Asia’s leading news brand CNA is now available in the UK reaching 110 million homes globally 

London, United Kingdom, 25 November 2024 - CNA, Asia’s leading English-language news network with a unique position to ‘Understand Asia’ is now available in the UK, bringing its reach to 110 million homes globally. This is part of the channel’s expanding distribution network beyond Asia Pacific and the Middle East, with a similar launch in Washington DC in June this year. 

UK audiences can now view CNA on free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platforms such as Freeview, the country’s largest TV platform, on channel 276; Freely on channel 579; and social TV platform Bolt+. In addition, CNA is slated to be available on VIDAA next year. 

Last week’s launch was attended by over 200 distinguished guests, including ambassadors, think tanks, association heads, and business leaders. The event showcased exclusive screenings of CNA’s award-winning documentaries, accompanied by insider perspectives from CNA producers and engaging discussions with the audience. 

Speaking at the launch, Walter Fernandez, Editor-in-Chief, Mediacorp said: “Asia is a significant part of the global political and economic narratives. Decisions and policy responses out of Asia will influence outcomes all over the world. It’s crucial for decision makers in Europe to ‘Understand Asia’. To understand that Asia is a diverse continent of nations, each with its own distinct cultures, political systems, economic development trajectories and challenges. CNA can help audiences navigate this vast tapestry through its extensive reporting across Asia and the nuanced analysis embedded in our documentaries.” 

With more than 25 years of journalistic excellence, CNA has received over 575 prestigious international awards from the New York Festivals Television & Film Awards, the World Media Festival, the Hamburg World Media Festival, and Cannes TV Festival. In addition, CNA’s original documentary, The Exiles, is nominated for Best Documentary at the International Emmys 2024. The documentary tells the heartbreaking story of racially motivated deportations of Chinese men who served with the Allies during WW2 and were forcibly deported from the UK and Australia. 

CNA’s Ofcom issued Television License Content Service (TLCS) license demonstrates its commitment to delivering trusted content adhering to UK compliance standards. Programmes available on FAST include – 

  • Weekday news bulletins. Updates from the Asian region on Asia Tonight and an in-depth look into developments from Greater China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula on East Asia Tonight. 

  • Weekly current affairs programmes. Such as Insight, an acclaimed series that offers in-depth analysis of global developments. 

  • Award-winning documentaries. Showcasing the best in story-telling with Walk the Line, featuring the treacherous route of Chinese migrants who entered the US illegally via its southern border in 2023, hoping to live the American Dream; Undercover Asia, which uncovers hard truths in the underbelly of Asia, and unveils the plight of the disenfranchised and the displaced; and The Mark of Empire, which examines how legacies of the past shape some of Asia’s most modern nations today. 

Tanya Kronfli, Founder and CEO of Global Distribution Services, the company which facilitated the launch on Freeview and Freely adds: “With CNA providing a deeper insight and understanding into global developments with an Asian perspective, our viewers have access to content beyond mere entertainment. This enhances their appreciation and comprehension of Asia’s complexities.” 

Jamal Hassim, Co-founder and CEO of Bolt+ says: “Our partnership with CNA brings premier journalism and world-class content to our immersive streaming platform, creating a dynamic, communal viewing experience, that is both informative, factual and trustworthy.” 

CNA is a news and current affairs brand by Singapore’s national media network Mediacorp and can be viewed by audiences worldwide via a curated website (cnaworld.asia) or on YouTube (cna.asia/cnainsiderlive). 

About CNA 

CNA was established in March 1999 by Mediacorp and is an English language Asian news network. Positioned to “Understand Asia”, it reports on global developments with Asian perspectives. Based in Singapore, it has correspondents in major Asian cities and key Western ones, including New York, Washington D.C., London and Brussels. CNA brings its audience not only the latest news but also diverse content such as business, lifestyle, human stories, current affairs and documentary programming. 

CNA is a transmedia company, where users can get content online, on TV and radio and via smart devices. It is also available on social and messaging services, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Telegram. 

CNA has been recognised as Channel of the Year by the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB), the global trade association for broadcast journalism. Since 2014, it has won over 575 international awards including New York Festivals Television & Film Awards, World Media Festival, Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards. 

Named the most trusted news brand in Singapore for the sixth consecutive year by the Reuters Institute, CNA has grown from a local news channel to a global brand that serves over 110 million households and hotels in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.