CNN is one of the largest cable news networks in the world. It reaches about 80 million households in the U.S., while its global reach is over 2 billion people in more than 200 countries. The company also has a large digital presence, with more than 150 million visitors to its sites each month.
When the Cable News Network (CNN) launched, it was a television pioneer. It was the first television channel to provide news coverage around the clock and the country's first all-news network.
Today, CNN is one of the many media and entertainment brands owned by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD -3.73%). Here's a look at how CNN became part of that media giant. We'll also examine its board of directors and show you how to invest money in the entertainment company's stock.
NASDAQ: WBD
Key Data Points
Who is the owner of CNN?
CNN has had several owners over the years. Turner Broadcasting System created the 24-hour all-news channel in 1980. In 1996, Turner Broadcasting System merged with Time Warner Entertainment, which already had a 20% stake in the company.
In early 2000, former internet giant AOL agreed to buy Time Warner in a $182 billion megadeal, one of the biggest media mergers of all time. A few years later, the company removed AOL from its name, and by 2009, it had spun off the fledgling internet site.
AT&T (T +1.81%) acquired Time Warner in 2018 and then combined WarnerMedia with Discovery in 2022. It spun off that combined company to shareholders following the merger, which created Warner Bros. Discovery.
Today, CNN is part of Warner Bros. Discovery. The leading global media and entertainment company has a portfolio of content brands across TV, film, and streaming. Its iconic brands include Discovery Channel, CNN, HBO, HGTV, OWN, TBS, and DC.
Shareholder
Who is on the board of directors for CNN?
While CNN is a separate brand within Warner Bros. Discovery with its own management team, it doesn't have a distinct board of directors.
Warner Bros. Discovery's board of directors oversees CNN and its other media and entertainment brands. The company's board consisted of 14 members in 2025.
NAME | ROLE | BOARD TENURE |
|---|---|---|
Samuel Di Piazza, Jr. | Board Chair | Since 2022 |
David Zaslav | President and CEO | Since 2022 |
Richard Fisher | Independent Director | Since 2022 |
Paul Gould | Independent Director | Since 2008 |
Debra Lee | Independent Director | Since 2022 |
Joey Levin | Independent Director | Since 2025 |
Anton Levy | Independent Director | Since 2025 |
Kenneth Lowe | Independent Director | Since 2023 |
Fazal Merchant | Independent Director | Since 2022 |
Anthony Noto | Independent Director | Since 2025 |
Paula Price | Independent Director | Since 2022 |
Daniel Sanchez | Independent Director | Since 2024 |
Geoffrey Yang | Independent Director | Since 2022 |
Dr. John Malone | Chair Emeritus | Since 2008 |
Board of Directors
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How to invest in CNN
CNN isn't a publicly traded company, so you can't invest directly in the news network. However, its parent, Warner Bros. Discovery, is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the ticker WBD. Because of that, anyone with a brokerage account can invest in its stock.
It's easy to open a brokerage account if you don't already have one. Here's a list of the top-rated brokerage and stock trading accounts. Make sure you research the brokers to find the best one for you.
Opening and funding a brokerage account is the first step to investing in stocks. Additional steps you'll need to take include:
- Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
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