WEBVTT - Inside CNN+: An Exclusive First Look at the New Streaming Service 0:00:08.000 --> 0:00:11.119 Welcome to another episode of Strictly Business, the podcast in 0:00:11.160 --> 0:00:13.240 which we talked with some of the brightest minds working 0:00:13.240 --> 0:00:16.800 in the media business today. I'm Andrew Wallenstein with Variety. 0:00:17.480 --> 0:00:20.520 This week we're bringing you a special bonus episode featuring 0:00:20.520 --> 0:00:24.360 an exclusive interview with Andrew Morse, chief Digital officer for 0:00:24.480 --> 0:00:29.320 CNN Worldwide. He's overseeing CNN Plus, the long awaited new 0:00:29.440 --> 0:00:33.200 streaming service the news brand plans to launch early next year. 0:00:33.800 --> 0:00:37.200 That's just one of the key details CNN finally revealed today, 0:00:37.479 --> 0:00:39.840 but it leaves a host of questions we'll get into 0:00:39.880 --> 0:00:42.600 with our guest. It's all coming up on this episode 0:00:42.680 --> 0:00:53.680 of Strictly Business. Welcome back to another episode of Strictly Business, 0:00:53.720 --> 0:00:57.040 where we're joined today by Andrew Morse, the lead executive 0:00:57.160 --> 0:01:00.840 overseeing and CNN Plus. Thanks so much for doing the interview, Andrew. 0:01:01.960 --> 0:01:05.440 Thank you, Andrew, and it's it's nice to be here cool. 0:01:05.480 --> 0:01:07.520 So a quick recap for those who haven't heard what 0:01:07.560 --> 0:01:10.800 your company announced today. CNN Plus is a video streaming 0:01:10.840 --> 0:01:13.679 service that will launch in the first quarter of two. 0:01:14.200 --> 0:01:17.840 Subscribers can expect eight to twelve hours of live content 0:01:18.000 --> 0:01:21.000 each day, featuring well known CNN talent as well as 0:01:21.000 --> 0:01:24.600 some new names. Catalog of CNN long form programming will 0:01:24.600 --> 0:01:29.040 be offered as well. This is obviously a huge undertaking, Andrew. So, 0:01:29.319 --> 0:01:30.800 I mean, is it safe to say this is like 0:01:30.880 --> 0:01:34.160 the biggest launch coming out of CNN since the rollout 0:01:34.319 --> 0:01:39.240 of the CNN website, which you oversee as well. I 0:01:39.280 --> 0:01:42.080 think it's bigger than that. I think that this is 0:01:42.160 --> 0:01:45.600 the single biggest launch that CNN has had since Ted 0:01:45.680 --> 0:01:49.559 Turner launch the network in June of Um. This stakes 0:01:49.560 --> 0:01:52.120 are that high for us, The opportunity is that big, 0:01:52.200 --> 0:01:55.920 and we are that enthusiastic about this. And I would 0:01:55.960 --> 0:01:59.040 imagine the cost has got to be considerable here. Here 0:01:59.160 --> 0:02:04.040 you're gonna adding what hundreds of employees to support this, 0:02:04.520 --> 0:02:07.320 So you know, from a cost perspective, is this bigger 0:02:07.320 --> 0:02:12.639 than anything you've you've spent on? Yeah? I think that's important. 0:02:12.680 --> 0:02:15.880 I mean, the magnitude of this is really significant. And again, 0:02:15.880 --> 0:02:17.960 if you think about it, I mean the question that 0:02:18.040 --> 0:02:20.320 you just asked was a great one. You know, CNN 0:02:20.960 --> 0:02:25.440 pioneered cable news in eight We really redefined or defined 0:02:25.480 --> 0:02:27.680 what digital news would look like when we launched CNN 0:02:27.720 --> 0:02:33.640 dot Com and those were both really significant launches um 0:02:33.720 --> 0:02:36.680 in order for us to make this next evolution. In 0:02:36.840 --> 0:02:39.800 order for us to take this next step, we we 0:02:39.919 --> 0:02:42.679 can't take a half measure. We have to go all in. 0:02:42.760 --> 0:02:45.480 And this is a very substantial bet for us. So 0:02:45.560 --> 0:02:48.120 the investment that the company is making will be commensurate 0:02:48.200 --> 0:02:51.320 to the to the size of our ambition. A few 0:02:51.400 --> 0:02:55.079 key facts