CNN is stepping back into the streaming arena — this time with a carefully priced $6.99 per month “All Access” subscription, set to launch in the U.S. on October 28. The new plan gives subscribers access to live and on-demand video programming, CNN Originals, and unlimited CNN.com content, aiming to unify the network’s video and digital offerings under one roof.
The move comes three years after Warner Bros Discovery shut down CNN+ just 30 days after its debut — a costly experiment that never took off. Now, the media giant is betting on a leaner, more sustainable model as part of its wider effort to offset declining cable TV revenue and strengthen its streaming footprint in a highly competitive market dominated by Netflix and Disney+.
According to the company, current pay-TV subscribers will get access at no extra charge, while new customers can opt for an introductory annual plan of $41.99 until January 5. CNN says the relaunch is “an essential step in CNN’s evolution,” positioning the network as a hybrid news platform that blends traditional journalism with modern on-demand access.
The new tier builds on CNN’s Basic digital subscription, launched last year, which provided paywall-free reading across its website and app. Now, with “All Access,” the company adds streaming content back into the mix — a nod to audiences who increasingly consume news through on-demand video.
Industry watchers note that this could be a make-or-break moment for CNN’s digital ambitions. CEO Mark Thompson, formerly of The New York Times, has been credited with transforming the Times into a digital powerhouse and now hopes to apply the same formula to CNN’s future.
With rivals like Fox’s $19.99 “Fox One” already in the market, CNN’s lower-priced, integrated subscription could help the brand regain relevance among younger, streaming-first audiences — if it delivers the kind of exclusive content that cable once guaranteed.
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