Traditional News Network Introduces New Streaming Platform entitled CNN+, Following the Trend of Modern Online Content Delivery
Cranking up the News: CNN's Streaming Service, CNN+
Alright, buckle up, folks! CNN's stepping into the streaming game, and they've christened their baby CNN+. Keep your eyes peeled ‘cause they're aiming for a Q1 2022 launch. As for the subscription cost, they're still weighing their options.
In a chat with Variety, Andrew Morse, CNN's digital honcho and CNN+ mastermind, hinted that the initial offering may not come with a free ad-supported tier, meaning it's all or nothing.
Now, CNN+ isn't just a gateway to your regular CNN news and politics. It's also touted to offer an "engrossing, additional experience" focused on "top-tier non-fiction programming." This extravaganza promises around 8-12 hours of daily live and interactive original programming, unique from the rest of the CNN family. They've got a hoard of classics like Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, United Shades of America, and This is Life with Lisa Ling lined up, plus original films and shows waiting in the wings.
Morse believes the birth of CNN+ marks a significant event for CNN, akin to their inaugural broadcast back in 1980. Before the launch in 2022, CNN's gearing up to recruit a whopping 450 new employees.
When asked about bundling CNN+ with HBO Max or other WarnerMedia services, Morse wasn't spilling the beans. But some insiders told Variety there's a strong chance CNN+ will find a cozy corner in a package with HBO Max and Discovery+ post-merger.
Luckily for us, CNN+ subscribers won't need a new app. Just log into the existing CNN app with your credentials to get your fix of extra CNN+ content.
But with so many streaming services vying for attention, CNN+ may find it tough to carve a niche. Especially if their original shows don't leave a lasting impression.
Fun fact: After CNN+ folded due to the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger in April 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery introduced CNN Max on Max, offering a blend of original news shows and simulcasts from CNN's U.S. and international networks. Initially, it was a free perk for all Max subscribers, but it's transitioning to a Standard/Premium subscription feature, effective March 30, 2025, as the ad-supported Basic tier will lose this feature[1][2].
- Interestingly, CNN+, set to launch in Q1 2022, will not likely offer a free ad-supported tier, focusing on a subscription-only model.
- CNN+, a step into streaming by CNN, aims to provide an engrossing, additional experience beyond regular news and politics, with a focus on top-tier non-fiction programming.
- In an interesting turn of events, CNN+ may eventually be bundled with HBO Max and Discovery+ post-merger, according to some insiders.
- In the future, CNN+ subscribers won't need a new app to access extra content; they can simply log into the existing CNN app with their credentials.
