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CNN+

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For the former Spanish TV network, see CNN+ (Spanish TV network).

CNN+
Stream all about it
Type of site
OTT video streaming platform
Available inEnglish
FoundedMarch 29, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-03-29)
DissolvedApril 28, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-04-28)
Headquarters
US
Area servedUnited States
OwnerWarner Bros. Discovery
ParentCNN Global
URLhttps://plus.cnn.com
Current statusDiscontinued

CNN+ (pronounced as CNN Plus) was a short-lived video streaming service that launched on March 29, 2022. It was an offshoot of the CNN cable television news network. The new digital streaming service was announced on July 19, 2021, as "the evolution of video news and the start of a new era for the company" by former parent company WarnerMedia. [1] The new parent company of CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery felt differently and discontinued the service on April 28, 2022, just 30 days after launch.

History and development

On July 19, 2021, CNN announced that they would offer a new round-the-clock streaming service, due to launch in the first quarter of 2022. The plan was for the service to provide eight to 12 hours of live programming a day, complemented by original series created just for the service and others culled from the network's archives, as well as an "interactive community" that would allow viewers to interact with on-air talent.[1]

Former NBC News correspondent Kasie Hunt was one of the first personalities confirmed to join the service; The Source with Kasie Hunt was announced as the title of her news show.[2]

On December 12, 2021, the network announced that Scott Galloway, a New York University professor, joined CNN+ as a contributor to its original live programming.[3] On the same day, Chris Wallace announced that he would join CNN+ after spending 18 years at Fox News, as well as serving as the host of Fox News Sunday.[4][5]

Throughout the month of January 2022, several CNN cable news anchors, including Kate Bolduan, Wolf Blitzer, Jake Tapper, and Fareed Zakaria, and former NPR host Audie Cornish had joined CNN+ to host original programming shows on the streaming service.[6][7][8][9][10][5] That same month, CNN+ announced additional talent hires, including Rex Chapman and Alison Roman, had joined the streaming service.[11][12]

Operations

The surprise departure of Jeff Zucker in February 2022 had disrupted the long-term vision for CNN+ before it launched. David Zaslav, the CEO of Discovery, Inc., said, "I haven't gotten a business review on what CNN+ is going to be and how it's going to be offered."[13] Zaslav later became CEO of the merged Warner Bros. Discovery; the merger closed shortly after CNN+'s launch date.

CNN+ launched on March 29, 2022.[14][15][16] Subscribers who joined in the first month paid $2.99 per month, about a 50% discount from the regular price, and their promotional rate will remain valid for the duration of their subscription.[17] More than 100,000 subscribers joined in its first week.[18] The service became available on Roku devices on April 11.[19]

Axios reported CNN spent $300 million to launch the streaming service.[20]

Reception

CNN+ launched to mixed reviews and low subscriber numbers. Vulture, in its generally unfavorable review, wrote that "While it’s far too early to reach any definitive judgments, CNN+ in its formative phase feels somewhat like the Quibi of streaming news: Lots of money has been spent, big stars are onboard, but it’s hard to figure out just what the service is supposed to be and why a large number of people will want to pay for it." The reviewer noted disapprovingly that CNN+, despite its standalone subscription fee, does not include any CNN content either live or on demand.[21] Newsday's media critic Verne Gay gave CNN+ a two-star review (out of four), praising many of its shows and the lack of commercial interruption while wondering about the mythical "unicorn viewer who has no time to eat or sleep" with the time and attention to watch its content.[22] PC Magazine gave CNN+ a 4.0 out of 5 rating, praising its programming and its lack of ads while criticizing its lack of live CNN programming (without a paid cable subscription) and its lack of mobile content downloads.[23] National Review was sharply negative about CNN+ before its launch, considering it a dumping ground for content that "wasn't good enough to run on CNN."[24]

CNN executives originally expected to have 2 million subscribers in CNN+'s first year and 15–18 million after four years. CNN originally estimated that it would invest $1 billion in CNN+ over its first four years, but after a slow start, Axios reported that "hundreds of millions of dollars are expected to be cut" from that investment.[25]

