CNA (TV network)

Despite the economic recession the region was facing, TCS was suggesting the creation of a news channel (initially rumoured to be a business channel) in 1998. Under the initially-planned format the channel was set to provide business news mirroring CNN and CNBC with a tentative launch date of 1 January 1999.[10]

In October, TCS announced the name of the new service, Channel NewsAsia, and that its cost would be of $20 million in the first year, and $100 million at the long-term period of five years.[11] [12] With the then-upcoming launch of the channel, it was decided that all of Channel 5's current affairs programmes were to move to CNA, leaving only the main news (News 5 Tonight) with only one edition at 9:30pm.[13]

In a surprise move, one of its initial presenters, Christine Tan, left CNA ahead of its launch for CNBC Asia.[14] Two further presenters had left CNA despite heavy promotion for its launch.[15] The launch of the channel was still set to go as planned.[16] The channel's initial slogan was "We know Asia".[17]

Channel NewsAsia was first launched on 1 March 1999 under the Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS). The channel opened with a speech from Brigadier General George Yeo at Raffles Place,[18] which as seen as "a bold move" during the Asian economic recession of the time.[19]

The network aired only in Singapore initially, as it only focused on news from that country. It started to be distributed in other Asian countries on 28 September 2000.[20] Public opinion was divided over its editorial independence, as the channel was touted as a government mouthpiece.[21] The launch of the channel to all of Asia was announced in March 2000, announced alongside its first anniversary.[22][23]

In August 2012, CNA agreed to be broadcast in Myanmar through satellite-TV operator Sky Net.[24] CNA opened its Myanmar news bureau in the capital Yangon in October 2013 – the bureau officially opened in January 2014 – as only one of four foreign news organisations licensed to operate in the country at the time.[25]

On 21 January 2013, CNA underwent a major relaunch, introducing a new studio at the Marina Bay Financial Centre, an expansion in programming, and the new slogan "Understand Asia". With the changes, CNA added additional news and current affairs programmes focusing on business and the "dynamism and progress" of Asia, and added the new late-night newscast News Pulse (which would feature coverage of international headlines, predominantly involving the Americas and Europe) to expand into a 24-hour service. Managing director Debra Soon explained that "as the locus of the world economy shifts towards Asia, we believe we are well positioned to deliver what we've been doing daily since 1999, and help audiences around the world better Understand Asia." With the relaunch, a new bureau in Mumbai opened.[26][27]

In July 2014, CNA opened its Vietnam bureau.[28] Other bureaus the channel had opened at the time were Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Seoul and Tokyo; unofficial offices were also maintained in other cities such as Mumbai, New Delhi and Washington D.C.

In September 2014, the channel announced plans to expand its studio in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, into a fully functional satellite office with high-definition capabilities.[29]

On 26 May 2015, CNA began broadcasting in high definition. In July 2015, CNA's reach was placed at 58 million households in 26 countries.[30] CNA began broadcasting in India on 19 November 2015, through satellite operator Tata Sky. The move extended the network's reach to 14 million households in India.[31]

On 1 August 2018, CNA was launched on Astro in Malaysia. It stayed on Channel 533 and moved to Channel 515 on 1 April 2020.

In March 2019, Mediacorp announced that Channel NewsAsia would rebrand as "CNA" full-time, in an effort to abandon a "TV-centric" identity to emphasise its multi-platform operations. This would include the relaunch of its news radio station 938Now into the CNA brand (CNA 938), and the upcoming citizen journalism initiative Tell CNA.[1][32]

The logo of the channel is a red uppercase A, heightening the Asia in the official channel name. The A is shaped like an open delta whose crossbar is lowered to represent an emerging Asia. The A is painted red representing its auspicious status in Asian cultures, as well as being "striking and bold". The channel's name is written in black, representing its status as a brand of record.[33]

CNA's programs are transmitted into two separate broadcast feeds:

• Domestic – the channel's official feed providing 24-hour news, talk and lifestyle coverage. The Domestic feed also contains Singapore-only content, particularly during programme breaks. They include locally targeted advertisements, Mediacorp promos, sports footage limited by rights agreements with international sporting organisations, and the national anthem Majulah Singapura broadcast daily at 06:00 SST. CNA is available to Singapore viewers via over-the-air, StarHub TV, Singtel TV, and Mediacorp's over-the-top streaming service meWATCH.
• International – almost identical to the Domestic feed, but also provides more internationally oriented content during programme breaks. It also provides English commentary coverage of Singapore's National Day Parade every year on 9 August. Most cable and satellite systems carry the International feed in Asia and via livestreaming on CNA's YouTube channel.[34]

• Media of Singapore
• List of world news channels

• Channel NewsAsia (English)
• SG Press Centre
• CNA Live Streaming
• CNA Live Streaming on meWatch (Singapore only)