CRN UK

What CRN UK does

CRN UK is a B2B media brand providing news, analysis, opinion, and events for the UK IT channel. Published by The Channel Company EMEA LTD (company registration 14078896) and headquartered at 180 Borough High Street, London, CRN UK targets Value Added Resellers (VARs), system integrators, solution providers, Managed Service Providers (MSPs), IT distributors, and vendor channel executives. The publication was launched in 1997 and is positioned as the UK's longest-established dedicated IT channel title, with an edition reach of 19,000 across print and digital and approximately 37,000 weekly online visitors to channelweb.co.uk. CRN UK is one node within The Channel Company's global portfolio of CRN-branded titles published across 15 countries.

CRN UK's product surface consists of daily editorial coverage across categories (Cloud, Cybersecurity, Distributor, Reseller, Vendor, Finance and M&A, Technology & Trends, Sustainability, Women in Channel), a daily email newsletter (CRN Daily), the interactive CRN Answers Q&A platform, branded Digital Newsrooms for partners (AI In Action, Qualcomm, XChange MSP, Ingram Micro), and a portfolio of annual awards programs (Top VARs, A-List, Channel Chiefs, Channel Awards, Women in Channel) alongside events such as XChange EMEA, XChange MSP, Women of the Channel Europe, and the Global Channel Cup. The underlying technology is a digital-first content management platform supporting print, web, mobile, video (YouTube @CRNvideo), and social distribution (Twitter/X @CRN_UK, LinkedIn, Facebook, WhatsApp Channel).

The revenue model combines four streams: display advertising and sponsored content sold to technology vendors and channel partners; events and conferences (XChange EMEA, Channel Awards, Women & Diversity in Channel Awards, XChange MSP); free and premium membership/subscriptions for daily newsletters and content access; and bespoke marketing solutions (research programmes, roundtables, dedicated supplements, one-day conferences) delivered by The Channel Company. CRN UK is a small editorial operation of 1-10 staff and does not stand alone financially — it operates as the UK arm of The Channel Company's diversified EMEA media and events business, which is privately held with no public listing.

Name

CRN UK

Legal name

The Channel Company EMEA LTD

Website

https://channelweb.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CRN UK is a B2B trade media brand (launched 1997) providing news, analysis, awards, and events for the UK IT channel. It serves VARs, MSPs, distributors, and vendor channel executives as the UK arm of The Channel Company's global CRN network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Advertising and sponsorship: CRN UK monetises through display advertising, sponsored content, branded supplements, and advertising packages sold to technology vendors and channel partners seeking to reach IT channel decision makers.
2. Events and conferences: Revenue generated from hosting and sponsoring events including XChange EMEA, Channel Awards, Women & Diversity in Channel Awards, and XChange MSP. Events serve as a platform for partners and vendors to connect with the IT channel.
3. Membership and subscriptions: The publication offers free membership (CRN) providing daily newsletters, breaking news, and access to content. Premium membership options exist for enhanced access.
4. Marketing solutions and custom content: The Channel Company offers bespoke marketing solutions including research programmes, roundtables, dedicated supplements, and one-day conferences tailored to clients wanting to reach the CRN UK audience.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CRN UK is a B2B technology media brand that publishes news, analysis, opinion, and research for the UK IT channel, covering vendors, distributors, resellers (VARs), managed service providers (MSPs), cybersecurity, cloud, and M&A activity. It monetises its audience through advertising, sponsored content, awards programmes, and a portfolio of in-person events including XChange EMEA and the Channel Awards.

Product overview

CRN UK is a unified news publication platform for the UK IT channel, operating as a single content platform rather than a modular product suite. The core offering consists of news and analysis content organized by category (Cloud, Cybersecurity, Distributor, Reseller, Vendor, Finance and M&A, Technology & Trends, Sustainability). Supporting products include annual Awards & Lists programs (Top VARs, A-List, Channel Chiefs, Women in Channel), Events & Conferences (XChange MSP, Women of the Channel Europe, Channel Awards), a daily Newsletter subscription, CRN Answers interactive feature, and Resources/Whitepapers library. The publication serves VARs, system integrators, MSPs, distributors, and technology vendors with targeted content and community engagement through events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Women in Channel: CRN's campaign highlighting channel leaders and companies promoting diversity in the technology industry, including the Women in Channel Awards and Women of the Channel Europe conference.
• CRN Channel Awards
• XChange EMEA
• Global Channel Cup

