A month after its launch, CNN’s subscription-based streaming service CNN+ is shutting down, slated to go off air at the end of the month.
CNN+, CNN’s newly-minted subscription-based streaming service, is shutting down. The service is slated to go off air at the end of the month.
The decision comes shortly after the WarnerMedia and Discovery merger, which had left the future of CNN+ hanging in the balance.
Rumours that the streaming service also caused internal conflicts at CNN were plentiful, with many speculating that David Zaslav, new CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, was unhappy with the service being launched only weeks before the merger.
In a statement, Discovery streaming boss J.B. Perrette said: “In a complex streaming market, consumers want simplicity and an all-in service which provides a better experience and more value than stand-alone offerings, and, for the company, a more sustainable business model to drive our future investments in great journalism and storytelling.”
Chris Licht, incumbent CEO of CNN, added that the company had decided to “focus our investment on CNN’s core news-gathering operations and in further building CNN Digital.”
“This is not a decision about quality; we appreciate all of the work, ambition and creativity that went into building CNN+, an organization with terrific talent and compelling programming. But our customers and CNN will be best served with a simpler streaming choice.” he explained.
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He also added that while the launch was “incredibly successful”, the service was incompatible with the newly merged company, creating what he called a “uniquely shitty situation.”
As of now, all CNN+ employees will get 90 days to find other opportunities. Subscribers to CNN+ will get prorated refunds.
