The CNN+ paid streaming service will debut
March 29 with programming headlined by
network stars like Anderson Cooper, Wolf Blitzer
and Jake Tapper, along with poached personalities
Audie Cornish, Kasie Hunt and Chris Wallace.
Customers will be charged $5.99 a month or
$59.99 to get the service, with a special deal for
charter subscribers.
CNN’s announcement comes a day after MSNBC
said that it will offer much of its television
lineup on a time-delayed basis on the Peacock
Premium streaming service, which is available
for $4.99 a month.
Fox News’ Fox Nation service has been operating
since 2018, and recently inked actor Kevin
Costner to narrate a documentary series on the
Yellowstone national park.
News outlets known mostly for television are
making some of their most aggressive moves
in streaming these days, betting on its growing
importance. While broadcast networks ABC,
CBS and NBC News each offer breaking news-
oriented streaming services for free, the cable
outlets CNN, Fox News and MSNBC will all have
products behind pay walls.
CNN+ is a particular priority for that company,
and many in the industry are watching to see
if its momentum will be stalled by the recent
ouster of network chief Jeff Zucker.
Some of its fare will feel familiar, like a
traditional daily newscast anchored by Blitzer
and a newsletter-like morning look at the
day’s top stories hosted by Kate Bolduan.
Elsewhere, familiar personalities will stretch
a little: Cooper will do a show that offers