Why CNN Is Pulling the Plug on Its HBO Max News Stream: Inside the Bold Digital Gamble and What It Means for Viewers

HBO Max to drop CNN’s live news feed – Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) will remove the 24/7 CNN Max livestream from HBO Max on 17 November 2025. The decision affects subscribers who had access to a continuous CNN channel on the entertainment service ^[1]. ^[2].
Standalone CNN streamer debuting in fall 2025 – CNN plans to launch a new subscription streaming service later in the fall. It will offer live news channels, catch‑up features and on‑demand programming accessible via mobile apps, connected‑TV devices and CNN.com ^[3]. Pay‑TV subscribers will be able to log in at no extra cost ^[4].
Part of the “All Access” paid tier – The new service will be bundled with CNN’s All Access subscription (launched in October 2024) that offers unlimited access to articles and digital content for $3.99 per month ^[5]. Executives hope a single subscription covering text and video will drive user loyalty and revenue.
CNN’s second streaming attempt – The new product follows the ill‑fated CNN+, which launched in March 2022 and shut down after 29 days. CNN Max on HBO Max began as an “open beta” in September 2023, serving as an experiment to test programming and viewer preferences ^[6].
Learning from the HBO Max test – CNN executives say the 24/7 stream allowed them to study viewing habits of HBO Max’s 110 million global subscribers. Executive vice‑president of digital products Alex MacCallum said the company learned what people enjoy and will build the new offering with those insights ^[7].
Massive digital pivot and layoffs – To fund the new streaming push, CNN is cutting around 200 jobs (about 6 % of its workforce) and reinvesting $70 million to create roughly 100 digital positions and build the streaming platform ^[8]. Chief executive Mark Thompson emphasised shifting CNN’s “centre of gravity” to digital platforms ^[9]. ^[10].
New lifestyle products – CNN is developing a weather app to provide local and national forecasts. Initially free, the app will be integrated into the subscription tier and aims to become a daily habit for users ^[11]. The network is also exploring other lifestyle products to diversify revenue ^[12].
Corporate split on the horizon – Warner Bros. Discovery plans to split into two companies: a streaming‑and‑studios unit (including HBO and DC) and a separate networks unit housing CNN and TNT Sports ^[13]. The restructure is expected to be completed by mid‑2026, underscoring the need for CNN to build direct‑to‑consumer revenue.

HBO Max Pulls the Plug on CNN Max

A Short‑Lived Beta Experiment

In September 2023, WBD quietly added a live CNN news feed on HBO Max under the moniker “CNN Max”. It was marketed as an “open beta” and combined live programming from CNN U.S., CNN International and some original shows produced specifically for the streamer ^[14]. The feed allowed HBO Max subscribers to tune into breaking news, politics and international coverage without a traditional cable subscription.

The experiment was the network’s second foray into streaming. Its first, CNN+, launched in March 2022 with a robust slate of original programs and a monthly price of $5.99. Less than a month later, newly merged Warner Bros. Discovery shuttered the service, citing an ill‑conceived rollout and limited synergy with the parent company. Around 150,000 subscribers had signed up ^[15].

CNN Max survived longer, but WBD executives always described it as a “test bed.” In an internal memo, CNN CEO Mark Thompson wrote that CNN Max gave the network a chance to gauge what its 110 million HBO Max users liked and disliked about streaming news. The data would inform a more comprehensive product that could be sold directly to consumers ^[16]. As the new service nears launch, WBD has decided the beta has served its purpose and will end on 17 November 2025 ^[17]. ^[18].

Selected CNN Originals Remain on HBO Max

When the live feed disappears, HBO Max will retain some CNN Originals, such as Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown and Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy. These travel and food shows are popular and will continue to draw viewers to HBO Max’s broader entertainment library ^[19]. But live breaking news and 24/7 coverage will migrate to the new CNN service, emphasising the strategic separation between entertainment streaming and news.

What Will the New CNN Streaming Service Offer?

Live News, Catch‑Up and On‑Demand

According to CNN’s May 2025 announcement, the new streaming product will provide a centralised hub for CNN’s live channels, catch‑up clips and on‑demand shows. It will be available via CNN’s mobile apps, connected‑TV platforms such as Roku and Amazon Fire TV, and through CNN.com ^[20]. The design aims to mirror the continuous live news experience of cable but with features suited to digital consumption—pause, rewind, replay and personalised recommendations.

Part of the “All Access” Subscription

The forthcoming streamer will be integrated into All Access, CNN’s digital subscription tier launched in October 2024. All Access currently charges $3.99 per month and gives readers unlimited access to CNN.com articles, newsletters, subscriber‑only journalism and interactive features ^[21]. By bundling video, CNN hopes to increase the subscription’s perceived value and compete with media outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post, which offer combined text and video packages.

Existing pay‑TV subscribers will be able to log into the streaming service at no additional cost, preserving relationships with cable distributors. Those without cable will pay for All Access; the price of the combined service has not yet been announced ^[22].

Lessons from CNN+ and Feedback from HBO Max

CNN executives stress that the new service will not repeat CNN+’s mistakes. In interviews, MacCallum noted that viewers do not simply want linear programming poured onto digital platforms; they expect on‑demand flexibility and a habit‑forming product ^[23]. The company wants to build features that encourage daily use, such as personalised news briefings and local weather. Weather has been identified as a promising vertical because people check it regularly and might develop a subscription habit around it ^[24].

