Last week, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it will add 24/7 news from CNN starting September 27. CNN Max will not be a live feed of the cable network but will feature live programming from CNN US, CNN International and feature original programming built specifically for Max. The streaming service says this is part of an open beta for news that will enable experimentation with product features, content offerings, and original storytelling, all with the input and feedback from the Max subscribers.
One of the things Warner Bros. Discovery will test is the ability to show breaking news alerts, according to Variety. With this feature, you could be watching a movie or TV show and getting a news alert with the option to switch over to live news coverage from CNN on Max.
MAX’s public relations X (formerly Twitter) account downplayed the alerts, suggesting “breaking news” won’t flash as often as it does on the news network. “‘Breaking news’ is being misinterpreted…no intention to do this. We will be very careful about how we may alert people to major news happenings.”
This is all part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s plans to expand CNN on Max. The service will offer new programming exclusively for Max subscribers, including CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta, Rahel Solomon, Amara Walker, and Fredricka Whitfield,” and “CNN Newsroom with Jim Sciutto.” You will also find featured CNN content like “Amanpour,” “Anderson Cooper 360,” “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer,” and more.
“As we laid out at our launch only a few months ago, our vision for Max is to be The One to Watch for all members of a household. We have the broadest and highest quality entertainment offering, and now will include world-leading news as a meaningful addition for all Max subscribers, at no extra charge. CNN Max is differentiated by having 24/7 news at its core from CNN, the leading global news organization, and being available on a scaled streaming service in the U.S., which has a significantly younger and additive audience compared to traditional TV. This provides even more quality choices for Max customers who will be able to easily catch up on what is happening in the world, particularly in moments of breaking news, all within one seamless experience. We’re excited to engage our Max community in this initial beta stage to help us learn and develop what appeals most to our customers in this new genre,” said JB Perrette, CEO and President, Global Streaming and Games.
CNN joins a myriad of other news services that have made the jump to streaming, including NBC News NOW, another 24/7 news service that’s been around four years, and the collection of CBS News channels available on Paramount+, Pluto TV and as standalone apps on smart TV platforms.
When the service launches in September, you will find the current CNN hub renamed to CNN Max. Not only will you find live content there but also over 900 episodes of CNN’s new and legacy programming. This will include “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” and “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper,” and more.