Products and services

• CRN UK News Publication Daily digital news, features, analysis, and opinion covering cloud computing, cybersecurity, distributors, resellers, vendors, finance and M&A, technology trends, sustainability, and people moves in the UK and EMEA IT channel; available via channelweb.co.uk and a monthly print magazine.
• CRN Awards & Lists Programmes Annual rankings and awards including the Top VARs list (top 100 UK resellers by revenue), A-List of channel executives, Channel Chiefs, Women in Channel, Channel Leaders EMEA, and Sustainability in Tech Awards.
• CRN Events & Conferences Live industry events and conferences for MSPs, vendors, distributors, and resellers, including strategic leadership forums, awards ceremonies, and networking tournaments.
• CRN Marketing Solutions & Custom Content Bespoke marketing solutions offered by The Channel Company EMEA including research programmes, roundtables, dedicated supplements, one-day conferences, sponsored digital newsrooms, and branded content hubs targeting CRN UK's IT channel audience.
• CRN Newsletter & Membership Subscription Free membership and email newsletter (CRN Daily) delivering breaking channel news, features, partner updates, and analysis to IT channel professionals' inboxes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19,000 print and digital readership reach, 37,000 weekly online visitors

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Channel Company (global network)coreOthersCRN UK is published by The Channel Company EMEA LTD. It is part of a global portfolio of CRN and technology media brands spanning 15 countries including CRN US, CRN Australia, CRN Asia, CRN Germany, CRN France, CRN Italy, CRN Poland, Computing UK, and MES Computing.
• N-ableminorGTM or Marketing PartnerN-able partnered with CRN UK to host a webinar on Business Resiliency Strategy, promoted on the CRN UK website via a dedicated webinar bar. The webinar targeted over 500,000 organisations benefiting from N-able technologies.
• Ingram MicrominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCRN UK published a dedicated Ingram Micro Special Issue (November 2024) titled 'Ingram Micro Ushers In The Age Of Ultra', featuring content about Ingram Micro Ultra and AI-driven personalised approaches. Hosted at online.flippingbook.com.
• Sustainability in Tech (sustainabilityintech.com)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCRN UK links to sustainabilityintech.com as an external resource hub for sustainability in technology coverage, expanding the publication's sustainability content beyond its own editorial.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Diginomica: Independent enterprise technology publication covering digital transformation with a strong subscription/sponsorship model; emerging competitor for the same senior IT buyer audience but at smaller scale than CRN UK.

Direct peers

• The Register: UK-headquartered B2B technology news site covering enterprise IT and the vendor ecosystem; competes with CRN UK for both readership and IT vendor marketing spend.
• IT Pro: UK enterprise technology title with news, reviews and channel-relevant coverage aimed at IT buyers and resellers; competes for both the same audience and the same vendor marketing pound as CRN UK.
• CRN Australia: Australian sister edition of the CRN brand under The Channel Company's global portfolio; identical go-to-market (news, awards, events, newsletters) targeting the ANZ IT channel.
• Silicon UK: UK B2B technology publication serving enterprise IT, vendor, and channel audiences; comparable advertising-driven revenue model and editorial format competing for the same IT decision-maker eyeballs.
• CRN Asia: Asian CRN edition covering the APAC IT channel; same brand and editorial framework, comparable audience of VARs, distributors, and vendor channel executives.
• Channel Partner Insight: Former TCC EMEA sister title focused on the channel partner community; most closely comparable to CRN UK on audience (VARs, distributors, MSPs) and monetisation (events, awards, advertising).
• Computing UK: Sister publication within The Channel Company EMEA; UK enterprise IT title with similar advertising/events revenue model covering CIO and enterprise buyer audiences, directly comparable business model and distribution structure.
• CRN (US): US sister edition of the same CRN brand under The Channel Company; closest direct peer because it covers the US IT channel with the same news, awards (A-List, Channel Chiefs), and event model monetised through advertising and sponsorship.

Broad incumbents

• TechTarget: Large US-listed B2B technology media network serving enterprise IT buyers across many sub-segments; broader portfolio than CRN UK but overlapping on demand-generation and vendor sponsorship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CRN_UK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CRNvideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/CRNUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/crn-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CRN UK