CNN’s digital team used HBO Max’s beta to test how often viewers tuned in and what programs resonated. MacCallum said the experiment revealed that subscribers valued breaking news and contextual analysis, and the team will prioritise those areas in the new platform ^[25]. That feedback loop underscores CNN’s shift from a purely broadcast mindset to one driven by data‑driven product development.

Weather and Lifestyle Apps

As part of the wider digital pivot, CNN will launch a stand‑alone Weather app that will eventually be paywalled within All Access. The app will provide local and national forecasts, severe weather alerts and climate‑related reporting ^[26]. CNN views weather as a daily touchpoint that can make its subscription indispensable. The network is also exploring other lifestyle products—including cooking and travel content—to diversify revenue ^[27].

The $70 Million Digital Pivot and Layoffs

Major Workforce Restructuring

To fund its new strategy, CNN is undergoing a major restructuring. In December 2024, CEO Mark Thompson informed staff that the network would cut around 200 jobs (about 6 % of its workforce) while creating about 100 digital‑focused positions ^[28]. This means some traditional roles will be eliminated, but new opportunities will arise in product development, engineering and data analytics.

Thompson acknowledged the pain of layoffs but argued that CNN must “shift our centre of gravity toward the platforms where we know our audiences are moving” ^[29]. He said the changes are essential to secure CNN’s future and ensure “America’s need for high‑quality news” is met in the digital age ^[30]. The company is investing $70 million in digital initiatives and will reorganise newsrooms to unify video production across linear and digital platforms ^[31].

Additional Commentary on the Digital Pivot

Thompson, who previously led the BBC and New York Times, told the International News Media Association that CNN.com will be reoriented to emphasise streaming and live video rather than static articles ^[32]. He said the goal is not to replicate broadcast TV but to adapt journalism to mobile phones and connected TVs, ensuring people can watch CNN anywhere ^[33]. He noted that CNN.com receives roughly 150 million unique visitors each month, even though the network’s cable ratings have declined ^[34]. CNN will use a metered paywall so only the most engaged users pay ^[35].

Why Warner Bros. Discovery Is Restructuring

The removal of CNN Max from HBO Max coincides with a major corporate restructuring. WBD plans to split into two publicly traded companies: one will house the streaming and studios assets (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Max) and the other will hold the networks business, including CNN, TNT, TBS and TNT Sports ^[36]. CEO David Zaslav will oversee the streaming/studios company, while CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will lead the networks unit ^[37].

Analysts say the separation is designed to protect the streaming division from the declining cable business and give each unit clearer strategic focus. However, some observers warn that splitting assets could weaken both sides and may not fix underlying issues ^[38]. In this environment, CNN must build a sustainable digital business to stand on its own.

Comparing CNN’s Plan to Other News and Sports Streamers

CNN is not alone in moving live channels online. ESPN plans to release “ESPN Flagship” in 2025, allowing consumers to stream live sports events directly for a monthly fee, and Fox has considered similar moves with its Fox News channel. Observers note that streaming fragmentation could leave consumers juggling multiple subscriptions and paying more overall.

CNN’s strategy to bundle text and video resembles The New York Times’ successful digital model. Poynter’s media columnist said CNN’s paid subscription would likely be sold individually or as part of a bigger bundle ^[39]. CNN identified its strengths as global newsgathering, a large digital audience and trusted personalities ^[40]. It aims to build daily habits through news briefings and weather, similar to the Times’ approach ^[41]. Notably, the plan is unaffected by WBD’s corporate split, emphasising that CNN must stand on its own digital merits ^[42].

Challenges and Criticism

Not everyone is convinced that CNN’s pivot will succeed. Media critic Techdirt argued that asking readers to pay for unlimited access to CNN articles is misguided because the quality and uniqueness of CNN’s content is not strong enough to justify a paywall ^[43]. The site noted that news consumers can find similar reporting for free elsewhere and that paywalls often limit journalism’s reach.

Other critics point to CNN’s eroding cable ratings and polarised political coverage. In a blog summarising a Los Angeles Times story, communications professor Kathleen Hall Jamieson said CNN’s brand has been in decline for years ^[44]. She argued that the network must rebuild trust by emphasising nonpartisan reporting. Former CNN president Jon Klein countered that Mark Thompson has a track record of digital transformation at the BBC and New York Times, making him the right person to reinvent CNN ^[45].

The network also faces the challenge of competing with free digital news. Many younger viewers consume news via social media or free websites, making it difficult to persuade them to subscribe. CNN hopes exclusive video features and integrated digital services like weather will entice users to pay.

What This Means for Viewers

For HBO Max subscribers, the immediate impact is that the 24/7 CNN Max feed will vanish on 17 November. Those who still want live CNN will need either a traditional cable subscription or the forthcoming streaming service via All Access. Meanwhile, classic CNN documentaries and travel‑food shows will remain on HBO Max for the foreseeable future.

For cord‑cutters interested in news, the new service promises to be a comprehensive offering combining live news, on‑demand shows, personalised briefings and possibly lifestyle features like weather and cooking. But pricing remains unknown; consumers already juggling multiple streaming subscriptions might balk at adding another.

As the streaming wars continue, CNN’s pivot reflects a broader trend: news organisations must master digital distribution to survive, and they may use a mix of paywalls, bundled subscriptions and lifestyle products to build sustainable businesses. Whether viewers will pay for a dedicated news streamer amid numerous entertainment and sports offerings is the question the network aims to answer with its bold digital gamble.

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