There are winners and losers in life no matter how many “participation trophies” are handed out CNN+ employees learned. The brief existence of the newly created streaming service will end April 30, according to a CNN report.
“CNN+, the streaming service that was hyped as one of the most significant developments in the history of CNN, will shut down on April 30, just one month after it launched,” a Thursday report explained.
CNN’s former owner, AT&T, spun CNN and the rest of WarnerMedia off in the second quarter of 2022. Warner and Discovery merged and Discovery CEO David Zaslav took the helm of newly formed Warner Bros. Discovery.
Prior management’s vision for CNN+ ran counter to Mr. Zaslav’s plan to combine all company brands under one streaming service. Some CNN+ programming may reportedly live on through that service while others may join CNN’s television network. The rest may go gently into that good night.
CNN poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the new streaming app and to poach talent from other networks like NBC’s Kasie Hunt and Fox News’ Chris Wallace.
Many social media comments questioned the future of reporter Chris Wallace who left Fox News, after almost two decades, for the streaming service. Former President Donald Trump was not one of them.
“Congratulations to CNN+ on their decision to immediately fold for a lack of ratings, or viewers in any way, shape, or form,” Trump said in a Thursday statement.
“It was like an empty desert out there, despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars and hiring low-rated Chris Wallace, a man who tried so hard to be his father, Mike, but lacked the talent and whatever else is necessary to be a star,” said Trump. “In any event, it’s just one more piece of CNN and Fake News that we don’t have to bother with anymore!”
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