that we're missing from the announcement today, I 0:02:55.080 --> 0:02:57.160 obviously need to ask you about right off the bat, 0:02:57.720 --> 0:03:01.160 first being price. Uh have you guys come up with 0:03:01.200 --> 0:03:06.240 a price point yet? And is this an AD supported service? UM? 0:03:06.280 --> 0:03:08.639 So it's not going to be AD supported um UM 0:03:08.960 --> 0:03:12.560 to start UM, we are launching this as a as 0:03:12.600 --> 0:03:16.000 a paid as FOD service. It won't be a vod 0:03:16.600 --> 0:03:20.160 UM in terms of price point. That is something that 0:03:20.200 --> 0:03:22.639 we are discussing quite a bit. We're doing quite a 0:03:22.680 --> 0:03:25.440 substantial amount of research and as we continue to refine 0:03:26.160 --> 0:03:28.120 the product and the go to market strategy over the 0:03:28.160 --> 0:03:30.600 course of the next few months. Uh, we will come 0:03:30.680 --> 0:03:32.640 up with the right price point. And is there a 0:03:32.680 --> 0:03:35.000 reason And it sounds like you know, it's possible in 0:03:35.040 --> 0:03:38.720 the future you could add an AD supported component, but 0:03:38.920 --> 0:03:42.240 why not at the launch? You know, the first thing 0:03:42.280 --> 0:03:44.720 that we're focused on now is getting the product right 0:03:44.800 --> 0:03:47.200 for customers. You know, it's important to note that CNN 0:03:47.240 --> 0:03:50.000 Plus is going to be a standalone, direct to consumer 0:03:50.200 --> 0:03:54.400 paid subscription service, and so really what we're trying to 0:03:54.440 --> 0:03:57.760 do is unique. There isn't a service like this that 0:03:57.840 --> 0:04:01.440 currently exists in the marketplace. And the difference with paid 0:04:01.480 --> 0:04:06.360 subscription services compared to add supported services UM or or 0:04:06.440 --> 0:04:10.520 most traditional media sources is that UM the customer really 0:04:10.560 --> 0:04:13.720 dictates UH to a certain degree, what the product is. 0:04:14.000 --> 0:04:16.480 And so for us, the first and most important thing 0:04:16.520 --> 0:04:18.880 is to build a product that customers will love, to 0:04:18.960 --> 0:04:22.359 make sure that the content is extraordinary. And then once 0:04:22.400 --> 0:04:25.039 we get the product up and launched and in customers hands, 0:04:25.240 --> 0:04:28.560 we think that that having an advertising component UM will 0:04:28.600 --> 0:04:31.200 be an important part of the product as we go forward. 0:04:31.880 --> 0:04:35.760 Another key question, are you launching just in the US 0:04:35.920 --> 0:04:39.400 or is this a global product? It is a global product, 0:04:39.440 --> 0:04:41.680 and in fact, that's one of the real advantages that 0:04:41.720 --> 0:04:45.559 we have. You know, if you look at CNN, UH, 0:04:45.839 --> 0:04:49.080 you look at the advantages that we have, we're really 0:04:49.080 --> 0:04:52.359 one of the world's only global news brands. I mean, really, 0:04:52.400 --> 0:04:55.880 outside of the BBC and CNN, you'd be hard pressed 0:04:55.920 --> 0:04:58.280 to to identify a real global news brand with a 0:04:58.360 --> 0:05:00.920 kind of reach and resources that we have. And so 0:05:01.320 --> 0:05:04.240 as we've looked at the market opportunity and we've looked at, 0:05:04.839 --> 0:05:09.320 um really who this product can reach and how big 0:05:09.360 --> 0:05:10.880 it might be able to be. We think one of 0:05:11.120 --> 0:05:14.719 the distinct advantages is for Recipe Global that said at launch, 0:05:14.920 --> 0:05:17.440 it's going to launch in the US first, We're gonna 0:05:17.480 --> 0:05:19.680 get that market right, and then we will roll out 0:05:19.720 --> 0:05:24.479 internationally as we go. Got it. Um, You haven't revealed 0:05:24.560 --> 0:05:27.599 much yet about specific content, so, and I know there's 0:05:27.600 --> 0:05:31.440 a limit to what you could say, but a simple question, 0:05:31.880 --> 0:05:36.359 is this a twenty four hour news network? Uh? You know? 0:05:36.440 --> 0:05:41.280 Do I do I need CNN if I have CNN Plus? Well, 0:05:41.440 --> 0:05:43.360 to answer your first question, is it a twenty for 0:05:43.440 --> 0:05:46.000 our news network? No? And the reason why is we 0:05:46.120 --> 0:05:49.839 have one and it's called CNN. And that's really important 0:05:49.880 --> 0:05:54.320 here is we have an incredibly successful, uh linear business. 