CNN to Launch ‘All Access’ Streaming Subscription at $6.99 on October 28
NEW YORK — CNN is doubling down on its digital strategy with the launch of a new subscription-based streaming service, CNN All Access, set to debut on October 28 for $6.99 per month.
The offering marks the network’s most ambitious foray into the digital subscription space yet, bundling live programming, on-demand content, and exclusive journalism under a single umbrella—one designed to reflect the evolving ways audiences now engage with news.
“This is an essential step in CNN’s evolution,” said Alex MacCallum, CNN Worldwide’s Executive Vice President of Digital Products and Services. “We’re working to deliver the full CNN experience in a format that matches modern viewing habits.”
A new chapter after CNN+
The launch of CNN All Access comes after the network’s short-lived streaming experiment, CNN+, which was shut down just a month after its 2022 debut. Unlike CNN+, which featured standalone shows hosted by personalities like Chris Wallace and Kasie Hunt, the new service aims to integrate more closely with CNN’s traditional broadcast and international feeds.
The service will allow users to stream a curated selection of CNN’s U.S. and international live programming, as well as access a library of CNN Originals and Films. New original content will be available to stream the day after its TV debut. Subscribers will also get exclusive digital content and live events not available elsewhere, including subscriber-only journalism on CNN.com.
In essence, CNN is blending its linear and digital operations into a single platform—a strategy long championed by Mark Thompson, the network’s Chairman and CEO, who joined the company with a mandate to modernize CNN’s content delivery.
Building a sustainable digital future
The launch of All Access is part of CNN’s broader strategy to diversify its revenue streams as cable subscriptions decline. Although cable and satellite subscribers will retain access to CNN’s streaming channels, they will still need to pay for the basic digital tier to access written content on CNN.com.
This tiered model is designed to protect CNN’s existing licensing agreements with cable providers, while still carving out a direct-to-consumer path—a balance other networks have struggled to strike.
“Cable news has always been premium content. This model allows us to protect those relationships while building a parallel digital business,” a CNN spokesperson said.
CNN All Access vs. competitors
CNN’s move follows similar strategies by other major U.S. news networks. Fox News launched Fox Nation in 2018, blending political commentary with entertainment series featuring Hollywood names like Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid. MSNBC, which streams through Peacock, is reportedly preparing to rebrand and split from parent company Comcast, launching its own standalone platform, MS NOW.
Meanwhile, ABC News Live, NBC News Now, and CBS News 24/7 continue to offer free 24-hour streaming news content—but none have yet introduced subscription paywalls for news streaming.
CNN’s hybrid approach, combining broadcast-quality journalism with exclusive digital perks, signals an attempt to offer a premium news experience in an increasingly crowded streaming market.
What’s included in CNN All Access?
Subscribers to CNN All Access can expect:
- Live U.S. and international CNN programming
- On-demand access to CNN Originals and CNN Films
- New original content released a day after TV airing
- Exclusive live events and interviews
- Subscriber-only journalism and features on CNN.com
CNN says further features and content will be revealed in the lead-up to the launch.
CNN All Access officially goes live on October 28. Users will be able to subscribe directly via CNN’s website or app platforms for $6.99/month, with options for annual billing expected to follow.
As the streaming wars continue to reshape how audiences consume news, CNN’s latest venture could redefine what it means to be a 24/7 global newsroom in the digital age.
