Mumbai: Global Broadcast News, a Television Eighteen group company has launched its fully owned and operated general news channel, CNN-IBN. The channel will be available for cable satellite television viewers across India starting on December 17, 2005.

Commenting on the launch, the minister for information and broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said, "I think that in the days to come, months to come and years to come, CNN-IBN shall make a mark in the history of India's electronic media as well as provide a new light, a new direction, a new goal in the centre of the fourth estate which will strengthen this pillar of Indian democracy. I wish CNN-IBN's new venture good luck."