0:05:54.400 --> 0:05:57.960 The CNN television network is stronger than it's ever been. 0:05:58.480 --> 0:06:00.799 It's coming off the best year in act in its history. 0:06:00.839 --> 0:06:03.160 And by the same token, we have the world's number 0:06:03.200 --> 0:06:05.720 one out supported digital news service and that's as strong 0:06:05.760 --> 0:06:09.520 as it's ever been. CNN Plus is a totally separate, distinct, 0:06:09.680 --> 0:06:14.440 additive service and the content that we're creating UM will 0:06:14.480 --> 0:06:16.719 be unique and distinct from what you get on the 0:06:16.760 --> 0:06:20.680 US network. So that's really important. The the CNN television 0:06:20.680 --> 0:06:23.359 network will remain the CNN television network, and none of 0:06:23.400 --> 0:06:27.480 the core programming that that viewers CNR our television network, 0:06:27.560 --> 0:06:30.920 will be available on CNN Plus. We're gonna We're gonna 0:06:30.960 --> 0:06:34.000 continue to invest in our television network. The kind of 0:06:34.040 --> 0:06:39.240 content that you'll see UM will be surprising, distinct, original, 0:06:39.600 --> 0:06:42.839 and provide provide users with a with a really different 0:06:42.880 --> 0:06:46.279 experience than what they currently get from our our television 0:06:46.320 --> 0:06:51.160 and digital properties. To me, the quintessential CNN is getting 0:06:51.200 --> 0:06:54.560 to the scene of a huge breaking story like like 0:06:54.600 --> 0:06:58.680 say the tragedy and at surfside in Miami. Would we 0:06:58.720 --> 0:07:03.320 see CNN plus function and anything like that. Yes, and no, 0:07:03.760 --> 0:07:06.080 and and it's really important. And it's why cnmplus is 0:07:06.120 --> 0:07:10.400 so important because UM, again, there is nothing like CNN 0:07:10.720 --> 0:07:13.040 in terms of our global reach, the way we respond 0:07:13.120 --> 0:07:15.520 to stories, the way we deploy resources, and the way 0:07:15.520 --> 0:07:19.160 we promise our users immediate up to date news and information. 0:07:19.280 --> 0:07:22.320 And that's what CNM will continue to do in CNN Plus. 0:07:22.360 --> 0:07:25.800 It will still be really important to provide viewers of 0:07:25.880 --> 0:07:28.520 front row seat to what's happening, both the important and 0:07:28.560 --> 0:07:31.360 the interesting. Um. But we have to do it in 0:07:31.400 --> 0:07:34.120 different ways. I think it gives us an opportunity to 0:07:34.280 --> 0:07:38.000 be more contextual, to spend more time with individual stories, 0:07:38.040 --> 0:07:41.720 to go deeper, to provide different angles, also provide different programming. 0:07:41.800 --> 0:07:44.800 So around the news, I think you'll provide you'll you'll 0:07:45.040 --> 0:07:47.840 you'll see a really distinct experience from what you'll get 0:07:48.320 --> 0:07:50.400 on the on the network. But it's also important to 0:07:50.440 --> 0:07:54.000 note that like we are not attempting to create a 0:07:54.040 --> 0:07:56.880 twenty four seven news wheel, that's not what CNN Plus 0:07:57.000 --> 0:07:59.440 is going to be. The live programming will have a 0:07:59.480 --> 0:08:04.320 distinct personality beyond demand programming. Um again, well, well will 0:08:04.760 --> 0:08:08.280 serve a very different need and uh, this service will 0:08:08.280 --> 0:08:10.240 be quite different from what we