CNN Plus is shutting down

CNN Plus, the news network’s exclusive streaming service, is being shut down before it even reaches its one-month anniversary.

CNN’s new CEO, Chris Licht, broke the news to his new team at an all-hands meeting on Thursday, and the service will be completely shut down on April 30th.

In a memo to employees announcing the closing, Licht complimented the CNN Plus team, saying that the decision “is not a reflection of the quality of the talent and material at CNN+, some of which will migrate to CNN’s programming or some of the company’s other networks.” He explained that the choice was made in the context of a larger strategy. “Consumers desire simplicity and an all-in solution in a complex streaming industry, which gives a better experience and greater value than stand-alone options.” Employees will be paid and receive benefits for the next 90 days, he added, and those who don’t find new jobs within the company will receive at least six months’ severance pay. Andrew Morse, the president of CNN Plus, is stepping down.

From the start, the network appeared to be doomed. With new personality-driven programming and access to some of CNN’s best original series, CNN envisioned the service as a fresh way of thinking about news coverage. CNN Plus had a tumultuous relationship with its parent network; instead of offering a streaming version of the linear channel, it attempted to create a more tailored version of the news report. The organization was also attempting to figure out how to make news more participatory by bringing it to a more on-demand audience.

Because CNN Plus was stopped down in part because it went against a larger company goal, it’s difficult to say if it could have worked over time. With Licht’s appointment and the newly integrated Warner Bros. Discovery organizational structure being finalized, the service launched in the midst of a lot of change at the firm. CNN Plus’s launch was apparently viewed as a disappointment by executives, especially as Warner Bros. Discovery alters its goal to create a single, large streaming service that incorporates both HBO Max and Discovery Plus. CNN Plus makes more sense as a feature than a standalone subscription in this scenario.