CNN is expanding the availability of its All Access membership product to Canada and the United Kingdom next week, marking the first time that the subscription tier has been offered to streamers and news enthusiasts outside the United States.
The premium membership feature combines live CNN television programming with on-demand documentaries, original series and digital journalism, allowing subscribers to access the network’s programming and reporting without requiring a traditional cable or satellite television subscription.
All Access in Canada and the United Kingdom will include live access to CNN’s U.S. and international channels — which, throughout the day, tend to offer the same shows at the same time, with some regional variations — along with on-demand access to CNN Originals, CNN Films and other streaming exclusives.
Subscribers also receive unlimited access to news articles, audio programming and video available through CNN.com and the CNN mobile application, including reporting otherwise restricted to paying customers.
In Canada, CNN will charge CA $8 (U.S. $6) per month or CA $80 (U.S. $56) annually. An introductory promotion reduces the first-year annual subscription to approximately CA $60 (U.S. $42). British streamers will pay £5 (U.S. $7) monthly or £50 (U.S. $66) annually, with a promotional first-year subscription available for approximately £38 (U.S. $50).
Both markets will have monthly subscription prices comparable to or below the $7 per month charged to U.S. customers, though CNN is aggressive with discounts on its monthly and annual plans.
“CNN’s reputation as a premium, trusted name in news is unparalleled around the globe,” Alex MacCallum, the Chief Operating Officer of CNN Worldwide, said in a statement this week. “We’re excited to provide these audiences with a simple way to access our live 24/7 channel and global reporting in one place.”
The launch comes ahead of the November 3 U.S. midterm elections, which CNN plans to feature prominently through live election coverage, political reporting and analysis.
The elections will provide an early opportunity for CNN to promote All Access to international viewers interested in U.S. politics and government.
CNN’s expansion into Canada and the United Kingdom is part of a broader effort to develop subscription revenue outside its traditional cable television business: The company has historically relied on carriage fees from pay television distributors and advertising revenue generated through its television networks and digital properties.
In some parts of Europe, though, the network for years has pursued a strategy that prioritizes reach over direct distribution fees, opting to place CNN International on broadcast and cable TV for next to nothing and, in some cases, licensing CNN International to regional variations of free, ad-supported streaming TV services like Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels and Pluto TV.
CNN International was available to view on free-to-air satellite in the United Kingdom until April, when Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) began encrypting the signal. The move effectively ended CNN’s run as a free news channel in the country, with British news viewers forced to pay for a subscription to cable, satellite or premium streaming to receive it. WBD is now part of Skydance.
