CNN decided to join the streaming bandwagon, launching CNN+ in late March 2022. However, to the surprise of many subscribers, the service is ending on April 30, 2022—one month after going live. Here’s everything you need to know.
CNN+ Will Shut Down on April 30, 2022
CNN confirmed that its streaming platform, CNN+, would shut down on April 30, 2022. Even though CNN confirmed that CNN+ had a successful launch, the platform will be gone just one month after it launched, making it one of the shortest-lived streaming platforms.
But if CNN+ was a success at launch, why is it shutting down? Well, it’s actually not the platform’s fault. Here’s the reason why.
CNN+ Was A Victim of Mergers
CNN’s parent company, WarnerMedia, completed a merger with Discovery, Inc. on April 8, 2022, creating the new entity Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The company, directed by its new CEO, David Zaslav, plans to house all streaming services under a single brand.
According to a report from CNN, this move means all streaming services under the two previous companies, including Discovery+, HBO Max, and CNN+, will merge under a single service. Jean-Briac Perrette, head of Discovery Streaming and International, says this about the move:
AT&T, WarnerMedia’s parent company, has been talking with Discovery since May 2021 about the merger. In fact, as early as November 2021, there were discussions to combine HBO Max and Discovery+, each company’s respective entertainment streaming platforms. Despite that, the CNN+ project pushed on, even as the merger moved forward.
CNN CEO Chris Licht said that the CNN+ streaming service had a successful launch, but they had to scrap it because of its incompatibility with WBD’s plans. CNN also reported Perrette’s frustration with the former heads of CNN and WarnerMedia. He said:
This Change Might Make CNN+ Stand Out in a Crowded Market
Back when Netflix introduced the concept of video streaming, there wasn’t any competition around, so it was easier to watch all your favorite shows and movies. Even as other platforms cropped up, there were only a few of them, so it made sense for subscribers to pay a small monthly fee to access them.
Currently, there are over 300 streaming options in the US, making consumers frustrated with the streaming market. According to a Deloitte survey, most households only pay for three to four subscriptions, making choosing the right platform difficult and confusing. Furthermore, this frustration is compounded because they need different subscriptions just to see the shows they want.
That’s why it makes sense for HBO Max, Discover+, and CNN+ to combine all their offerings on one platform. By itself, CNN+ might have suffered like other short-lived streaming services like the long-forgotten streaming platform Quibi. However, combining the three platforms’ libraries into one subscription, even at a marginally higher price, will make it a compelling option over their competitors.
What Will Happen to Current CNN+ Subscribers?
The service didn’t live enough for many people to know what CNN+ is, but if you are a CNN+ subscriber, you’ll still have a chance to watch your favorite programming for a little longer and get a refund in the future.
According to the company, customers who’ve paid monthly and annual subscriptions “will receive prorated refunds of subscription fees.” Furthermore, the programming will continue to stream until April 30, 2022.
Afterward, some of CNN’s programming will shift to CNN’s main television network, while the rest might eventually make its way to WBD’s new next streaming service whenever that happens.
As for CNN+ staff, they’ll get paid and receive benefits for the next 90 days as they search for other opportunities inside CNN. Those who aren’t absorbed will be given at least six months’ severance.
You Can Still Watch News Online
As competition within the streaming industry heats up, we can expect more players to combine their services to deliver better offerings to the viewers.
With that, consumers will get what they want—excellent content choices and live news from local channels, with a single subscription, removing the need to pay for multiple services.
