CNN announces new streaming service – Will it work this time?

More digital journalism, less cable TV: The American news channel Cable News Network (CNN), which can also be received in this country, wants to restructure its operations and launch a new streaming service based on this model.

The service is to be similar to the TV offering, but will be subject to a fee, writes CNN boss Mark Thompson in an internal memo, as reported by the New York Times. According to Thompson, the content of the new product should mainly revolve around lifestyle topics.

CNN streaming service has flopped before

The company, which is part of Warner Bros., launched CNN+ back in 2022. A streaming service with a news focus that was supposed to be a paid addition to free TV. Warner Media had built up the streaming service with a lot of financial strength and great ambitions and signed up some high-caliber newcomers. However, David Zaslav, who had just taken office at the time, had other ideas and quickly scrapped the service. At the time, he wanted to bundle all brands into one service, according to –, but there were also reports of low user numbers.

As the current boss Thompson has now also announced, CNN is laying off 200 employees from the TV production department. An equally large number of jobs will be created in other areas, such as data science or product engineering, explained CNN boss Mark Thompson. CNN intends to fill around 100 such positions this year.

Like all mass media, the television broadcaster is also struggling with the migration of audiences to new channels: viewers prefer to choose streaming services, video portals or social media to consume news. This is where CNN, traditionally based on cable television, is now trying to reach its viewers.

(nen)