CNN, like many major TV channels, is looking to stream its content in order to reach those who have cut the cord. Unfortunately, as streaming services become more competitive, many have had difficulty attracting subscribers.

On March 29th, CNN+ officially launched with a live news program and original series as well as features like Interview Club – an interactive interview platform featuring anchors such as Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon.

It’s coming

CNN is launching its own streaming service called CNN+, which will offer eight to 12 hours of live news programming and on-demand access to the network’s library of shows. According to a July 19 announcement from parent company WarnerMedia, CNN+ will be available in the first quarter of 2022.

The new streamer is an attempt to combat cord cutting trends that are taking a toll on cable networks. As cable and satellite subscription rates rise, tens of millions have chosen to forgo traditional services and turn towards streaming options like Netflix NFLX -2% or Amazon AMZN +0.07%.

Andrew Morse, a former ABC News executive and leader of CNN+, will be an integral part of CNN and WarnerMedia’s future as they merge with Discovery in a $43 billion merger.

It’s a must

CNN is a 24/7 cable news channel that offers analysis and roundtable shows, documentaries cnn news live and political reporting. They also host debates and provide live results for national elections as they come in.

They have an experienced team that covers breaking news stories and produces special reports.

At launch, CNN+ will offer eight to 12 hours of live programming daily with a community component for subscribers to submit questions during segments. They also have over 1,000 hours of CNN original series and films including seasons of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, This is Life with Lisa Ling and United Shades of America.

CNN is betting on its streaming service to grow its news audience. To make this project a success, they’ve been busy behind the scenes by hiring an array of renowned talent and approving dozens of shows.

It’s not a must

CNN may be one of the world’s most renowned news organizations, but it’s not a must-have in your streaming library. That’s because cable giant hasn’t really prioritized developing its digital presence since acquiring Time Warner.

Under new CEO Chris Licht, the company has been refining its digital strategy. For strategic advice, Chris Licht draws upon a trusted group of veteran news executives and recent hires for input. However, the company has been slow to adopt new tech like Apple’s TV app which launched in late 2018.

No doubt, cnn+ is an impressive effort to be the content hub for the network; however, there’s no guarantee it can live up to expectations. The most viable option may be for this service to be combined with other video services like Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu which offer similar features without cable subscription fees.

It’s not a good idea

At the launch of CNN’s streaming service, they had ambitious plans for eight to 12 hours of live programming daily. To achieve this goal, they invested hundreds of millions of dollars and recruited top talent from other networks to host its shows.

Spending so much money on something that might not work was an expensive mistake. Early subscriber numbers weren’t promising and there were numerous controversies surrounding the product.

CNN+ was a strategic decision that CEO Jeff Zucker and WarnerMedia head Allison Gollust had approved. They hoped it would enable their streaming service to compete against other services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video and HBO Max.

The issue is that consumers have already reached peak subscription rates for TV and streaming services. They’re spending more time watching ad-supported video on demand than watching paid subscription streaming services like Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime Video.

CNN+ may survive as a standalone streaming service, but there’s also the potential that it might get lost within another subscription service – especially one led by Discovery’s David Zaslav. If that occurs, it could spell trouble for CNN+ and its news channel which are struggling to make up for declining viewer numbers among pay-TV subscribers.