CNN is a major news cable television network that introduced the idea of 24-hour television news coverage and rates as America´s number one cable news source was founded in 1980. Globally, CNN airs through CNN International and has combined branded networks and services that are available to more than 1.5 billion people in over 212 countries and territories. Despite its domestic standing, CNN remains a distant second in international news coverage, reaching just over half of the audience of the older BBC News.

Sources, related links:
Wikipedia - CNN

CNN - official web site