Apparently the self-proclaimed “most trusted name in news” learned nothing from its CNN+ streaming disaster, once again turning to the business model of making people pay for content.
With more and more Americans now shunning the mainstream media in favor of more unbiased and honest alternatives, the cable network is struggling in terms of revenue and viewership, choosing to start charging $3.99 for its propaganda online.
Recently rehired human potato Brian Stelter proudly announced the new website paywall in a Tuesday post to X, sharing an article he wrote.
Big news about CNN today: CNN’s website, one of the most popular news sites in the world, is starting to ask some users to pay $3.99 a month for access — laying the first bricks in a paywall that should, over time, help foot the bill for CNN’s journalism. https://t.co/fW7PwFHmts
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) October 1, 2024
“Big news about CNN today: CNN’s website, one of the most popular news sites in the world, is starting to ask some users to pay $3.99 a month for access — laying the first bricks in a paywall that should, over time, help foot the bill for CNN’s journalism,” he said.
“Starting today, we are asking users in the United States to pay a small recurring fee for unlimited access to CNN.com’s world-class articles,” CNN executive vice president of digital products and services Alex MacCallum explained in an internal memo on the new plan, according to Stelter’s article.
“Only after users consume a certain number of free articles will they be prompted to subscribe,” MacCallum said. “In addition to unlimited access to CNN.com’s articles, subscribers will receive benefits like exclusive election features, original documentaries, a curated daily selection of our most distinctive journalism, and fewer digital ads.”
Mockery ensued after Stelter’s big announcement and sales pitch, with users reminding him that the network had already failed when trying to charge its dwindling viewership for its fake news and leftist opinion.
Lol, this is gonna go about as well as CNN+ https://t.co/2Vr7N589sa
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) October 1, 2024
It’s like the CNN+ fiasco never happened
— Jeff Carlson (@themarketswork) October 1, 2024
No one is going to pay for CNN, period. It’s not worth $3.99 or $1.99 or .99. It is barely worth watching ads for.
— TheRealThelmaJohnson (@TheRealThelmaJ1) October 1, 2024
I know you guys need to make money, but instead of this, you could try returning to honest, unbiased coverage. That would attract more viewers.
This will be the last nail in your coffin. I don’t care either way because your days as journalists are over…
— Matt Bartruff (@MattBartruff) October 1, 2024
CNN+ v.2.0.
What’s the definition of insanity, again?
— Schadenfreudelish (@aggierican) October 1, 2024
There’s a reason CNN’s “journalism” is dying. Constant lies and propaganda is not a good business strategy.
So the brilliant plan to fix it is to ask people to pay money for the lies???
— Patri0tsareinContr0l (@Patri0tContr0l) October 1, 2024
As if anybody would pay for CNN. I would think that your little experiment with CNN plus would have taught you that.
— NotYourJewishMom (@CaffMomREDACTED) October 1, 2024
I can’t wait to watch this bankruptcy
— Florida Dad (@Corona3743) October 1, 2024
It’s only been two and a half years since the implosion of the ballyhooed CNN+ which folded its tent after shelling out big bucks for talent including ex-FOX News anchor Chris Wallace only to discover that projections that people would actually pay money to watch it were wildly overblown.
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Chris Donaldson is an ordinary American who is concerned about rampant corruption as well as the ongoing attacks on our way of life by those who have contempt for our hard-earned freedoms. A Navy veteran, he has been a frequent contributor to conservative websites and resides in Florida.
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