INTERNET NEWSROOM OPENS IN HONG KONG

CNN International boosts its presence in the Asia Pacific region from today, September 4, 2000, when the global news network begins broadcasting from a new multi-million U.S. dollar digital studio in Hong Kong. It will be CNN's first fully integrated television and Internet newsroom and CNN's most modern and technologically sophisticated production facility outside the United States.

The 10,000 sq. ft newsroom and studio will be fully digital and will enhance the look of CNN International's Asia Pacific programming. Maintaining CNN's position at the forefront of technology, the production centre will consist of two state-of-the-art studios, five studio cameras, four digital edit suites and one non-linear edit suite.

"The new studio is a terrific showcase for CNN in Asia represents the tremendous growth that has taken place over the past few years with regionalisation," said Bill Baggitt, who was recently promoted to vice president and managing editor for CNN International, Asia Pacific. "By installing the latest technology and enabling our television and interactive news rooms to work closely together for the first time, this move positions CNN to lead the way in this age of media convergence."

The regional production centre will incorporate the editorial functions of the television and interactive news teams allowing the journalists to work across all platforms and develop a range of multimedia skills. Proving CNN's commitment to the Asia Pacific region this new convergent newsroom will ensure viewers and internet users will be offered more regionally relevant content, adding to the 30 hours a week of programming already produced out of Hong Kong for the region.

"The integration of our television and interactive newsroom will mean not just a more focused and comprehensive coverage of the Asian region, but an opportunity to provide a truly innovative multimedia experience for our users," said Bruce Dover, managing editor of CNN.com Asia Pacific.