The Cable News Network (CNN), a 24-hour cable news channel, was founded by Ted Turner and first broadcast on June 1, 1980. The unflattering CNN nickname of “Criminal News Network” has been cited in print since at least 1998.
   
CNN has also been nicknamed the “Chicken Noodle News” (cited in print since 1981), the “Communist News Network” (cited in print since 1991), the “Clinton News Network” (cited in print since 1992), “Certainly Not News” (cited in print since 1993), the “Cabal News Network” (cited in print since 1996), the “CIA News Network” (cited in print since 1997), the “Clown News Network” (cited in print since 1998), the “Corporate News Network” (cited in print since 1999), the “Counterfeit News Network” (cited in print since 1999), the “Cartoon News Network” (cited in print since 2000), the “Crescent News Network” (cited in print since 2002), “Crap Not News” (cited in print since 2007), “Criminally Negligent News” (cited in print since 2009), the “Collapsing News Network” (cited in print since 2010), the “American Pravda” (cited in print since 2012), the “Cuomo News Network” (cited in print since 2013), the “Collusion News Network” (cited in print since 2017) and the “Cuomo Nepotism Network” (cited in print since 2017).
 
 
Wikipedia: CNN
The Cable News Network (CNN) is an American basic cable and satellite television channel that is owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner. The 24-hour cable news channel was founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first television channel to provide 24-hour news coverage, and was the first all-news television channel in the United States.
     
Google News Archive 
29 October 1998, The Hour (Norwalk, CT), “Letters,” pg. A11, col. 2:
-CNN (the Criminal News Network) will have a major TV feature showing how more criminals can now drive through Wilton?
(Letter by Gary Woods.—ed.)
 
Google Groups: alt.fan.jai-maharaj
CNN BUSTED - COMPLIES WITH WHITE HOUSE ORDER TO CENSOR
Walt Horning
12/9/98
CNN stands for Clinton News Network.
 
Matt Drudge reported that CNN cancelled a Larry King interview with him at the insistance of Bill Clinton’s White House. Seems Wolf Blitzer would not get his questioned answered by the president if Drudge appeared on CNN. Seems Clinton violated the Constitution yet again: Stomped all over the “Free Press” amendment.
 
I no longer watch CNN. Its now Criminal News Network to me.
   
Google Groups: alt.activism
Crime Gangs Bared By Political Anthropology
Citizens Committee
4/18/99
(...)
[5] CNN,  the Criminal News Network, helps spread the word: KLA is hiring.
 
Google Groups: alt.culture.fyrom
To the CNN
Bucephalus
7/26/02
To the CNN (Criminal News Network)
What more can I say? Just look at the title.
 
LewRockwell.com
Criminal News Network
Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.
Bill O’Reilly says that’s what CNN stands for, and here is proof. BTW, FOX stands for Federal Orders Xeroxed.
12:59 pm on October 26, 2007
 
Twitter
ExposingBlackTruth
‏@BLKTRUTH
CNN should be renamed criminal news network for its Pro Genocide broadcasting #Ferguson
10:49 PM - 18 Aug 2014
 
Twitter
The Global Elite
‏@TheGlobalElite
It looks like these CNN news anchors are mocking the #EbolaOutbreak #EbolaHoax. #CNN = Criminal News Network
1:58 AM - 19 Oct 2014