CNN+
CNN+ (pronounced as CNN Plus) was a short-lived video streaming service that launched on March 29, 2022. It was an offshoot of the CNN cable television news network. The new digital streaming service was announced on July 19, 2021, as "the evolution of video news and the start of a new era for the company" by former parent company WarnerMedia. The new parent company of CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery felt differently and discontinued the service on April 28, 2022, just 30 days after launch. History and development. On July 19, 2021, CNN announced that they would offer a  new round-the-clock streaming service, due to launch in the first quarter of 2022. The plan was for the service to provide eight to 12 hours of live programming a day, complemented by original series created just for the service and others culled from the network's archives, as well as an "interactive community" that would allow viewers to interact with on-air talent. Former NBC News correspondent Kasie Hunt was one of the first personalities confirmed to join the service; "The Source with Kasie Hunt" was announced as the title of her news show. On December 12, 2021 , the network announced that Scott Galloway, a New York University professor, joined CNN+ as a contributor to its original live programming. On the same day, Chris Wallace announced that he would join CNN+ after spending 18 years at Fox News, as well as serving as the host of "Fox News Sunday". Throughout the month of January 2022, several CNN cable news anchors, including Kate Bolduan, Wolf Blitzer, Jake Tapper, and Fareed Zakaria, and former NPR host Audie Cornish had joined CNN+ to host original programming shows on the streaming service. That same month, CNN+ announced additional talent hires, including Rex  Chapman and Alison Roman, had joined the streaming service. Operations. The surprise departure of Jeff Zucker in February 2022 had disrupted the long-term vision for CNN+ before it launched. David Zaslav, the CEO of Discovery, Inc., said, "I haven't gotten a business review on what CNN+ is going to be and how it's going to be offered." Zaslav later became CEO of the merged Warner Bros. Discovery; the merger closed shortly after CNN+'s launch date. CNN+ launched on March 29, 2022. Subscribers who joined in the first month paid $2.99 per month, about a 50 % discount from the regular price, and their promotional rate will remain valid for the duration of their subscription. More than 100,000 subscribers joined in its first week. The service became available on Roku devices on April 11. Axios reported CNN spent $300 million to launch the streaming service. Reception. CNN+ launched to mixed reviews and low subscriber numbers. "Vulture", in its generally unfavorable review, wrote that "While it’s far too early to reach any definitive judgments, CNN+ in its formative phase feels somewhat like the Quibi of streaming news: Lots of money has been spent, big stars are  onboard, but it’s hard to figure out just what the service is supposed to be and why a large number of people will want to pay for it." The reviewer noted disapprovingly that CNN+, despite its standalone subscription fee, does not include any CNN content either live or on demand. "Newsday"'s media critic Verne Gay gave CNN+ a two-star review (out of four), praising many of its shows and the lack of commercial interruption while wondering about the mythical "unicorn viewer who has no time to eat or sleep" with the time and attention to watch its  content. "PC Magazine" gave CNN+ a 4.0 out of 5 rating, praising its programming and its lack of ads while criticizing its lack of live CNN programming (without a paid cable subscription) and its lack of mobile content downloads. "National Review" was sharply negative about CNN+ before its launch, considering it a dumping ground for content that "wasn't good enough to run on CNN." CNN executives originally expected to have 2 million subscribers in CNN+'s first year and 15–18 million after four years. CNN originally estimated that it would invest $1 billion in CNN+ over its first  four years, but after a slow start, "Axios" reported that "hundreds of millions of dollars are expected to be cut" from that investment. On April 12, two weeks after its launch, CNBC reported that fewer than 10,000 people were using CNN+ on a daily basis. With the merger of Warner Bros. Discovery having completed four days earlier, CNBC suggested that CNN+ programming may become available as part of a larger bundled offering with HBO Max and Discovery+, each of which have millions of subscribers. Much of the CNN original programming on HBO Max had been removed in advance of the  CNN+ launch. As of April 19, CNN+ had roughly 150,000 subscribers. Shutdown. On April 21, 2022, CNN announced that CNN+ would cease operations on April 30. Andrew Morse, who led CNN's digital properties, will also be leaving the company. New CNN head Chris Licht and Warner Bros. Discovery's head of streaming and interactive entertainment J.B. Perrette described the service as incompatible with the company's goal of forming a single streaming service to cover all of its properties. It is expected that some of CNN+'s original programming will migrate over to either a combined streaming service housing  Warner Bros. Discovery's content, or the linear CNN cable television channel. Licht stated that the service's employees would "continue to be paid and receive benefits for the next 90 days to explore opportunities at CNN, CNN Digital, and elsewhere in the Warner Bros. Discovery family" and that departing CNN+ employees would receive at least six months of severance depending on their length of service. All subscribers to CNN+ will receive a pro-rated refund. On April 27, the shutdown was moved up to the next day, and the home page redirected to a help section about the service 's whereabouts. CNN political correspondent Kasie Hunt wrote, "The news is the news is the news is the news no matter how or where it airs or comes from. Will keep at it tomorrow.” Scott Galloway, who had been hired to host a series on the service, remarked, "Well, that was fast." Sports journalist Jemele Hill tweeted, "Some of y'all are going to try to get jokes off at my expense but I'm going to be fine — it's called a contract, learn about it." Original programming. CNN+ FLASHDocs. New documentary unit exploring timely and topical pop culture  stories.