Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max streamer will add 24/7 news programming to its offerings starting September 27 with the addition of CNN Max.
The addition of Breaking News, which launches with an open beta at no cost to subscribers, comes after CNN+’s short-lived standalone subscription service was shut down a month after launch, forcing the studio to rethink its online live news strategy.
CNN Max will add the latest news to the Hollywood studio’s entertainment streaming service once it begins its open beta, at no additional cost to subscribers.
CNN Max, a rebrand of the CNN Originals Hub, will include programs built specifically for the Max streaming audience, such as CNN Newsroom starring Jim Acosta, Rahel Solomon, Amara Walker and Fredricka Whitfield and CNN Newsroom starring Jim Sciutto. Sciutto will lead the afternoon’s breaking news coverage on CNN Max.
CNN Max will also series like Amanpour, Anderson Cooper 360, starring Jake Tapper And The situation room with Wolf Blitzer. The streaming offering will also be aimed at a younger audience than traditional TV and marks a bold bet for Warner Bros. Discovery after the costly launch and shutdown of CNN+.
“This provides even more quality choices for Max customers, who can easily stay on top of what’s happening in the world, especially at times of major news, all within one seamless experience. We are excited to engage our Max community in this first phase of beta to help us learn and develop what our customers love most about this new genre,” said JB Perrette, CEO and president, global streaming and games at Warner Bros. Discovery. in a statement Thursday.
Warner Bros. Discovery is the product of a $43 billion merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery, with the combined company led by CEO David Zaslav. Part of Zaslav’s pitch to Hollywood was to create a streaming service that could compete with Netflix and Disney+ by combining the best of HBO’s scripted fare with Discovery’s profitable lifestyle and reality programming.