do on the air. 0:08:10.760 --> 0:08:14.200 But will it's mere existence changed the complexion of what 0:08:14.280 --> 0:08:20.280 we understand CNN itself to be on TV? Because you know, 0:08:20.520 --> 0:08:22.480 I wonder you know again, let's go to my surf 0:08:22.520 --> 0:08:26.480 side example. Maybe instead of going you know, six hours 0:08:26.560 --> 0:08:31.480 straight on the CNN airwaves on our five you're gonna say, 0:08:31.480 --> 0:08:33.040 you know what, we're going over to a different story, 0:08:33.080 --> 0:08:35.960 but if you want to continue the surf side experience, 0:08:36.000 --> 0:08:39.280 go to CNN Plus. Well, that kind of relationship of 0:08:39.320 --> 0:08:43.079 the network throwing to the streaming service happen. And yes, 0:08:43.160 --> 0:08:47.280 does it change CNN as we know it, No, it will. 0:08:47.480 --> 0:08:49.440 It won't change CNN as we know it. In fact, 0:08:49.520 --> 0:08:52.400 I think CNN Plus allows CNN to continue to be 0:08:52.559 --> 0:08:55.200 CNN and to do with CNN does really well. I 0:08:55.240 --> 0:08:57.680 do think that this service will be complementary, and I 0:08:57.720 --> 0:09:00.080 do think there will be opportunities to push between the 0:09:00.160 --> 0:09:03.760 services for for more context and for more analysis, and 0:09:03.840 --> 0:09:08.840 for different kinds of programming. For complementary programming. UM, I 0:09:08.880 --> 0:09:11.280 think CNN will continue to do what it does best, 0:09:11.280 --> 0:09:13.439 which is to cover the most important stories of the day, 0:09:13.520 --> 0:09:16.559 the most interesting stories of the day, to be topical, 0:09:16.600 --> 0:09:19.319 to be on the news, to be urgent. Uh. And again, 0:09:19.400 --> 0:09:21.920 CNN Plus will have a bit of a different personality 0:09:22.240 --> 0:09:26.240 CNN Plus will UH have. U will give us the 0:09:26.240 --> 0:09:29.480 opportunity to explore different topics that we don't always have 0:09:29.520 --> 0:09:33.480 a chance to cover on on the US network, really 0:09:33.559 --> 0:09:37.120 in in greater depth. UM. We certainly do cover topics 0:09:37.120 --> 0:09:40.240 like climate, like space, and science certainly like race and identity. 0:09:40.600 --> 0:09:43.400 But the ability to spend much more time when you're 0:09:43.440 --> 0:09:46.760 not having to deal just to the linear schedule gives 0:09:46.800 --> 0:09:49.480 us the opportunity to explore those topics much more deeply. 0:09:49.880 --> 0:09:53.240 And also when you think about the daily programming we're 0:09:53.240 --> 0:09:55.640 going to do, we think there's an opportunity to go 0:09:55.720 --> 0:09:58.560 more in depth, to become more analytical. But but I 0:09:58.600 --> 0:10:00.800 think again it's it's also really important to note that 0:10:01.840 --> 0:10:05.320 what we are conceiving of a service that leans into 0:10:05.400 --> 0:10:07.640 the very best of what our DNA is, you're also 0:10:07.679 --> 0:10:10.360 going to see things that surprise you. You're gonna see 0:10:10.360 --> 0:10:13.360 things across topics and across different formats, and you're gonna 0:10:13.360 --> 0:10:16.840 see different kinds of talent and personalities that you you 0:10:16.840 --> 0:10:19.559 simply wouldn't see on the US network that we think 0:10:19.600 --> 0:10:22.480 there's a real audience for in CNN Plus. So you've 0:10:22.559 --> 0:10:26.000 characterized CNN plus is having a different personality. Can you 0:10:26.360 --> 0:10:30.200 define it beyond saying it's surprising? Is it is it 0:10:30.240 --> 0:10:34.520 more irreverent? Is it less traditional? Is it is it 0:10:34.600 --> 0:10:37.520 more ideological? I have to ask is it going to 0:10:37.600 --> 0:10:40.000 be something that you know well, you guys are known 0:10:40.000 --> 0:10:42.079 as the liberal network. And if you really want to 0:10:42.120 --> 0:10:46.080 go deep lib here CNN Plus. Well, I don't think 0:10:46.120 --> 0:10:48.800 anybody who is looking for deep lib would would seek 0:10:48.800 --> 0:10:51.400 out CNN. It's just not what we do. But no, 0:10:51.559 --> 0:10:53.640 it's not gonna be ideological. We're We're just not in 0:10:53.679 --> 0:10:56.080 that game. You know, We're we're not an opinion network. 