On June 1, 1980, CNN began broadcasting as the first 24-hour television news network in the United States. Founded by Ted Turner, it introduced a new model of continuous news coverage. Many doubted that nonstop news could attract a wide audience, but CNN quickly proved influential. Its global reporting during major crises reshaped how Americans consumed news. The network’s success prompted competitors to develop their own 24/7 news formats. CNN helped push television journalism into the modern era of real-time information.
