Warner Bros to launch CNN Max news streaming service in US

(Reuters) – Warner Bros Discovery announced on Thursday that it will be launching a 24-hour news streaming service called CNN Max on September 27 in the United States.

CNN Max will take advantage of the news network’s global reporting resources and will feature new original programs such as “CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta, Rahel Solomon, Amara Walker, and Fredricka Whitfield.”

This service aims to capitalize on the urgency of breaking news and analysis, setting it apart from CNN+’s short-lived streaming service, which focused on lifestyle programs and was launched in March 2022.

Its parent company, Warner Bros Discovery, has been focused on increasing the amount of time subscribers spend on its Max streaming service. To achieve this, they have combined HBO’s acclaimed scripted series with Discovery’s reality shows to keep viewers engaged.

By expanding its programming to include breaking news and analysis, Max aims to attract a younger streaming audience while enhancing its offerings.

CNN has experienced declining ratings as it looks to attract more Republican viewers. In 2022, its earnings fell below $1 billion, and it is projected to have a modest increase this year to $938.6 million, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. These estimates include CNN networks operating in the United States, such as CNN en Español and CNN International.

(Reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru, Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles, and Helen Coster in New York; Editing by Anil D’Silva, Chizu Nomiyama, and Jonathan Oatis)