CNN opens hub in Abu Dhabi

Posted by Betsey Reinsborough on November 4, 2009 at 5:25 PM

CNN opened a news-gathering and production center in Abu Dhabi yesterday, reports WorldScreen. The new hub will be home to the news network's first daily live news show form the Middle East, Prism, hosted by Stan Grant. The show premiered last night. It will also become home to existing shows Inside the Middle East and Marketplace Middle East. This follows the recent release of their remodelled website.

CNN already has 32 internationally based operations including seven that are Middle East based: Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Dubai, Jerusalem, Kabul, and Islamabad. The new Abu Dhabi branch will over see all seven regional headquarters with a staff of over two dozen. The newsroom is a fully high definition studio which houses four cameras with 24/7 live capability.

This announcement shows the growing global interest in news form the Middle East as well as the importance that the region plays in global politics. The Associated Press also opened a Middle East hub earlier in the year.

Source: WorldScreen, CNN