CNN gets a new streaming site

The wobbly relationship between CNN and its new owner may be strengthened a bit.
A new streaming hub, “CNN Max,” was announced Thursday (Aug. 24) by Warner Bros. Discovery. When it launches Sept. 27, it will be free to people who subscribe to the Max (formerly HBO Max) streamer. Some specifics are unsettled, but it may:
— Help cord-cutters, who want a full-time news channel. They can find CBS and ABC sites online; soon, Max will stream a mix of some separate shows and some simulcast with CNN.
— Be a convenient place to find past productions, including the Oscar-winning “Navalny” (shown here) and two Emmy-winning travel series, with Stanley Tucci and the late Anthony Bourdain.
After buying Warner Brothers (including CNN), Discovery found itself in a cash crunch.
It abruptly canceled the CNN+ streaming service. A few pieces of the streamer (interviews by Chris Wallace, travel shows with Tucci and Eva Longoria) were folded into CNN.
And it trimmed back its documentaries, going only with in-house productions. Using outside producers (and sometimes buying already-finished films), CNN had become a source for acclaimed documentaries such as “Blackfish,” “Three Identical Strangers,” “Navalny,” “RBG” and show-business portraits of Glen Campbell, Gilda Radner, Roger Eeb, Linda Ronstadt, Bourdain and more.
Complications continued. Since the Discovery takeover, CNN has fired its chairman (Jeff Zucker) and his Discovery-chosen replacement (Chris Licht), plus some anchors.
Still, Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav has said CNN would become a key part of Max. During an earnings call this month, the New York Times reported, he said: “News and sports are important. They’re differentiators; they’re compelling and they make these platforms come alive.”
He promised then that there would be something “soon.” Now that will be Sept. 27NN,with a fresh mix. CNN Max will simulcast at least the main four hours of CNN evening coverage — anchored by Jake Tapper, Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper — and possibly more.