Cable News Network-News18 (known as CNN-News18 and originally CNN-IBN) is an Indian English-language news channel founded by Raghav Bahl in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is currently jointly owned by the Network18 Group and Warner Bros. discovery. CNN provides international coverage for the channel, while Indian Broadcasting Network concentrates on Indian and local coverage.
In May 2014, Reliance Industries announced the acquisition of Network18. The move was touted as "the biggest deal in the Indian media space". Reliance Industries already indirectly controlled the TV18 network through the investment it made in Network18 starting in January 2012.
CNN International only covered India's urban population. In order to reach the Indian masses, Time Warner along with India's Global Broadcast News (currently TV18 Broadcast Limited) launched a channel in India called CNN-IBN on December 18, 2005. The channel was operated entirely by TV18 Broadcast Limited, which used only the Cable News Network (CNN) brand name.
Currently, Time Warner's CNN-News18, intended for India, is watched by more people than its sister network CNN International, although both channels are in English.
Since its inception, the channel has reached an average of 45 million households daily, according to Network 18.
In 2015, it was announced that the licensing agreement between Turner Broadcasting and Network 18 had not been renewed and would expire in January 2016.
On December 1, 2015, it was announced that the brand's license had been renewed for another term.
In April 2016, CNN-IBN was renamed CNN-News18.
Activists accused the channel of supporting the ideology of Modi's ruling government.