You can’t be a media entity without also having your own streaming service. Them’s the rules. And that’s exactly what’s coming with CNN+, the latest service from parent company WarnerMedia. It stands to launch on March 29 and become the new home for the news network. There’s going to be all kinds of live news, of course, as well as new original series and shows.
CNN+ will be full of faces that you’ve known on the network for years, as well as some new appearances by old favorites.
And it’s priced to compete, particularly if you get in from the get-go. Here’s everything you need to know about CNN+.
CNN+ Price
CNN+ will cost $6 a month, or $60 a year. The annual price will save you $12, essentially getting you two months for free.
Those who sign up within the first four weeks of the CNN+ launch, however, will get a special price of $3 a month. That comes out to $36 a year, assuming no annual payment option. The special introductory price will be good “for life,” which really means until you cancel the subscription. Should you choose to restart, you’ll be forced to the $6/$60 plan.
CNN+ shows and series
In addition to all the live content you’ll be able to find on CNN Plus, shows also will be bifurcated into daily programs (new on weekdays) and weekly shows. There will be household names from the current CNN ranks — hi, Wolf Blitzer — as well as those making the leap from other networks, like former Fox News journalist Chris Wallace.
And keep in mind that what you see here is just for starters, and doesn’t really include anything live and truly newsy. There will be more.
Weekday shows on CNN+
Following are what you can expect daily on weekdays on CNN+
- 5 Things with Kate Bolduan (7 a.m. EST): The CNN anchor hosts an expansion of the network’s podcast and newsletter to get things going in the morning.
- Go There (8 a.m. EST): On the front lines of breaking news.
- Big Picture with Sara Sidner (9 a.m. EST): An in-depth look at the most important and interesting stories of the day.
- Reliable s Daily (11 a.m. EST): CNN Chief Media Correspondent Brian Stelter does what he does best in an expansion of his nightly newsletter.
- The with Katie Hunt (4 p.m. EST): A daily fresh take on politics and power structures behind the policies with Hunt, a CNN anchor and chief national affairs analyst.
- The Global Brief with Bianca Nobilo (5 p.m. EST): A recap of the most important international stories of the past 24 hours.
- Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? (6 p.m. EST): The former Fox News anchor will have candid conversations across the spectrum of news, sports, entertainment, art, and culture.
- The Newscast with Wolf Blitzer (7:30 p.m. EST): The CNN stalwart moves out of the Situation Room and into the traditional evening newscast, but with a “sleek, modern twist.”
Weekly shows on CNN+
Other shows on CNN+ will be weekly. Five will be available the first week, starting March 29. Two more will premiere in April, and another pair in May. Here’s the breakdown:
Available starting May 29:
- Anderson Cooper Full Circle (New episodes Tuesdays and Saturdays): It’s not AC360, it’s Full Circle. The show has previously been available on other CNN Digital properties.
- Boss Files with Poppy Harlow (Mondays): The CNN anchor sits down with some of the biggest names in business.
- Jake Tapper’s Book Club: The anchor (and author) interviews a wide range of authors and some of his favorites.
- No Mercy No Malice with Scott Galloway (Tuesdays): The marketing prfessor brings his entrepreneurial experience, predictions, and more to a weekly business show.
- Parental Guidance with Anderson Cooper (Wednesdays): Because one show isn’t enough, the new dad takes on life as a working parent.
Available in April
- The Don Lemon Show (Fridays): The longtime CNN anchor is in the studio with a new format.
- Rex Chapman (Mondays): The former NBA star brings life and passion to the latest headlines as only he can.
Available in May
- 20 Questions with Audie Cornish: The acclaimed journalist has 20 questions for her guests, who’ll run the gamut from newsmakers to cultural icons.
- Cari & Jemele: Speak.Easy: The former ESPN co-hosts make the leap from Vice TV.
And coming later are:
- Christian Amanpour: One of the world’s most respected and accomplished journalists brings her years of experience and unique global perspective.
- Masters in Medicine with Dr. Sanjay Gupta: America’s doctor takes you to mini-med school.
Original series and films on CNN+
The daily and weekly shows are just the tip of the iceberg for CNN+. There’s also going to be a wealth of on-demand series and films that hit all kinds of categories. They will include:
- The Land of the Giants: Titans of Tech: This is a five-part series that looks at Meta (formerly Facebook), Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google. It’s based on the popular podcast from Recode and Vox and will be full of archival footage and new exclusive interviews. (Available at launch.)
- The Murdochs: Empire of Influence: The six-part series goes inside the legacy of Rupert Murdoch, who brought the world Fox News. It’ll have exclusive reporting from The New York Times, and interviews with people from inside the company. (Available at launch.)
- Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over: An intimate portrait of the singer/seer. (Premiering this spring.)
- The Last Movie Stars: A six-episode exploration of the lives and love story of actors Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, directed by Ethan Hawke and produced by Martin Scorsese. Will be voiced by George Clooney, Oscar Isaac, Latanya Richardson Jackson, and Laura Linney, with interviews with Sally Field, Melanie Griffith and others. (Premiering summer 2022.)
What devices is CNN+ on?
We don’t yet have a comprehensive list of all the devices on which you can watch CNN+. But the basic rule of thumb is that if you can currently use the CNN Go app on it (and, again, that brand is going to go away), then you’ll be able to use the upcoming CNN app to watch CNN+.
That will include top platforms like Roku and Amazon Fire TV, which re the two largest streaming platforms in the world. It also will include platforms like Apple TV, Google TV and Android TV. And expect to see still be able to watch in a web browser, on various smart TVs, and likely on gaming consoles.
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