0:10:56.120 --> 0:10:58.560 We're a news network. We're a news brand, So it 0:10:58.640 --> 0:11:01.920 will have news DNA for sure. You know, We're not 0:11:01.960 --> 0:11:04.000 going to try to be reverend for being you know, 0:11:04.040 --> 0:11:05.800 for a reverend sake, because I don't think that's what 0:11:05.880 --> 0:11:08.760 audiences want. I think people turn to t N CNN 0:11:09.200 --> 0:11:13.360 for trust and for credibility, for authenticity. UM. I say, 0:11:13.400 --> 0:11:16.240 the personality we describe as smart and entertaining, and the 0:11:16.280 --> 0:11:19.360 two are not mutually exclusive. I think we can provide 0:11:19.400 --> 0:11:24.439 a level of depth and intelligence and context and perspective 0:11:25.000 --> 0:11:27.920 that you would associate with CNN, and we can also 0:11:28.520 --> 0:11:30.560 we can also be entertaining. And I think there is 0:11:30.679 --> 0:11:34.880 room as you consider, um what CNN plus is, for 0:11:34.960 --> 0:11:38.040 us to be a little bit more expansive. Um. You know, 0:11:38.120 --> 0:11:40.160 as we think about you know, what is smart and 0:11:40.200 --> 0:11:45.200 what is entertaining? Well, does entertaining mean entertainment. Can I 0:11:45.280 --> 0:11:48.959 see a scripted comedy, Can I see a daily show 0:11:49.040 --> 0:11:53.160 type humor about the news? Again, I think you will 0:11:53.160 --> 0:11:56.040 see formats and topics, definitely the push the boundaries a 0:11:56.120 --> 0:11:58.800 little bit and and and I think that's okay. I 0:11:58.840 --> 0:12:01.800 think that's what audiences. But I would also describe a 0:12:01.880 --> 0:12:04.320 lot of the programming that our original films and series 0:12:04.360 --> 0:12:06.719 groups have been doing for the last seven or eight 0:12:06.760 --> 0:12:10.439 years as entertaining. I would say Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown 0:12:10.520 --> 0:12:14.120 was entertaining. I think this Stanley Tucci searching for Italy 0:12:14.200 --> 0:12:16.680 show is entertaining. And I think, you know, again, when 0:12:16.720 --> 0:12:19.040 you think about what audiences want and why they turn 0:12:19.120 --> 0:12:23.800 to CNN, UM, there's a host of really high quality, 0:12:24.559 --> 0:12:28.679 UM original nonfiction storytelling that can be really entertaining as 0:12:28.720 --> 0:12:30.800 well as you know, some of the provocative notions that 0:12:30.840 --> 0:12:34.120 you just reference. I think we're gonna have to try things. 0:12:34.160 --> 0:12:37.360 We can't be afraid to take some chances on this platform. Yeah, 0:12:38.160 --> 0:12:41.240 um from you know, what has been reported is is 0:12:41.280 --> 0:12:44.360 that you know, CNN has turned to a lot of 0:12:44.400 --> 0:12:47.800 its key talent to get their buy in, and I 0:12:47.800 --> 0:12:51.440 guess have shows on CNN plus you see Anderson Cooper 0:12:51.520 --> 0:12:53.760 on TV and maybe you get to see him in 0:12:53.800 --> 0:12:56.880 his own show on CNN plus. What is the process 0:12:56.880 --> 0:13:00.800 been in terms of convincing talent to do this as 0:13:00.800 --> 0:13:07.120 it required a lot of contractual rearranging. Uh? Yeah, Like 0:13:07.320 --> 0:13:12.839 there is wild enthusiasm for this across CNN um um. 0:13:12.880 --> 0:13:16.040 You know, as we have begun to to ramp up 0:13:16.040 --> 0:13:19.440 our plans and as we've had more conversations really across 0:13:19.440 --> 0:13:22.559 the n N from our talent, uh, to our producers, 0:13:22.920 --> 0:13:25.840 to