CNN is gearing up to re-enter the streaming landscape yet again.
Supported by Warner Bros. Discovery, the news organization announced it will introduce a new subscription service called “All Access” priced at $6.99 per month or $69.99 annually starting October 28. They have marketed this offering as the premier way for users to engage with an expanding array of content designed for mobile and connected TV users. Those who subscribe before January 5, 2026, can take advantage of a special introductory rate of $41.99 for the first year of the annual plan.
“With this subscription model, our viewers will have unparalleled access to CNN’s offerings across various platforms, including several live streaming channels, our renowned video journalism, and access to all articles on CNN.com and within the mobile app,” stated Alex MacCallum, Executive Vice President of Digital Products and Services at CNN Worldwide. “This represents a vital advancement in CNN’s development as we strive to provide audiences with the complete CNN experience in formats that align with modern news consumption habits.”
The introduction of this new service reflects CNN CEO Mark Thompson’s ongoing strategy to transition CNN, a cornerstone of traditional television, into the digital era. This is particularly pressing as viewers increasingly lean towards alternative video sources for both quick updates and detailed reporting. Unlike some competitors, CNN still lacks a solid digital video offering. While it continues to experiment, rivals such as NBC News and CBS News have already launched content that is available on platforms ranging from Amazon’s Fire device to YouTube.
Subscribers of “All Access” will benefit from enhanced features building on an earlier “basic” tier that allowed unlimited article reading on CNN’s website and mobile app, alongside select subscriber-exclusive content. This new offering will enable streaming of a curated selection of CNN’s U.S. and international live programs; access to a variety of original series and documentaries; fresh content produced by CNN journalists; and invitations to exclusive live events. CNN indicated that a comprehensive schedule and detailed content lineup will be announced at the time of launch.
Interestingly, this new service mirrors one of CNN’s recent major projects: the 2022 launch of CNN+, a subscription-based streaming service dubbed by executives as the ideal method to attract loyal viewers through a combination of lifestyle and news programming featuring personalities like Wolf Blitzer, Kate Bolduan, and Kasie Hunt. Unfortunately, the service was terminated just a month after its debut by CNN’s new parent company.
CNN announces this launch while its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, prepares for an asset split, placing CNN among traditional cable networks. Consequently, a previous streaming CNN product available through the Max streaming service is being phased out, leading to potential reevaluation of how it may be bundled with other broadband services from the incoming corporate structure.
