{"id":1416663,"date":"2022-04-03T08:44:44","date_gmt":"2022-04-03T12:44:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1416663"},"modified":"2022-04-03T08:45:24","modified_gmt":"2022-04-03T12:45:24","slug":"the-launch-of-cnn-plus-hasnt-been-going-well","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-launch-of-cnn-plus-hasnt-been-going-well\/","title":{"rendered":"The Launch of CNN Plus Hasn\u2019t Been Going Well"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-launch-of-cnn-plus-hasnt-been-going-well%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1416663&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--columnist inline-module--author\">\n<div class=\"inline-module--author__img\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Monday night, speaking to a packed crowd at the swanky Peak restaurant in Manhattan, CNN\u2019s Andrew Morse was looking for a Kumbaya moment \u2014 something to bring the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/01\/12\/cnn-sees-ratings-dive-by-90-from-2021-coverage\/\">troubled, ratings-challenged<\/a> channel together following a string of high-profile firings and scandals that has cast doubt on its future.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That something is known as CNN+. Morse is the point man in last week\u2019s launch of the new, much heralded and capital-intensive streaming service. With ratings falling, and <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2017\/09\/13\/more-than-22-million-americans-to-join-cord-cutting-revolution\/\">consumer cord-cutting<\/a> on the rise, many people inside the network believe the future of CNN is dependent on the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/02\/01\/don-lemon-to-host-oprah-style-cnn-plus-show-with-audience\/\">nascent streaming channel<\/a> to attract an audience that is increasingly eschewing traditional cable.<\/p>\n<p>The speech and the high-profile (and expensive) setting for the channel\u2019s launch was supposed to foreshadow good things to come. Morse heralded CNN+ as a \u201cnew chapter in CNN history.\u201d He said the timing of the launch is perfect \u2014 just as consumers are increasingly <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/03\/17\/netflix-customers-mad-over-plan-to-charge-for-password-sharing\/\">embracing streaming content.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Very weird turn<\/h2>\n<p>He then started to thank the people who launched the new and possibly transformational product.<\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s when things got weird.<\/p>\n<p>Morse thought it would be smart to applaud the work of two people who couldn\u2019t attend the soiree for obvious reasons: former CNN <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/03\/09\/jeff-zucker-reaches-settlement-in-tens-of-millions-with-warnermedia-cnn-report\/\">honcho Jeff Zucker<\/a> and his No. 2, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/02\/15\/allison-gollust-resigns-from-cnn-after-probe\/\">Allison Gollust.<\/a> The duo not only were the brains behind the creation of CNN+, they also were recently and famously ousted \u2014 much to the chagrin of the network\u2019s Zucker-loyal talent \u2014 because their recently disclosed romantic fling violated company-dating guidelines.<\/p>\n<p>Nearly in the same breath, Morse stepped in it again, this time giving \u00adkudos to the guy who controversially pulled the trigger, WarnerMedia <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/05\/27\/warnermedia-ceo-jason-kilar-is-sticking-around-for-now\/\">chief Jason Kilar.<\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/Allison-Gollust.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Allison-Gollust.jpg\" alt=\"Allison Gollust, communications director for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is shown in this photo, Jan. 3, 2013, in Albany, N.Y.\" class=\"wp-image-21758742\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/Allison-Gollust.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/Allison-Gollust.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/Allison-Gollust.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all&#038;w=512 512w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Gollust was a top executive at the network before her high-profile dismissal. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AP Photo\/Mike Groll, File<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWhen he made those statements, everyone seemed to freeze,\u201d said one person in attendance. \u201cIt was weird.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Even worse, Morse\u2019s uneven tribute may well be foreshadowing an equally awkward future for <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/06\/29\/cnn-msnbcs-ratings-collapse-due-to-credibility-problem\/\">the streaming service,<\/a> people close to the network tell The Post.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, time will tell whether consumers are willing to pay $5.99 a month (just $2.99 monthly for life if you sign up now) for CNN\u2019s second-string programming, reruns of the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/09\/28\/anthony-bourdain-friends-reveal-all-sex-drugs-tanning\/\">late Anthony Bourdain\u2019s<\/a> popular globe-trotting culinary show, \u201cParts Unknown,\u201d softer spots featuring network talent, and a smattering of B-list <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/03\/08\/chris-wallace-could-take-over-chris-cuomo-cnn-spot-report\/\">celebs and pseudo<\/a> thought leaders opining about food and culture.<\/p>\n<p>I did for the purposes of this column, but so far, CNN\u2019s media team is keeping the launch metrics close to the vest. (All CNN would say is: \u201cWe are very happy with the launch of CNN+. Any reports indicating otherwise are completely false.\u201d)<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/Jeff-Zucker-.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Jeff-Zucker-.jpg\" alt=\"Then CNN chief executive Jeff Zucker attends the 13th annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute in New York on Dec. 8, 2019.\" class=\"wp-image-21758744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/Jeff-Zucker-.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/Jeff-Zucker-.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/Jeff-Zucker-.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all&#038;w=512 512w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Former CNN chief executive Jeff Zucker was a brainchild of CNN+.