As Warner Bros. Discovery rethinks its content strategy, CNN+ has been shut down less than a month after its launch
“As we become Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN will be strongest as part of WBD’s streaming strategy which envisions news as an important part of a compelling broader offering along with sports, entertainment, and nonfiction content,” said Licht in a statement. “We have therefore made the decision to cease operations of CNN+ and focus our investment on CNN’s core news-gathering operations and in further building CNN Digital.
While CNN+ will be shutting down, CNN programming is expected to become an important piece of WB Discovery’s overall streaming lineup. Some shows are expected to find their way to HBO Max, which will become the centerpiece of the company’s streaming efforts. Others may live on CNN’s digital properties.
Most CNN+ employees, meanwhile, will be out of a job. Staff were told Thursday that they will continue to be paid and receive benefits for 90 days, and will be encouraged to apply for jobs elsewhere at the company. After that 90-day period, they will be laid off with a minimum of six months severance.
“Consumers are the center of our strategy,” WB Discovery’s streaming chief JB Perrette said in a statement. “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.
The subscription streaming service marked a major bet by WarnerMedia on streaming news, although it took a vastly different approach than many of its competitors. While NBC, CBS and ABC focused on free streaming news brands that were an extension of their TV programming, CNN worked to build out an alternate slate of shows, including formats like travel shows, cooking programs and interview series. And while most of the competitors were free, CNN+ carried a $5.99 per month fee .
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