our engineers and developers, to product managers, there is 0:13:25.920 --> 0:13:29.360 real enthusiasm for this product. And I think again you 0:13:29.400 --> 0:13:33.160 can expect the service to include you know, original programming, 0:13:33.240 --> 0:13:35.720 not not what you see from them on the US network, 0:13:35.760 --> 0:13:38.920 but from from Anderson Cooper, from Don Lemon or Jake 0:13:38.960 --> 0:13:42.480 Tapper or Poppy Harlow, you know, from Van Jones. You know, 0:13:42.520 --> 0:13:45.000 I think I think you will see a different side 0:13:45.000 --> 0:13:47.560 of them. I think you will see a connection that 0:13:47.559 --> 0:13:50.600 that these folks have with their fans, um who have 0:13:50.679 --> 0:13:55.559 turned to them, you know, for their authenticity, for their authority, 0:13:55.679 --> 0:13:57.679 and also because they're real human beings. You know, if 0:13:57.679 --> 0:14:00.480 you think about the connection that our audiences of forged 0:14:00.520 --> 0:14:04.280 asanga Gupta for example, over the course of the last year, UM, 0:14:04.320 --> 0:14:07.320 as we've lived through this global pandemic, UM people have 0:14:07.440 --> 0:14:09.400 really come to know our talent and as a result, 0:14:09.559 --> 0:14:11.920 our talent are really excited about this, and so we 0:14:11.960 --> 0:14:14.760 think CNN Plus creates a great opportunity. I should say 0:14:14.800 --> 0:14:17.840 also though, like as I mentioned, the enthusiasm cuts across 0:14:17.960 --> 0:14:22.640 the whole company UM and that's important to note too, 0:14:22.680 --> 0:14:25.640 because we're having to really um you know, build the 0:14:25.640 --> 0:14:27.960 proverbial engine of the cars. We're driving it. And so 0:14:28.080 --> 0:14:30.360 we're in the process of hiring about four hundred and 0:14:30.400 --> 0:14:34.120 fifty people UM for CNN plus over the next six 0:14:34.160 --> 0:14:37.440 to nine months. I mean, it is a massive undertaking, 0:14:37.480 --> 0:14:42.120 and that's across every discipline. So about half those roles 0:14:42.280 --> 0:14:44.800 are in the content spaces, you know, the production teams, 0:14:45.040 --> 0:14:48.320 and about half are in the engineering and product and 0:14:48.360 --> 0:14:51.360 technology and analytics and growth departments. I mean, this is 0:14:51.400 --> 0:14:54.160 a it's a big undertaking, and so our current employees 0:14:54.160 --> 0:14:56.560 are really excited and we're trying to build an all 0:14:56.600 --> 0:15:00.240 star team as we go. So is this a team 0:15:00.280 --> 0:15:03.920 of four hundred and fifty or however many going to 0:15:03.960 --> 0:15:09.640 exist completely separately from CNN operations or is there some integration. 0:15:09.760 --> 0:15:12.600 Have you guys thought that through? Well, there there are 0:15:12.600 --> 0:15:14.440 two things. I mean, one is it is going to 0:15:14.560 --> 0:15:17.520 need its own staff. You can't build a product of 0:15:17.560 --> 0:15:20.240 this size with the kind of expectations that we have 0:15:20.720 --> 0:15:22.600 and not staff it properly. So it is going to 0:15:22.680 --> 0:15:26.200 have its own separate leadership team. We hired Alex McCallum 0:15:26.280 --> 0:15:28.880 recently from The New York Times to be the general 0:15:28.920 --> 0:15:31.280 manager of CNN Plus. She's our head of product and 0:15:32.360 --> 0:15:37.120 she helped the Times build their successful subscription businesses. We've 0:15:37.160 --> 0:15:40.760 brought on Rebecca Cutler, who has had just about every 0:15:40.840 --> 0:15:43.560 job throughout our CNN programming for a while, to lead 0:15:43.560 --> 0:15:47.440 our programming and production UM. But we're also and and 0:15:47.480 --> 0:15:50.200 so they're building independent staffs. But we're also getting help 0:15:50.280 --> 0:15:53.120 from all over the organizations. So the Original Series