By Jonathan Easton

Portuguese firm Media Capital, which owns TVI and Plural Entertainment, has licensed the CNN brand to launch an offshoot of the WarnerMedia-owned news network in the country.

The launch, which is the biggest of its kind in Portugal for years, has seen the creation of a 24-hour Portuguese-language channel CNN Portugal. The channel will be available in 4.3 million pay TV homes.

Media Capital has tapped well-known Portuguese TV news personalities including former TVI reporters and anchors Judite Sousa and Júlio Magalhães.

CNN Portugal’s launch follows similar brand licensing deals in countries such as Indonesia and Brazil, where it has developed CNN brands and channels.

President, CNN Worldwide Commercial, Rani Raad, said: “In a world that is increasingly awash with half-truths and disinformation, CNN has always endeavoured to provide quality journalism built on fast and accurate information. In Media Capital, we have a partner who shares these values. With this partnership, we look forward to increasing our presence in one of Europe’s fastest growing markets as well as expanding further into a language spoken by over 250 million people around the world.”

Chairman of Media Capital, Mario Ferreira said: “The arrival of CNN Portugal proves the importance of Portuguese media in the world and, we are certain, will contribute to increase the diversity of perspectives and, therefore, to broaden the democratisation of information. With this partnership, Grupo Media Capital is accelerating and transforming the journalistic universe in the Portuguese language.”