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Jason Mendez\/Invision\/AP, File<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My guess \u2014 and the guess of other media watchers \u2014 is that lack of chest thumping is a sign the initial results ain\u2019t good. One clue: Since the launch, CNN\u2019s original app \u2014 which I needed to download to get to the new streaming product on my mobile device \u2014 barely made the 200 most popular free apps on Apple last week, meaning it received no CNN+ boost. It was nowhere to be seen when last I checked on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Talk to media-industry types and they will tell you that\u2019s a decent indication CNN+\u2019s subscriber boost was pretty mediocre, if that.<\/p>\n<p>People inside CNN are understandably worried. The network\u2019s ratings are suffering because it no longer has its <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/03\/29\/trump-asks-putin-to-release-info-on-hunter-biden-business-deal\/\">favorite foil, Donald Trump,<\/a> to kick around. In a Trumpless news world, the channel\u2019s left-leaning programming has <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/04\/01\/jen-psaki-bashed-cable-news-before-taking-msnbc-gig\/\">competition from MSNBC<\/a> but with much more overhead, meaning it\u2019s spending more to compete for the same pool of viewers.<\/p>\n<p>Before CNN fired Zucker, he ousted CNN\u2019s highest-rated <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/01\/20\/cnn-host-chris-cuomos-testifies-in-andrew-cuomos-scandal\/\">anchor, Chris Cuomo,<\/a> for giving brother Andrew advice during Andy\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/12\/04\/chris-cuomo-fired-from-cnn-over-involvement-with-brother-andrews-scandals\/\">sexual harassment<\/a> scandal that forced him to step down as New York governor.<\/p>\n<h2>Programming hole<\/h2>\n<p>That hole in CNN\u2019s programming is being filled by a rotating cast that included former weekend host Michael Smerconish \u2014 not exactly a household name.<\/p>\n<p>On top of it all, CNN\u2019s audience is younger than other news networks (like that of <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/07\/22\/cnn-biden-town-hall-loses-out-to-fox-news-msnbc-in-ratings\/\">Fox News, my employer).<\/a> That may sound like a good thing for advertisers searching for that all-important 25-54 demo. But this demo is more apt to cut the cord and end their cable subscriptions altogether.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>Yes, CNN is immensely profitable, earning about $1 billion a year, I am told. But with cord cutting, those profits are likely to shrink pretty quickly over the next five years as cable operators pay less for CNN\u2019s increasingly <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/12\/02\/cnn-sees-ratings-spike-for-chris-cuomos-show-after-his-suspension\/\">lower-rated shows.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why Zucker came up with the idea to spend a ton of <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/02\/02\/ousted-cnn-boss-jeff-zuckers-affair-with-his-colleague-allison-gollust-was-the-worst-kept-secret-in-tv-but-they-conspired-to-keep-it-out-of-the-media-for-years-with-a-web-of-lies-sources-told-the-post\/\">money hiring hundreds<\/a> of people to start a new streaming channel that will attract that demo that increasingly consumes programming on their mobile devices. Yet the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/01\/20\/netflix-shares-tumble-on-slowing-subscriber-growth\/\">economics of streaming<\/a> are difficult. Sure, people like to watch stuff \u2014 including movies \u2014 at home, but they don\u2019t like paying a ton for it. And it\u2019s unclear if streaming news services work, meaning CNN+ might not be that magic bullet at least anytime soon.<\/p>\n<p>With all this fur flying, it\u2019s also easy to forget the network is also being sold along with WarnerMedia to \u00ad<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/02\/04\/discovery-ceo-calls-cnn-leader-in-news-to-the-left\/\">David Zas\u00adlav\u2019s Discovery<\/a> Inc. in a $43 billion media megadeal.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/ChrisCuomo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/ChrisCuomo.jpg\" alt=\"Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo\" class=\"wp-image-21758867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/ChrisCuomo.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/ChrisCuomo.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/ChrisCuomo.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all&#038;w=512 512w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Chris Cuomo was previously CNN\u2019s highest-rated anchor before his firing. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">REUTERS\/Mike Blake\/File<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Zas hasn\u2019t said much about CNN or the future of <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/07\/06\/discoverys-david-zaslav-promises-more-media-merger-mania-at-sun-valley\/\">its streaming service<\/a> and probably won\u2019t until the deal closes this month. People who know him tell me the following: With Zucker out, Zas has no allegiance to CNN+ or its people. If subs don\u2019t begin to grow, he will likely fold it into another streaming service, Discovery+, and lop off a chunk of the people Zucker hired.<\/p>\n<p>To cut costs, he\u2019ll probably also scale back on some of its programming ambitions while focusing on other parts of the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/02\/01\/att-to-spin-off-warnermedia-in-43b-discovery-deal\/\">WarnerMedia empire.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>So much for streaming saving CNN.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Monday night, speaking to a packed crowd at the swanky Peak restaurant in Manhattan, CNN\u2019s Andrew Morse was looking for a Kumbaya moment \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":498,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1416663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1416663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1416663"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1416663\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1416663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1416663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1416663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}