eyes wide shut?!....'CNN+' shutting down 1 month after launch....

[NewtonMP2100]

....that was fast [ even faster than Quibi ].....ends April 30....


CNN+ Streaming Service to Shut Down, One Month After Launch

....CNN+, the cable network’s subscription streaming service, is folding just four weeks after its launch in late March.

According to The New York Times, CNN+ will cease operations on Saturday, April 30.

CNN+ launched on March 29 and was offered at either $6 a month (or $60 a year). In addition to its on-demand library of series and films, CNN+ featured live original programming hosted by both CNN staples and anchors who were poached from other networks (including Fox News’ Chris Wallace and NBC News’ Kasie Hunt).

Three weeks after the streamer’s debut, though, Axios reported that CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, had suspended all external marketing spend for CNN+, making it substantially more difficult for the service to reach potential new subscribers. (As of April 19, CNN+ had approximately 150,000 subscribers.) There was also said to be discord between CNN executives and Warner Bros. Discovery higher-ups about CNN+’s initial rollout and long-term future.

At the time of Axios’ report, sources told our sister site Variety that none of CNN+’s original series had been cancelled, and many were still in production. With the service set to shut down, it’s not yet clear what will become of that programming.

ending............already......?!

[Acer]

It's almost like people have a very limited tolerance for subscriptions. The services think a little $$ a month is invisible, but in reality, we are reminded of that little charge every...stinking...month.

[macphanatic]

Wish I could find a streaming service to replace cable that doesn't include any of the news networks. Don't want any of them.

[Paul F.]

macphanatic wrote:
Wish I could find a streaming service to replace cable that doesn't include any of the news networks. Don't want any of them.

OR sports networks... Don't watch 'em, don't want 'em, refuse to pay for them.

[ztirffritz]

We're going to end up with bundled subscriptions...just like cable services were.

[freeradical]

It has been 15-20 years since I watched MSNBC, FOX, or CNN.

IMHO, they're all worthless.

[Blankity Blank]

According to an earlier Axios article foreshadowing this shutdown, there’s a pretty hot power struggle going on between CNN and Warners Discovery, that includes executive shuffling in favor of Warner personnel.

Warners Discovery didn’t want CNN+ to launch at all.

”Discovery executives are frustrated that the service launched. If CNN held off launching CNN+ until after the merger, it would have been easier to pivot the company's efforts towards something better aligned with Discovery's goals.”


CNN, however see things very differently.

”Inside CNN, executives think the launch has been successful…”

“… Executives are frustrated that new leadership is moving quickly to dismantle what they see as an eventual lifeline for the cable network.

• CNN's original plan was for CNN+ to become profitable in four years by investing $1 billion into the service.
  A profitable service would've diversified CNN's revenue long-term around a digital asset outside of its website, increasing its valuation and potential, executives believe….
  
  
  
• Executives believe that if the service wasn't being knee-capped, its growth rate would've rivaled other print news outlets like The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post — which have 2.9 million and 2.7 million digital subscribers, respectively.

Warner’s is working with a very specific vision of the future, much of it focused around HBO Max.

• ”Discovery's experience launching niche subscriptions services, like GolfTV and its Food Network Kitchen App, has informed its strategy to focus on one scaled general entertainment offering around HBO Max, instead of more niche services that have to compete with big apps for subscriber cash.
  
  
• Warner Bros. Discovery executives see an opportunity to possibly include some CNN+ content on CNN's app and make that video available for free and supported by ads, according to one source. Other CNN+ programming could live within HBO Max.
  
  
• It sees potential in leveraging the already massive reach of CNN.com and CNN's main app to drive its digital growth long-term, as opposed to another subscription outside of linear TV.
  
  
• Discovery executives are focused mostly on returning CNN to its journalistic core, a point Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav reiterated in a town hall last week. That includes less of a focus on primetime perspective programming, and more of a focus on hard, breaking news. CNN+ features an array of soft news content, which doesn't align with Discovery's broader vision for CNN.”

[Michael]

Paul F. wrote:
[quote=macphanatic]
Wish I could find a streaming service to replace cable that doesn't include any of the news networks. Don't want any of them.

OR sports networks... Don't watch 'em, don't want 'em, refuse to pay for them.
You might check Philo. As I recall they only show BBC and BBC America news channels. And they don't have sports. It's $25 a month (or $15 a month with T-Mobile Magenta plans).

[Filliam H. Muffman]

I never saw the purpose of CNN+ when Head Line News plays 20 year old "Who Dun It' episodes almost 24/7.

[testcase]

Paul F. wrote:
[quote=macphanatic]
Wish I could find a streaming service to replace cable that doesn't include any of the news networks. Don't want any of them.

OR sports networks... Don't watch 'em, don't want 'em, refuse to pay for them.

AGREED!