CNN to launch $6.99 “All Access” streaming subscription on October 28
CNN will debut a new $6.99-per-month subscription tier called “All Access” on October 28, marking its latest move into streaming three years after Warner Bros Discovery shut down CNN+.
The new U.S.-only service will combine live and on-demand video programming with full access to CNN.com articles and a library of CNN Originals, the network said on Thursday. The “All Access” package expands on CNN’s existing Basic tier, which launched last year and offers unlimited digital content and subscriber-only articles.
Current pay-TV subscribers will be able to log in to the new service at no extra cost, while digital-only users can subscribe monthly or opt for an annual plan at $69.99, discounted to $41.99 for the first year if purchased by January 5.
CNN CEO Mark Thompson, the former New York Times executive credited with driving its digital transformation, has been pushing to modernize CNN’s business as Warner Bros Discovery seeks to offset falling cable revenue and refocus on streaming.
“This is an essential step in CNN’s evolution,” said Alex MacCallum, CNN’s executive vice president for digital products and services.
The launch comes as rival Fox Corp rolled out its own subscription-based service, Fox One, in August for $19.99 per month, signaling intensifying competition for paid digital news audiences.