CNN Press Release: Independent Survey confirms CNN as #1 international media brand. EMS Africa results come after significant programming investment across the network.

The independent survey by Synovate confirms CNN is the top choice for audiences wanting international news and analysis, in a market where international media consumption is particularly high. Taken together with the findings from EMS Europe and EMS Middle East, the results underscore CNN’s position as the leading international news brand of choice for the EMEA region*. Compounded with leading independent research findings in Asia and Latin America, it also confirms CNN as the most watched international news brand.

The results come following the network’s significant investment in both its regional and international news output last year. A new prime time wheel was introduced in September 2009 to complement its ongoing commitment to breaking news; and CNN.com relaunched in October with increased video content and interactive features. In the same period, CNN also ramped up its regionally-focussed programming., with African Voices and CNN Marketplace Africa launching in the last year to add to the African output led by Inside Africa, now in its tenth year.

Tony Maddox, Managing Director, CNN International commented, "Our global reach has never been stronger and this research validates our ongoing investment in our TV and online services. CNN is not just a rolling news service, but also home to cross-platform content, both international and regionally-focussed output, which our audiences really seem to engage with. As a brand with committed editorial focus on Africa, we are delighted and appreciative that Africa’s global citizens, like their counterparts around the world, choose CNN as their key destination for keeping abreast of worldwide developments.”

CNN’s continued investment in the region also includes the annual CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards, now in their 15th year, three bureaux, and an expanded portfolio of Africa-centric programming (Inside Africa, African Voices, CNN Marketplace Africa).

“The extremely strong showing in this research underlines that CNN's decision to invest in newsgathering, launch new programming and generate content for multiplatform services is the right one for both our audiences and our business partners", added Maddox.

About CNN’s results

The EMS Africa Survey tracked across the top 15% of income earners in 12 cities across the key strategic African markets of Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco and Cameroon.

CNN International ranks as the #1 TV channel in Africa for monthly (61%), weekly (49%) and daily (27%) reach, compared with BBC World (51% monthly, 39% weekly and 17% daily), Euronews (31% monthly, 24% weekly and 10% daily) and CNBC Africa (21% monthly, 14% weekly and 4% daily).

CNN maintains a double digit advantage over its closest news competitor (BBC World News). CNN outperforms BBC World by 24% in monthly reach with business decision makers and 21% with high income earners. CNN also out-performs the competition online. The network’s websites (edition.cnn.com, moneycnn.com and Arabic.cnn.com) are also number one in Africa for monthly reach.

* leading independent market surveys:

Europe - EMS Summer 2009 (Waves 1-2 ‘08) – 20 Markets / Synovate
Asia - PAX Asia Survey 2009 (Q1 - Q4 2009) - 11 Markets / Synovate
Latin America (*Includes CNNE) -TGI Elite Latin America 2009 / Kantar