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HLN (TV network)

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Headline News can also refer to the song by "Weird Al" Yankovic.

File:CNN-HN.jpg

CNN Headline News is a spin-off network from the original Cable News Network (CNN) television news network in the United States.

History

It began broadcasting on January 1, 1982 as "CNN2" but this was changed to Headline News in 1983. The CNN was added in the late 1990s.

"Headlines" (as it is known to people who work there) was always something of a stepchild at CNN: the unvarying rigidity of the news cycle was contrasted with the unpredictable, live nature of the parent network. It was remarkably stable, too: Chuck Roberts, who anchored the first newscast in 1982, is still anchoring.

The original format of Headline News was a continuously updated version of CNN in a 30-minute-at-a-time newscast format, with news, sports and national (or, in some areas, local) weather. Headline News would also be licensed to over-the-air stations to broadcast at their discretion.

In the late 1990s, it pioneered using a digital video jukebox to recycle segments of one newscast seamlessly into another newscast, and laid off part of its staff.

In the early 2000s, CNN Headline News became famous for its distinct "screen," in which the news anchor (or news footage) appears in a sort of visual "window" surrounded by constantly changing text, such as breaking news, sports scores, stock market reports, and weather updates. This new screen layout premiered on Headline News on August 6, 2001.

In 2003, Time Warner revamped CNN Headline News, as part of its response to competition from Fox News and MSNBC. Shows began to feature two anchors, and a more flexible format including live reports.

After much scrutiny and lampooning, such as USA Today calling the screen a "jumbled mess", the amount of on-screen information was dramatically scaled back in 2005.

On February 21, 2005, the network departed from its roots in a rigid schedule of news updates every half-hour by offering "Headline Prime": longer, personality-based shows in the evening. Initial shows were an hour of entertainment news, Showbiz Tonight with A. J. Hammer (and originally Karyn Bryant) at 7 ET, an hour of legal news and discussion, named after host Nancy Grace at 8 ET, and Prime News Tonight, a program covering national news hosted by Mike Galanos and Erica Hill. This eliminated the main difference between CNN Headline News and CNN during primetime, which had always broadcast a variety of news-related programs, such as documentaries and personality-based shows like Larry King Live. (A new prime time show hosted by radio talk show host Glenn Beck is scheduled to launch on the channel in April 2006.)

At other times of the day, the channel still features 30-minute news programs. Every half-hour viewers get the latest updates on top stories (headlines), financial news, national weather reports, sports, and entertainment news.

However, as of 2006, Headline News no longer airs its programming entirely live, and therefore uses its digital video jukebox system to shuffle certain segments of the newscast, unless, of course, important news and sports breaks. This system is especially true on the weekends. In fact, if one watches Headline News closely in a given weekend, one may find the same newscast that originally aired in the morning repeated long into the night (this is one reason why other networks as MSNBC and Fox News Channel have aired ads attacking Headline News for its repetition).

The network is quite popular with people who may not have time for lengthy news reports. TVs playing CNN Headline News can often be found in airports, bars, and other places where there is a high demand for "get to the point" news.

Since its inception in 1982, Headline News has been syndicated to network television afflliates in the United States. Audio of the channel has also been simulcast on AM radio stations across the country, and is available on XM Satellite Radio channel 123 and Sirius Satellite Radio channel 133.

Ratings

CNN Headline News has rested comfortably in 4th place for much of its time since its inception (behind Fox News, CNN and MSNBC, but ahead of the business news channel CNBC). However, with the 2005 revamp of the network's primetime schedule, the network has slipped past MSNBC to take the number 3 slot. Most nights, HLN's Primetime programming block of Nancy Grace, Prime News Tonight and a repeat of Nancy Grace beats MSNBC's Primetime lineup in terms of total viewers (viewers ages 2+). [1]

Weekday Schedule

All programs air live except where indicated.

Anchors and Reporters (over the years)

Previous logos

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