CNN’s long-rumored CNN+ streaming service lastly grew to become official Monday, with the storied cable information community asserting that the brand new, standalone service is slated to launch within the first quarter of subsequent 12 months.
CNN didn’t reveal many specifics in Monday’s announcement; for instance, it didn’t announce any new programming that might kick off the service, nor did it say how a lot it could cost for a subscription.
That stated, CNN confirmed that CNN+ will provide “authentic, reside, on demand and interactive programming” that’s “separate and distinct” from CNN’s present cable channels—in different phrases, don’t anticipate a simulcast of CNN’s flagship cable networks.
Whereas CNN didn’t define any new exhibits that might debut on CNN+—these will probably be “unveiled later this 12 months”—it did promise that the “standalone direct-to-consumer” service would arrive with prior seasons of such CNN applications as Anthony Bourdain: Components Unknown, Stanley Tucci: Trying to find Italy, That is Life with Lisa Ling, and United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell.
In addition to new and upcoming on-demand exhibits, CNN+ will probably be serving up between eight and 12 hours of reside programming, together with “topical deep dives” and “a number of new faces.”
CNN is asking CNN+ an “additive” service that “enhances” present CNN networks and can cater to “CNN superfans.”
As such, the present CNN app isn’t going away. As an alternative, the app will finally provide CNN+ content material in addition to reside feeds of CNN, CNN Worldwide, HLN, and CNN en Español. These reside feeds, nevertheless, will solely be out there for cable and pay TV subscribers.
The launch of CNN+ has been rumored for months, however the chatter started selecting up steam in current weeks, significantly after AT&T CEO John Stanley spilled the beans in mid-June. AT&T at present owns CNN mum or dad WarnerMedia, though AT&T just lately introduced plans to spin WarnerMedia off into a brand new firm.