Those of you who still care about what mainstream news anchors have to say might be interested to know that CNN+, the Cable News Network’s premium streaming subscription service, finally has a price. According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, CNN+ will launch during the last week in March and be available to early subscribers for just $2.99 a month, a discount price that will be locked in so long as the account remains active. CNN+ will cost $5.99 per month after that promo expires.
After Zucker exit, CNN streams forward with a new service. What happens now? (Los Angeles Times)
- The company invested $120 million last year and hired 400 new employees, including notable on-air talent such as Chris Wallace, Kasie Hunt and former NPR star Audie Cornish, according to two people familiar with the plans (a CNN representative said it was under $100 million). CNN+ will likely cost several hundred million to operate this year,
- But internal drama and corporate machinations have put a cloud over the endeavor. On Feb. 2, Jeff Zucker, CNN’s high-profile leader for the last nine years, was forced to resign after parent company WarnerMedia learned that he failed to disclose a romantic relationship with his longtime aide Allison Gollust, who was also chief marketing officer. Gollust has left the company as well.
- Zucker and Gollust were deeply involved in the development of CNN+. Even before the scandal erupted, it was uncertain whether WarnerMedia’s new owners at Discovery, which is set to close its acquisition of WarnerMedia in April, would accept CNN’s existing plan.
CNN+ to Debut in Q1 2022 (CNN)
- CNN+ will feature original, live, on demand and interactive programming as a standalone direct-to-consumer service with offerings that are separate and distinct from CNN, CNN International, HLN and CNN en Español linear TV channels.
- At launch, 8-12 hours of live, daily programming offering topical deep dives and lifestyle content from some of CNN’s most prominent talent, as well as several new faces, will live alongside a thriving community component for fans to connect directly with anchors and experts in real time conversations about the issues that matter most to them.
- CNN+ will launch with a deep library of non-fiction, long form programming including past seasons of CNN’s award-winning original series and films, including Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, This is Life with Lisa Ling, and United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell.