CNN+ is shutting down weeks after it launched


CNN+ is officially the new Quibi — except Quibi survived much longer.
The streaming service from CNN is set to shut down only weeks after it launched, Variety and The New York Times report. According to the Times, it will officially cease operations on April 30.
It was a shockingly swift end for the new streaming platform after it launched less than a month ago. CNN chief media correspondent Brian Stelter at the time called it the "biggest bet any company has made in the news streaming world," and CNN hired hundreds of staffers to work on it.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But previous reports indicated the service did not have a strong launch, with CNBC reporting fewer than 10,000 people were using it daily. Earlier this week, Axios reported the service appeared "doomed," noting that CNN's chief financial officer was laid off and parent company Warner Bros. Discovery executives didn't believe the launch was successful.
CNN+ features original programming from anchors like Chris Wallace, formerly of Fox News, and Kasie Hunt, formerly of MSNBC. But in a tough review, Vulture's Josef Adalian wrote that it was "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," noting it failed to offer on-demand access to the network's daily televised programming or a consistent live feed of breaking news. The review concluded it seemed like the "Quibi of streaming news," referring to the ill-fated streaming service of short-form content that shut down after less than a year.
CNN+ cost $5.99 per month, though it offered subscribers the chance to pay $2.99 for life if they signed up within the first few weeks.
It wasn't immediately clear what the plan for all the content on CNN+ is. But Warner Bros. Discovery also owns HBO Max, so at least some of it could end up there.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
June 24 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Tuesday's political cartoons include dreams of a Nobel Peace Prize, a crispy heatwave, and congressional consultation
-
Sex, drugs and a royal ruckus: the US play with a future gay Prince George
Talking Point The controversial off-Broadway show is a hit with audiences in New York
-
Labour's brewing welfare rebellion
The Explainer Keir Starmer seems determined to press on with disability benefit cuts despite a "nightmare" revolt by his own MPs
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores