Another subscription-based model will be set around lifestyle content, such as food and fitness.
CNN CEO Mark Thompson has revealed sweeping changes for the 45-year-old news network, including the launch of a new streaming service, a redesigned digital presence and additional subscriber offerings. These initiatives come as CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, invests $70m into the network’s digital transformation.
As part of the restructuring, CNN announced layoffs affecting approximately 6% of its workforce, amounting to around 200 jobs. However, Thompson assured staff that many new positions would open as the company realigns its focus, and the overall headcount is expected to remain steady by year-end.
“The changes we’re announcing today are part of an ongoing response by this great news organisation to profound and irreversible shifts in the way audiences in America and around the world consume news,” Thompson wrote in a memo to staff.
“Our objective is a simple one: to shift CNN’s gravity towards the platforms and products where the audience themselves are shifting and, by doing that, to secure CNN’s future as one of the world’s greatest news organizations. America and the world need high-quality, fair-minded, trustworthy sources of news more than ever. This difficult and sometimes painful process of change is the only way to make sure we can still provide it.”
The network’s restructuring includes an overhauled weekday show lineup, set to launch in March.
In addition to the programming changes, CNN will further invest in its digital strategy, aiming to grow its subscriber base. Last year, CNN introduced a $3.99-per-month subscription model for select articles and plans to roll out more subscriber products, including its first lifestyle-oriented digital offering.
Thompson also announced plans for a new streaming service, complementing the existing CNN Max. While details on the new service’s programming are still under wraps, Thompson acknowledged that Max is “not a complete answer to the future of the great linear CNN experience.”
These changes come amid broader challenges faced by major news networks, including declining viewership and revenue, as audiences increasingly migrate to digital platforms. CNN previously cut 100 jobs last summer, representing 3% of its workforce, as part of an earlier reorganization.
Thompson emphasised that the restructuring aims to ensure CNN remains competitive and financially sustainable. “This difficult but necessary process will position CNN to continue delivering high-quality, trustworthy news to audiences in a rapidly changing media landscape,” he stated.