MSNBC and Fox News Channel.

CNN is quietly turning 30 because it’s just not the powerhouse it used to be and Ted Turner isn’t around to put on a show.  He was great at promotion.  CNN is still a major player in world news coverage.  The company estimates it reaches more than 2 billion people in more than 200 countries. And the company is coming off a year of record earnings.

Fox News Channel makes a lot of noise and is always bragging about how it beats CNN in the ratings. But CNN remains a reliable source.

For years, CNN has been unfairly labeled as “liberal” by conservatives who tend to gravitate to Fox News Channel (which is top heavy with conservative pundits).