CRN was first launched as Computer Retail Week on June 7, 1982 as a magazine targeted to computer resellers - the same year that UK channel publication MicroScope Magazine was launched. It soon after renamed itself Computer Reseller News when it became apparent that the majority of sales for the personal computer would be to businesses through a business to business sales channel rather than to consumers through a retail sales channel.
Originally launched and published by CMP Media of Manhasset, NY it was subsequently purchased by London based United Business Media as part of the $920 million acquisition of CMP. Computer Reseller News later changed its name to the acronym CRN and is still published today in the USA and India by UBM and by franchise publishers in a number of other countries including Australia, Denmark, Germany, Holland, India, Poland, and the United Kingdom.[1] CRN was originally one of more than 20 publications that covered the IT indirect sales channel.
In 2009 CRN's US version was recognized as a leading advertising medium for the IT industry by B2B's Media Power 50 ranking, which called it the "unrivaled leader in covering the channel".[2]
CRN's editorial staff is currently headed by Kelley Damore, editorial director.[3]