CNN to put online broadcasts behind paywall in UK
British viewers flocked to CNN to watch live coverage of the US election and the Capitol Hill riot, but now the US news channel is to impose a paywall on its online news broadcasts in the UK.
The broadcaster of Anderson Cooper 360° plans to put the livestream of its international rolling news service behind a paywall from June as it attempts to muscle in on the burgeoning subscription market.
The decision will only target mobile and desktop users in the UK, but could form a precursor to a broader rollout that will affect more countries outside the US.
The Telegraph understands the move may prompt CNN to review TV distribution deals with Sky, Virgin Media, BT and Freesat should the subscription drive prove successful.
It comes after the Reuters news agency announced last week that it was moving to a subscription model for its website by charging $35 (£25) a month for access.
The BBC also said in March that it may begin charging overseas audiences for access to news to help prop up falling income from the £157.50 annual licence fee.
There is a groundswell of opinion among media executives that the future lies in charging for news as Facebook and Google continue to dominate the online advertising market.
Rani Raad, president of CNN Worldwide Commercial, said all media companies needed to look at how they made content available as users' behaviour and habits change rapidly.
"By moving to a paid-for model for our livestream of CNN International, we are ensuring that CNN is accessible to anyone in the UK without the need for a TV package and available to watch live wherever they are," he added.
"This increases the ways that people can experience CNN, generates new revenue opportunities for us beyond traditional distribution and advertising, and creates a different way to engage with and understand our audiences.”
CNN has not revealed how much it plans to charge for the service.
However, all news articles and videos on CNN.com will remain free even after the livestream paywall is introduced.
UK viewers can currently access CNN International's online broadcast by registering their details and watching advertising. The new subscription model will offer an ad-free service that will replace the advertising breaks with exclusive, short-form, content.
New business shows and documentaries are also being launched on CNN International to help support the rollout, but the broadcaster has yet to decide whether to bring the paid-for stream to its CNN app in the UK.
CNN.com has recorded a surge in users in response to the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and its coverage of Donald Trump's tumultuous presidency. The former president was a regular critic of the broadcaster.
The Warner Media-owned platform reached 230 million online users in January, according to Comscore, making it the most popular news website globally.
It came as CNN grew its UK audience by 73pc last year, cementing its position as its third largest market behind America and Canada.
