CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery are ceasing CNN+ operations as of April 30.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we become Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN will be strongest as part of WBD\u2019s streaming strategy, which envisions news as an important part of a compelling broader offering along with sports, entertainment, and nonfiction content,\u201d said Chris Licht, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide. \u201cWe have therefore made the decision to cease operations of CNN+ and focus our investment on CNN\u2019s core news-gathering operations and in further building CNN Digital. This is not a decision about quality; we appreciate all of the work, ambition and creativity that went into building CNN+, an organization with terrific talent and compelling programming. But our customers and CNN will be best served with a simpler streaming choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
CNN+ customers will receive prorated refunds of subscription fees.<\/p>\n
Andrew Morse, executive VP and chief digital officer of CNN Worldwide and head of CNN+, has decided to leave the company, effective following a transition period.<\/p>\n
Following Morse\u2019s departure, Alex MacCallum, CNN Worldwide’s head of product and general manager of CNN+, will step in to lead CNN Digital. She will work with Licht to determine a leadership strategy going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are grateful to Andrew for his significant contributions to CNN Digital and CNN+ over the years,\u2019\u2019 Licht said. \u201cHe and his team created a quality slate of rich and compelling content and helped produce and distribute CNN\u2019s journalism around the world on a variety of platforms. We appreciate Andrew and everyone\u2019s hard work and dedication.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been an honor to work alongside the world\u2019s best journalists these past nine years, and I could not be prouder of what we built together with CNN Digital and CNN+,\u201d said Morse. \u201cOur journalism has never been stronger, nor has it reached more people in more places across more platforms than it does today. I am a great believer that change is critical\u2014for individuals and for organizations. As the company enters an exciting period of change, it is a logical time to make a change for myself. I\u2019ll always be rooting for CNN.\u201d<\/p>\n
J.B. Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming and interactive entertainment at Warner Bros. Discovery, said the CNN brand and its content will be key to the company\u2019s direct-to-consumer service.<\/p>\n
\u201cConsumers are the center of our strategy,\u2019\u2019 Perrette commented. \u201cIn a complex streaming market, consumers want simplicity and an all-in service which provides a better experience and more value than stand-alone offerings, and, for the company, a more sustainable business model to drive our future investments in great journalism and storytelling. We have very exciting opportunities ahead in the streaming space, and CNN, one of the world\u2019s premier reputational assets, will play an important role there.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery are ceasing CNN+ operations as of April 30.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":350,"featured_media":17979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[173,6152],"class_list":["post-17978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-top-stories","tag-cnn","tag-warner-bros-discovery","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\n