On April 12, two weeks after its launch, CNBC reported that fewer than 10,000 people were using CNN+ on a daily basis. With the merger of Warner Bros. Discovery having completed four days earlier, CNBC suggested that CNN+ programming may become available as part of a larger bundled offering with HBO Max and Discovery+, each of which have millions of subscribers.[26] Much of the CNN original programming on HBO Max had been removed in advance of the CNN+ launch.[27]

As of April 19, CNN+ had roughly 150,000 subscribers.[28]

Shutdown

On April 21, 2022, CNN announced that CNN+ would cease operations on April 30. Andrew Morse, who led CNN's digital properties, will also be leaving the company. New CNN head Chris Licht and Warner Bros. Discovery's head of streaming and interactive entertainment J.B. Perrette described the service as incompatible with the company's goal of forming a single streaming service to cover all of its properties. It is expected that some of CNN+'s original programming will migrate over to either a combined streaming service housing Warner Bros. Discovery's content, or the linear CNN cable television channel. Licht stated that the service's employees would "continue to be paid and receive benefits for the next 90 days to explore opportunities at CNN, CNN Digital, and elsewhere in the Warner Bros. Discovery family" and that departing CNN+ employees would receive at least six months of severance depending on their length of service. All subscribers to CNN+ will receive a pro-rated refund.[29][30][31] On April 27, the shutdown was moved up to the next day, and the home page redirected to a help section about the service's whereabouts.[32]

CNN political correspondent Kasie Hunt wrote, "The news is the news is the news is the news no matter how or where it airs or comes from. Will keep at it tomorrow.” Scott Galloway, who had been hired to host a series on the service, remarked, "Well, that was fast."[33] Sports journalist Jemele Hill tweeted, "Some of y'all are going to try to get jokes off at my expense but I'm going to be fine — it's called a contract, learn about it."[34]

Original programming

Live weekday schedule

  • 7:00 AM ET: 5 Things with Kate Bolduan
  • 8:00 AM ET: Go There
  • 9:00 AM ET: Big Picture with Sara Sidner
  • 11:00 AM ET: Reliable Sources Daily
  • 4:00 PM ET: The Source with Kasie Hunt
  • 5:00 PM ET: The Global Brief with Bianca Nobilo (simulcast with CNN International; the only such program simulcast with a linear CNN network)
  • 6:00 PM ET: Who's Talking to Chris Wallace? (Mondays–Thursdays)
  • 7:30 PM ET: The Newscast with Wolf Blitzer

Weekly schedule

  • Boss Files with Poppy Harlow (Mondays)
  • Anderson Cooper Full Circle (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
  • No Mercy, No Malice with Scott Galloway (Tuesdays)
  • Parental Guidance with Anderson Cooper (Wednesdays)
  • Jake Tapper's Book Club (Sundays)
  • Rex Chapman (Mondays)
  • The Don Lemon Show (Fridays)

Daily schedule

  • CNN+ Special Report (breaking news coverage)
  • Interview Club (CNN+ subscribers ask questions to experts in live interviews)

CNN+ Original Series

CNN+ FLASHDocs

New documentary unit exploring timely and topical pop culture stories.

