Media & Entertainment

CNN Color Codes

CNN works in a single red, hex #CC0000, on white or black. The CNN color codes in Hex, RGB and CMYK can be found below. Ted Turner launched the Cable News Network in 1980 as the first channel to run news around the clock; the lowercase logo drawn for it that year has barely changed since. Its nearest peer on this site is The New York Times.

The CNN logo, shown for identification. CNN is a trademark of its owner and this site is not affiliated with it.

Primary colors

What are CNN Primary Colors?

CNN's primary color is #CC0000. Every value on this page is derived from it.

CNN publishes brand assets; the value shown matches its stated red.

CNN Primary

Hex	#CC0000
RGB	204, 0, 0
HSL	hsl(0, 100%, 40%)
CMYK	0%, 100%, 100%, 20%converted · approximate
Pantone	PMS 485 Cnearest match · not published by the brand

CNN Hex Color Codes

CNN hex color codes are #CC0000 for primary.

Color	Hex
Primary	#CC0000

CNN RGB Color Codes

CNN RGB color codes are 204, 0, 0 for primary. Reach for RGB when a tool wants channel numbers or a CSS alpha value.

Color	RGB
Primary	rgb(204, 0, 0)

CNN HSL Color Codes

CNN HSL color codes are 0, 100%, 40% for primary. Change the third value for a lighter or darker version without moving the hue.

Color	HSL
Primary	hsl(0, 100%, 40%)

CNN CMYK Color Code

CNN CMYK color codes are conversions from the hex, because the brand publishes none. Check a printed proof before a full run.

Color	CMYK
Primary	0%, 100%, 100%, 20%

CNN Pantone Color Codes

CNN Pantone color codes are nearest matches by color distance, not brand specs. The table shows the closest swatch for every color.

Color	Nearest Pantone
Primary	PMS 485 C

Logo

CNN Logo Colors

CNN logo colors are one red for the linked lowercase letters.

CNN Logo Colors Palette

What the CNN Logo Colors Mean?

The CNN red is a plain broadcast red, and the mark's staying power is in the drawing, not the color: three lowercase letters joined in one continuous ribbon, designed by Anthony Guy Bost in 1980 and kept almost untouched because it already worked. On air it is usually red, sometimes white on a red bug in the corner.

CNN Logo Color History

CNN logo color history is one of the most stable in television. The linked-letter mark has been red since 1980, with only tiny adjustments to the weight and the join between the letters.

CNN Logo Fonts

CNN logo fonts are a bespoke connected letterform, not a full typeface. A heavy slab serif such as a bold Clarendon is the closest match to the shapes.

CNN Logo JPG

CNN logo in JPG. No transparency, so it is flattened onto white. Safe for documents and slide decks.

Download JPG Trademark of its owner, shown for identification.

CNN Logo PNG

CNN logo in PNG, with a transparent background. Use it over a colored surface.

Download PNG Trademark of its owner, shown for identification.

CNN Logo WebP

CNN logo in WebP. Same transparency as the PNG at about a third of the file size.

Download WEBP Trademark of its owner, shown for identification.

CNN Color Code Shades

CNN color code shades step evenly from the primary toward black, for hover states, borders and shadows.

These are interface steps, not CNN paint or trim names.

In code

Using the CNN palette

CSS custom properties

:root {
  --cnn-primary: #CC0000;
}

Contrast against white

Primary	5.89:1AA ✓

Brand colors are chosen for recognition, not for legibility. A failing value here is normal. It means use it as a fill, not as text.