CNN is taking another bold step into the streaming market with the announcement of its new subscription service, CNN All Access. The platform will debut in the United States on October 28 with pricing set at $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. The move marks CNN’s most ambitious attempt yet to merge its global journalism with a modern, digital-first experience designed for audiences who consume news across multiple formats and devices.
The new service will function as a centralized digital hub, offering subscribers access to live and on-demand video programming, CNN.com’s full catalog of articles, and exclusive, premium content unavailable on the network’s free site. Early adopters can take advantage of a promotional annual rate of $41.99 if they sign up before January 5.
A Unified Platform for CNN Content
“This is an essential step in CNN’s evolution,” said Alex MacCallum, executive vice president of digital products and services at CNN Worldwide. “No one covers the world like CNN, and All Access provides a comprehensive experience that meets how audiences consume news today.”
The service combines CNN’s U.S. and international programming into a single, cohesive subscription. It will offer live streaming of breaking news, exclusive documentaries, and subscriber-only video reports from CNN’s global bureaus. The company said the goal is to provide “a complete digital ecosystem” where text, video, and interactive storytelling coexist under one subscription.
The launch represents a rebranding of CNN’s previous digital plan, now called the Basic tier. Introduced in 2024, that tier grants unlimited access to written content and certain subscriber features but excludes live and on-demand video—features that are now central to the All Access offering.
Learning from CNN+ and Past Challenges
CNN’s new streaming approach comes after its first attempt, CNN+, was abruptly shut down in April 2022—just one month after launch. The platform had aimed to compete with established players like Peacock and Paramount+, offering a mix of live news and original programs. However, the service struggled to gain traction amid the Warner Bros. Discovery merger and low subscriber engagement.
Executives now appear to have taken lessons from that failure. Unlike CNN+, which was a separate product, All Access will integrate seamlessly into CNN’s existing ecosystem, eliminating the confusion that once came from having multiple standalone apps. This hybrid model more closely resembles how traditional news outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post have integrated video, text, and digital features under a single subscription umbrella.
Corporate Shakeups and Strategic Timing
The launch of All Access comes amid significant restructuring at Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), CNN’s parent company. In June, WBD announced plans to split into two publicly traded entities by 2026: one focusing on streaming and studios—including HBO and Warner Bros. films—and another overseeing global networks, with CNN positioned as a key asset in the latter.
The timing is strategic, as WBD seeks to stabilize its media portfolio while facing industry-wide pressure to grow streaming revenue and offset declining cable audiences. Analysts suggest that integrating CNN’s global brand into a flexible, direct-to-consumer model could strengthen its long-term competitiveness. Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance is reportedly exploring a potential takeover of WBD, which could further reshape CNN’s ownership landscape before the planned corporate split.
Looking Ahead
With All Access, CNN is betting that consumers will pay for premium journalism that blends immediacy, global coverage, and multimedia storytelling. If successful, the launch could reestablish CNN as a serious digital contender and repair some of the brand damage left by CNN+. But as the network reenters a crowded streaming market, it will face the challenge of proving that audiences still see value in paying for trusted news amid an abundance of free content.