  • Chicago vs. Jussie Smollett

References

  1. ^ a b Stelter, Brian (July 19, 2021). "CNN announces CNN+, 'most important launch for network since Ted Turner'". CNN. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  2. ^ Steinberg, Brian (July 16, 2021). "CNN Snares Kasie Hunt From NBC in Big Bet on Streaming (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  3. ^ Johnson, Ted (September 28, 2021). "CNN Taps Scott Galloway As Host For New Streaming Service". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  4. ^ Bursztynsky, Jessica (December 12, 2021). "Fox anchor Chris Wallace is leaving network for CNN+ after 18 years". CNBC. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Winslow, George (February 23, 2022). "CNN+ Unveils Its Full Programming Slate". TVTechnology. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  6. ^ Steinberg, Brian (January 12, 2022). "Kate Bolduan, Sara Sidner to Lead New Weekday Shows for CNN Plus". Variety. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  7. ^ "Wolf Blitzer to Host Evening News Show on CNN+" (Press release). CNN Pressroom. January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "Jake Tapper to Host New Show on CNN+" (Press release). CNN Pressroom. January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Fareed Zakaria to Host New Original Series On CNN+" (Press release). CNN Pressroom. January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Koblin, John (January 10, 2022). "Audie Cornish, the former NPR host, heads to CNN+". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  11. ^ Evans, Greg (January 18, 2022). "Rex Chapman To Join CNN+ As Host; Former NBA Player, Social Media Star Is Latest Hire For Streaming Service". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "Alison Roman Comes to CNN+" (Press release). CNN Pressroom. January 6, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Sherman, Alex (February 3, 2022). "Zucker leaving CNN may change the long-term plans for CNN+, sources say". CNBC. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  14. ^ "CNN+ to Launch March 29, 2022". CNN Pressroom. March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  15. ^ Fowler, Bree; Solsman, Joan E. (March 11, 2022). "CNN Plus Streaming Service to Launch on March 29". CNET. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  16. ^ Weprin, Alex (March 11, 2022). "CNN+ Sets March 29 Launch Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  17. ^ Chan, J. Clara (March 3, 2022). "CNN+ to Cost $2.99 a Month at Launch". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  18. ^ "Warner Bros. Discovery is shutting down CNN+". Bloomberg. April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  19. ^ Hayes, Dade (April 11, 2022). "Roku Adds CNN+ Two Weeks After Streaming Service's Launch, Filling Distribution Gap". Deadline. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  20. ^ Fischer, Sara (April 19, 2022). "Scoop: CNN+ looks doomed". Axios. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  21. ^ Adalian, Josef (March 31, 2022). "CNN+ Has Quibi Vibes". Vulture. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  22. ^ Gay, Verne (April 1, 2022). "CNN+: Some good shows, but new streamer faces lots of challenges". Newsday. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  23. ^ Minor, Jordan (April 11, 2022). "CNN+ Review". PCMAG. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  24. ^ Smith, Kyle (March 15, 2022). "Who's Stoked for CNN+?". National Review. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  25. ^ Fischer, Sara (April 12, 2022). "Big cuts coming for CNN+ after slow start". Axios. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  26. ^ Sherman, Alex (April 12, 2022). "CNN+ struggles to lure viewers in its early days, drawing fewer than 10,000 daily users". CNBC. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  27. ^ Smith, Gerry (December 16, 2021). "CNN to Move Hit Shows to Its New App in Bet on Star Power". Bloomberg. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  28. ^ Fischer, Sara (April 19, 2022). "Scoop: CNN+ looks doomed". Axios. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  29. ^ Oliver Darcy; Brian Stetler. "CNN+ will shut down at the end of April". CNN. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  30. ^ Sherman, Alex (April 21, 2022). "CNN+ is shutting down, effective April 30, sources say". CNBC. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  31. ^ Grynbaum, Michael; Koblin, John; Mullin, Benjamin (April 21, 2022). "CNN+ Streaming Service Is Set to Shut Down". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  32. ^ Johnson, Ted; Johnson, Ted (April 27, 2022). "CNN+ To Cease On Thursday, Two Days Earlier Than Announced". Deadline. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  33. ^ Grynbaum, Michael M.; Koblin, John; Mullin, Benjamin (April 21, 2022). "CNN+ Streaming Service Will Shut Down Weeks After Its Start". The New York Times.
  34. ^ Ansari, Talal (April 21, 2022). "A Look at the Hosts of CNN+, From Chris Wallace to Kasie Hunt". The Wall Street Journal.
  35. ^ Steinberg, Brian (December 15, 2021). "Eva Longoria Plans 'Searching for Mexico' for CNN Plus". Variety. Retrieved February 2, 2022.


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