Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) will stop making live programming from CNN’s domestic and international channels available to subscribers of the ad-supported version of its streaming service Max in the coming weeks.
Starting March 30, Max subscribers will need to pay for the “Standard” or “Premium” tiers of service if they want to continue streaming breaking news and other live programming from CNN Max, the company affirmed on Wednesday.
CNN Max offers a mixture of live programming that is largely curated from CNN International, though a handful of shows are also available on CNN U.S., and a few shows are exclusive to the streaming channel. The service rolled out to Max subscribers in late 2023 as part of an “open beta” that was meant to encourage WBD to look at new ways of delivering live TV journalism to streaming subscribers, the company said at the time.
While CNN Max will be removed from the ad-supported Max plan in late March, the network’s documentaries and non-news programs will continue to be made available through the service. Subscribers who still want access to CNN Max can upgrade their plan to Standard ($17 per month) or Premium ($21 per month). Both plans also offer commercial-free streaming of on-demand shows and movies and allow users to download programs to their mobile devices for offline viewing.
The move coincides with a similar plan to stop offering the B/R Sports add-on to Max streamers who are on the ad-supported tier. That change will also take place on March 30; afterward, live athletic events from TNT Sports and Eurosport will only be available to Standard and Premium subscribers of Max. WBD said it would no longer move forward with a plan to charge $10 per month for the sports add-on, and will instead include access to live sports as part of the Standard and Premium plans.
