The merger of the two largest cable networks is one of the most hotly debated topics in the news today, and with good reason. There are a number of questions that are worth exploring and examining. We discuss CNN+ cost and financial projections, as well as the possibility of live and on-demand content.
A legacy cable news network
CNN+ launched a new, standalone streaming service on March 29. At its launch, it offered a 50% discount for lifetime subscriptions. The network also announced live daily programming, a robust video on demand library, and substantial new CNN+ original series. Despite the hype, the service failed to attract subscribers.
While CNN+ was a good idea, it was not enough to make a dent in the cable business. Cable is in decline, and many people prefer behemoths like Amazon and Netflix. Meanwhile, younger consumers, who have less money to spend, are opting for free services like YouTube and Vimeo.
However, the legacy cable news network is still on course to offer a major streaming service in the near future. That is despite the fact that its leadership has already lost some of its top talent, including the CEO and the marketing executive Allison Gollust.
As it stands now, CNN+ will have a mix of programs with a dedicated following, as well as some new faces. In addition to live programming, it will offer original films, documentaries, interactive content, and a host of recognizable journalists.
It is not clear whether CNN+ will be folded into HBO Max, a separate channel within the larger service, or remain a standalone streaming service. However, it is likely to have a long future.
Among the features to look for in the network’s new service is the original series The Land of the Giants: Titans of Tech, starring Eva Longoria and featuring an interview with tech maven Scott Galloway. Moreover, it will have a book show with Jake Tapper.
CNN’s launching a new streaming service is just the latest step in its quest to reach more young people. According to a survey conducted by Leichtman Research Group, nearly half of all pay-TV subscribers say that news programming is important to them.
live and on-demand content
CNN+ is set to launch Tuesday. The service will offer live and on-demand content. It will also host original series. In addition, the network will stream a large library of existing movies.
CNN+ will launch with eight daily newscasts and eight interview shows. These programs will feature a mix of new and old faces. A CNN spokesperson said the talent roster will include veterans like Anderson Cooper and Chris Wallace, and it will also include newcomers such as former NBC anchor Kacie Hunt and former ESPN personality Jemele Hill.
CNN+ will also stream original films and documentaries. CNN Films is a division of the network. Its first film, Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over, will be available to stream on the service. Several of the network’s other nonfiction films will also be on the service.
The service will also offer live events. CNN+ will host an interactive Q&A series called “Interview Club,” where subscribers can submit questions in advance of a live interview. There will also be breaking news and special reports.
CNN+ will start at $5.99 per month. Subscriptions are offered on a monthly or annual basis. CNN will provide a lifetime discount of 50% for new users. Subscribers can also re-subscribe for $6.50 or $60 per year. However, there are no plans to charge an ad-supported subscription price at launch.
CNN+ will also offer a variety of on-demand titles, including more than 1,000 videos and movies. It will be available on televisions, web, and mobile devices. This is the pay-TV channel’s first direct-to-consumer access to its journalism.
At the launch of the service, viewers will be able to sign up for a seven-day free trial. After the trial period, the service will cost $6.50 a month or $60 a year.
interactive programming
If you’ve been following the news, you may have heard about CNN’s upcoming streaming service. The company aims to provide subscribers with signature journalism and a slew of on-demand content. This includes a collection of almost two dozen films produced by its CNN Films label.
In addition to the on-demand offerings, CNN+ will offer a handful of original series. These include Big Picture with Sara Sidner and 5 Things with Kate Bolduan. Those looking to keep up with the news may also enjoy The Newscast with Wolf Blitzer or Reliable Sources Daily.
However, you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription fee to get it. You can sign up for the service on your television set, the web, or mobile devices. Unlike traditional cable or satellite TV, CNN+ will be a standalone direct-to-consumer streaming service. It’s unclear whether it will be available in a bundle with HBO Max, but the company is not yet revealing details.
Streaming services can be a dime a dozen, but CNN+ is taking a decidedly different approach to its offering. By focusing on live and on-demand content, the company hopes to engage a slew of young consumers. Moreover, it will complement CNN’s core operations. On top of that, it will be available on a wide range of devices, including connected TVs.
While the service is still in the works, the network has released some of the more important features and functionalities. Among them are the “Interview Club,” an interactive Q&A feature that allows viewers to submit questions in real time. Other features include the “CNN+ app,” which is available on a variety of platforms. A new mobile version of the site is coming in the next few months.
financial projections
CNN+, the streaming service from the news network, is on a steady decline in viewership. Its cable TV business is also suffering, but the company has been able to maintain its overall revenue thanks to long-term subscription deals with cable companies. The company reported 773,000 viewers in total each day last year. However, that number has plummeted to fewer than 1 million.
But the network’s streaming service faces “dramatic” cuts in funding. As of now, the network has a small user base of about 150,000 subscribers. This may not seem like a lot, but it’s still less than half of the estimated 1.5 million subscribers CNN+ was expected to have in its first year.
Meanwhile, the streaming service is luring big-name talent from rival news networks. For example, former Fox News star Kasie Hunt is now working for CNN as a correspondent. Another former Fox News star, Chris Wallace, is now a contributing reporter at CNN.
These factors have contributed to the company’s struggle to gain viewers. Last year, CNN’s cable network had a sharp drop in viewership. Still, its streaming operations are driving $500 million in profit each year.
The company’s executives said they were confident about the service’s performance, but they didn’t account for losses. They hoped to break even on CNN+ after four years.
According to internal projections, the streaming service was expected to have 2 million subscribers within the first year. By year four, it was expected to have 15-18 million, with an estimated 30 million global subscriptions by 2030.
The streaming service is now a part of the CNN app. In addition to providing access to content from the cable network, it includes a TV everywhere experience for pay TV subscribers.
Shakeup at CNN
CNN+ was one of the first casualties of the WarnerMedia merger with Discovery. It was launched fortnight before the merger.
CNN+ launched with a subscription fee of $5.99 per month. It includes live and on-demand news programming. In addition to its library of programming, it also offers pop-up reports about breaking news.
The platform is a departure for the network. CNN aimed to reach younger audiences by combining live coverage with on-demand programming. This was seen as a bid for a cord-cutting audience. But analysts say it didn’t deliver on its promise.
CNN+ has since been shut down. A number of employees are reportedly leaving the network. And CNN executives have stopped marketing the service. They have also begun to make cuts across the organization.
One of the major goals of the former president of CNN, Jeff Zucker, was to launch a video news service. He hoped to attract 15-18 million subscribers over four years.
The new CEO of CNN, Chris Licht, said the CNN+ launch was a success. CNN+ had plans to add hundreds of new contributors and producers to the service. Some of the top names who have signed on include Scott Galloway, Ali Roman, and Kasie Hunt.
The service will now be offered to customers for only $2.99. That price point is permanent. However, the company is not revealing subscriber numbers. Instead, it has framed the cost as a small expense.
JB Perrette, the president of the new company, has expressed frustration with previous leadership. Rather than follow the same strategy as the previous executives, Perrette hopes to build a different streaming platform.
CNN+ will be the first of a new video-driven news subscription business. The company says it will be the only global, video-driven, subscription news business.
