CNN CEO Tells Company Town Hall of New DTC Service

ESPN made big DTC news yesterday with details of its new streaming service.  Today more significant DTC streaming could be released by CNN.

CNN CEO Mark Thompson held a town hall with employees yesterday and he announced that CNN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service is slated to debut in fall 2025. 

While specific details about the platform’s features, pricing, and content were not fully disclosed during the town hall, Thompson indicated that further information would be shared at Warner Bros. Discovery’s upfront presentation to advertisers, scheduled for today, May 14, 2025, in New York. 

This follows Thompson’s broader strategy to transform CNN into a digital-first news organization, addressing the decline of linear television and building a sustainable subscription-based business.

The streaming service is part of CNN’s efforts to capitalize on the growing demand for digital news, with Thompson previously noting “immense demand” for such a product globally. Unlike the short-lived CNN+ streaming service, which was shuttered in 2022 shortly after its launch due to high costs and a mismatch with Warner Bros. Discovery’s strategy, the new platform aims to offer compelling news, analysis, and context in innovative formats. 

It will likely build on CNN’s existing streaming presence on Max, which mirrors much of its linear content, and incorporate lessons from Thompson’s successful digital transformation at The New York Times, where he expanded digital subscriptions significantly.

The streaming service is expected to be part of CNN’s ongoing restructuring, including a $70 million investment from Warner Bros. Discovery, a 6% workforce reduction (approximately 200 jobs), and the creation of new digital-focused roles. 

The service is expected to provide cable subscribers with free access, aiming to shift CNN’s focus toward platforms where audiences are increasingly moving.