CNN Pressroom - Network to Become First Nationwide High-Definition News Channel with Launch of CNN-HD in Fall 2007

In another pioneering move in network news, CNN plans to claim its position in the high-definition space with the launch of the first nationwide high-definition news channel, it was announced this week by Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide. CNN-HD is slated for a Fall 2007 launch.

“CNN has traditionally stood as a first mover in broadcast technology, not only with 24-hour news but with newsgathering from every part of the globe,” said Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide. “CNN takes the news industry’s first giant step into high definition with CNN-HD.”

“Given that CNN continues to attract a greater number of unique viewers than any other cable news network, it’s the optimal choice for the next high-definition offering from Turner Broadcasting,” said Coleman Breland, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Turner Network Sales. “We’re pleased to offer this compelling network in high definition to our distribution partners and viewers.”

One distributor, DIRECTV, has already announced they will carry CNN-HD. DIRECTV this week announced the launch and carriage of 100 national high-definition channels, with the majority of them becoming available to subscribers in the third quarter of 2007.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is one of the world’s most respected and trusted sources for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; four Web sites, including CNN.com, the first major news and information Web site; CNN Pipeline, an on-demand broadband video service; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and partnerships for four television networks and one Web site.