Yesterday there was a report from Axios that CNN’s recently launched subscription service, CNN+, “looks doomed”:
Warner Bros. Discovery has suspended all external marketing spend for CNN+ and has laid off CNN’s longtime chief financial officer as it weighs what to do with the subscription streaming service moving forward, five sources tell Axios.
Why it matters: Inside CNN, executives think the launch has been successful. Discovery executives disagree.
–CNN+ has roughly 150,000 subscribers so far.
–Warner Bros. Discovery wants to eventually build one giant service around HBO Max.
–New leadership has replaced CNN CFO Brad Ferrer with Neil Chugani, Discovery’s current CFO for streaming and international, as part of a broader finance team restructuring.
–Other high-level positions at WarnerMedia across different business functions are likely to be eliminated to cut costs and streamline leadership in coming weeks.
Maybe this will help CNN+ boost those subscriber numbers… or maybe not:
#WhosTalkingToChrisWallace tonight: White House @PressSec Jen Psaki on her time behind the briefing room podium and the current state of politics. pic.twitter.com/mXchOVaVkP
— CNN+ (@CNNplus) April 20, 2022
Get lied to and pay for the privilege? Thanks CNN+!
If no one watches did it really happen?
— Demand can be a force majeure (@filthyanalyst) April 20, 2022
If an interview happens on CNN+ but they have no viewers…
Did the interview actually happen?
— Jack O'Neill (@Jack2LOneill) April 20, 2022
A question for the ages.
Wow, this will boost those ratings!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Swirve (@sean39352878) April 20, 2022
Right!?
323 replies & 61 likes.
Oh, the #ratioing. https://t.co/vlacQyz7zg
— Randy Clemens™ MJM Strategies Radio (@bostonrandy) April 20, 2022
If only ratios translated to viewers.
MUST FLEE TV … https://t.co/14Uq8XpKF8
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) April 20, 2022
Democrat media activist interviews future Democrat media activist. Riveting stuff. https://t.co/nL5a7b7d8h
— Dan Bishop (@jdanbishop) April 20, 2022
NOW how much would you pay?
Lmao he left #1 Fox News for CNN’s failing streaming service? The irony of this is beyond rich. 😂😂😂 #CNNPlus #WellDeserved #ChrisWallace https://t.co/fbmWh8Q6st
— Brad (@TheBradRules1) April 20, 2022
Regrets? Perhaps Wallace has a few.
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Related:
Source says that Chris Wallace is ‘having daily breakdowns’ over the ‘miserable’ CNN+ launch
CNBC reports that CNN+ is drawing fewer than 10,000 daily viewers
