CNN shuts down its streaming service after just a month Business

A streaming service meant to revitalize CNN is shutting down just weeks after launching.

CNN+ will cease operations on April 30 and customers will receive refunds for subscribing to the online news channel, which was available in the United States.

The service surpassed 100,000 subscribers in the first week after launching on March 29. However, it was used by less than 10,000 people at any given time. It costs $5.99 (£4.60) per month, the same as competitor Fox News’ paid streaming service.

CNN+ offered a mix of lifestyle and mainstream news programming, including a daily interview program from Chris Wallace and a food and travel series from actress Eva Longoria.

Warner Bros. Discovery, its parent company, said CNN content will be a key part of its streaming offerings going forward. The group plans to combine online offerings, which include HBO Max and Discovery+, into a single subscription for viewers.

The company will now reassess its online strategy and cut costs following the $43 billion merger between Discovery and AT&T spinoff WarnerBros, completed earlier this month. The combination is expected to generate $3 billion in savings.

Andrew Morse, who ran CNN+, will leave after a transition period. CNN+ was defended internally by Jeff Zucker, the longtime media executive who resigned in February.

The fiasco comes amid a tumultuous few years for CNN after it was repeatedly accused of anti-Republican bias by former US President Donald Trump.

When owned by AT&T, CNN spent hundreds of millions of dollars programming and marketing the product.