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What Happened to CNN Live Stream?



CNN is one of the premier global news channels, providing 24-hour coverage on topics ranging from current affairs to global news, sports coverage to financial advice. With so much content available, CNN truly is one of the go-to news sources around the globe.

In March, CNN launched a standalone streaming service, CNN+, as a high-profile gamble to attract younger news consumers.


What happened to cnn live stream?

CNN live stream is a 24-hour cable news channel providing national and international coverage. As one of the leaders in journalism, CNN covers an array of topics such as politics, entertainment, health care and technology.


Its coverage includes breaking news, political discussions and live events. During election cycles, it provides debates and real-time results for national races.


Watching CNN online with various streaming services is possible. It comes standard with most basic cable and satellite TV subscriptions, but if you've cut the cord, Sling TV (opens in new tab), AT&T TV Now (opens in new tab) and Hulu with Live TV are all available via OTT services like Sling TV (opens in new tab).


However, if you're outside the US and can't access CNN through your provider, using a VPN is your best bet. All that requires is selecting a US VPN server, changing your location to match, then going to CNN as if it were back home.


Why is cnn+ shutting down?


CNN+, their streaming service dedicated to news broadcasters, will cease operations on April 30. Though executives had touted it as their future endeavor, CNN+ hasn't lived up to the expectations.


On Thursday, incoming CNN chief executive Chris Licht called an all-hands meeting to announce that their streaming service would cease operations at the end of April. Additionally, Morse - who led CNN+ - informed staffers he was leaving after a transition period.


Staffers were informed that they would receive 90 days of additional pay while searching for a new job, and those who couldn't find one will receive at least six months' severance pay.


CNN+, which invested hundreds of millions of dollars to bring in media talent like Kasie Hunt from NBC and Chris Wallace from Fox News, failed to attract enough subscribers for profitability after one month. This stands in stark contrast to services such as Disney Plus which saw 10 million subscriptions on its first day and Quibi Holdings which brought 910,000 users onto its platform within one month of launching.


Why does cnn+ shut down?


On April 30, CNN+, their expensive subscription streaming venture, shut down. This was an epochal failure for what executives with the network once touted as their future.


On March 29th, less than two weeks after CNN was taken over by new corporate parents, the service launched with a bang! Renowned news anchors and hosts such as NPR's Audie Cornish and former Fox News host Chris Wallace joined in for the launch.

Experts report that CNN Live, promised as a core feature by its leaders, failed to live up to expectations. Instead, the service offered an amalgam of news and lifestyle streaming without CNN live feed - something its leaders had promised would be available.


And it served as a platform for some big-name shows that were unlikely to draw viewers. One feature that appeared promising was an "interview club," allowing subscribers to submit questions before and during interviews.


Unfortunately, it appears the service failed due to saturation in the market. There are already plenty of free and ad-supported channels available for news buffs such as NBC and CBS' streaming services.


What happened to cnn+?


CNN+'s demise comes as a significant blow to both the media giant and its parent, WarnerMedia. Now part of Discovery Networks, CNN+ must navigate a difficult path in order to build OTT audiences without cannibalizing its pay TV viewers.


Many major TV networks have launched streaming services, yet many haven't been successful. These new ventures, often with large upfront investments, must attract customers if they hope to remain profitable in the long run.


With so many content options available in the marketplace, it can be hard to know which will resonate. When companies like CNN stake their reputation on providing streaming news services, they need to have confidence that users will embrace them.


However, one month into the service's launch, some of the original shows have yet to gain traction, according to those familiar with the situation. These include Katie Bolduan's "5 Things," Brian Stelter's "Reliable Sources Daily" and Chris Wallace's "Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?" One of few remaining programs on the service, Audie Cornish's CNN+ series, is still in production.

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