MUMBAI: CNN?s new CEO Jeff Zucker has said the ?challenge for us is how to make CNN more essential, how to make it one of the four tyres on the car.?

Speaking publicly for the first time since taking the top job in January, Zucker told the listeners at an Atlanta Press Club lunch that the broadcaster needs to be more than a spare tyre in the trunk. ?You only take it out when you really need it. It?s not one of the four tyres on the car all the time.?

He has also said that CNN will continue to be based in Atlanta. ?I know that people know that I am the first Chief Executive of CNN not based in Atlanta. I did not make my first luncheon with the Press Club of New York. Atlanta will continue to the home of CNN, and Atlanta will continue to be the backbone of CNN.?

He conceded that he did not have a magic solution on how to make CNN better and more competitive. "I do not have all the answers. I do not even have half the answers."

The issue facing him is what will define CNN in its fourth decade. Previous defining moments have included its coverage of the first Gulf war. ?What will define the fourth decade? That is part of why I was really attracted to CNN. What will CNN be and how will it be defined in its fourth decade??

He spoke about the efforts that CNN has made to be diverse when it hires people.

MUMBAI: CNN has signed a multi-year broadcast affiliation agreement with Thai News Network (TNN), Thailand?s first 24-hour Thai- language news channel, which will provide TNN access to CNN?s live breaking news coverage, news and feature programming, as well as its video portal.

This agreement expands on the existing multi-platform partnership CNN has with TNN?s parent company, True Visions Group and includes provision of training and information sharing with CNN.

"CNN and Turner International Asia Pacific are delighted to be building further on our long-term partnership with True Visions Group, enabling TNN to provide the people of Thailand and Thai-speaking viewers across the world with best-in-class international news coverage," said Turner International Asia Pacific president and MD Steve Marcopoto.
 
"By entering into this affiliation agreement with CNN, TNN demonstrates its determination to deliver the best Thai-language international breaking news coverage to its viewers," added True Visions Executive Vice- Chairman and TNN Chairman Sompan Charumilinda.

MUMBAI: CNN is launching a new primetime evening news show titled ?CNN NewsCenter?, further expanding its live programming from Asia.

Anchored out of Hong Kong by CNN anchor Monita Rajpal, the show will air everyday at 5 pm, starting 21 January.

The show is the latest addition to CNN?s Hong Kong programming expansion, following the recent debut of ?CNN Newsroom, Live from Hong Kong?, a two hour morning news show anchored by Andrew Stevens and Patricia Wu, as well as the launch of ?On China?, a monthly show hosted by Kristie Lu Stout.

?CNN NewsCenter? airs at the crossroads of the international day: morning in North and South America, lunchtime in Europe, afternoon in the Middle East and Africa, and evening in the Asia Pacific region.

Providing viewers around the world with a 30 minute briefing on the biggest global headlines, the primetime news program airs between CNN?s two shows ?Amanpour? and ?Piers Morgan Tonight?.