CNN+ in just 3 weeks has proven itself to be a colossal failure. The platform is set to end operations by April 30th according to a statement.
CNN’s chief digital officer has stepped down from his position as the head of CNN+ just 3 weeks after its launch.
“This is not a decision about quality; we appreciate all of the work, ambition, and creativity that went into building CNN+, an organization with terrific talent and compelling programming. But our customers and CNN will be best served with a simpler streaming choice.” Said Chris Licht Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide.
Allegedly, CNN spent more than $300 million on the project only to abandon it, also causing the loss of jobs within the company.
According to Licht, CNN+ employees will continue to be paid, and receive benefits for the next 90 days. After this 90-day period, it’s likely that the majority of employees will be expected to find new jobs.
Almost immediately after launch, CNN’s parent company Warner Bros Discovery braced for layoffs and investment loss due to an incredibly low number of subscriptions to CNN+. Of the $300 million invested in the project, nearly $10 million was lost per day according to Axios.