and 0:15:53.200 --> 0:15:56.880 Films group that's produced The Bourdain's and the Two Geese 0:15:56.960 --> 0:15:59.960 and films like RBG, they're leaning in and their help 0:16:00.040 --> 0:16:03.040 being developed scores of new series for us. So we're 0:16:03.080 --> 0:16:06.360 building out that department as well. So yes, it will 0:16:06.400 --> 0:16:09.760 have a separate and discrete staff. But this is such 0:16:09.800 --> 0:16:12.800 an important effort um, so that you know, again the 0:16:12.840 --> 0:16:14.920 films in series group led by Amy and tell Us 0:16:14.960 --> 0:16:17.840 will be a big part of it, and every part 0:16:17.960 --> 0:16:22.360 of CNN frankly, from HR to legal, to finance, to 0:16:22.480 --> 0:16:26.080 our TV teams to our core digital teams. UM. For 0:16:26.120 --> 0:16:29.160 this to be successful, UM, we've got to have the 0:16:29.160 --> 0:16:32.040 support from everybody in the organization. And the good news 0:16:32.080 --> 0:16:35.880 is everybody's really enthusiastic about it. I'm also curious about 0:16:35.880 --> 0:16:39.280 the enthusiasm at the A T and T level or 0:16:39.320 --> 0:16:43.720 really the the the level of involvement. UM. For instance, 0:16:43.800 --> 0:16:48.520 Jason Kyler, CEO Warner Media, has he been involved in 0:16:48.560 --> 0:16:53.120 this process? How how into this is a T and T? Well, 0:16:53.280 --> 0:16:54.760 there are a couple of things to stand that. I mean, 0:16:54.840 --> 0:16:57.400 we've been on this journey for a while now. So 0:16:57.480 --> 0:17:01.320 for the last few years, UH, CNN has been putting 0:17:01.360 --> 0:17:03.760 the pieces together and laying the groundwork for a director 0:17:03.800 --> 0:17:07.119 consumer future. And Jeff Zooker, you know, the president of 0:17:07.160 --> 0:17:10.080 CNN Worldwide and chairman of Warner Media News and Sports. 0:17:10.160 --> 0:17:13.359 Jeff has been UM as as as much of a 0:17:13.359 --> 0:17:17.720 proponent of of this journey as anyone, and as Jason 0:17:17.760 --> 0:17:20.639 came into the company about a year ago. UM, given 0:17:20.680 --> 0:17:23.200 his background, UM, given the work he did at Hulu 0:17:23.640 --> 0:17:26.840 given his mandate for for pushing Warner Media boldly into 0:17:26.880 --> 0:17:30.439 a director consumer future. Jason has been incredibly supportive of 0:17:30.480 --> 0:17:33.040 the path that we're on, and it's been a real 0:17:33.280 --> 0:17:35.320 team effort up and down the line. And you mentioned 0:17:35.320 --> 0:17:37.760 A T and T. They are really vested in the 0:17:37.800 --> 0:17:40.480 success of this, uh, this product as well. In fact, 0:17:40.560 --> 0:17:44.600 John Stanky made comments fairly recently talking about how enthusiastic 0:17:45.000 --> 0:17:47.560 he was to John's of course, the the A T 0:17:47.640 --> 0:17:51.040 and T CEO. Um. So it has been a great 0:17:51.080 --> 0:17:54.479 partnership and there is real support for CNN plus up 0:17:54.480 --> 0:17:57.159 and down the line. But that begs a few questions, 0:17:57.280 --> 0:18:02.720 the first being why you could argue, and maybe you'll 0:18:02.800 --> 0:18:08.200 argue against me, that CNN didn't necessarily need to launch 0:18:08.560 --> 0:18:12.639 its own branded, standalone thing. It could have been embedded 0:18:12.720 --> 0:18:15.600 in HBO Max, it could have been a tab of 0:18:15.640 --> 0:18:21.160 some sort. Uh, why not consolidate efforts? So what walk 0:18:21.240 --> 0:18:23.720 me through the rationale of not doing that? Was it 0:18:23.760 --> 0:18:28.439 even discussed? Well? Sure, I mean it makes sense as 0:18:28.440 --> 0:18:33.760 a consideration when you have a brand like CNN that 0:18:33.960 --> 0:18:36.440 is truly distinct and unique, and again you think about 0:18:36.480 --> 0:18:40.480 the opportunities, there isn't another news organization on the planet 0:18:40.600 --> 0:18:43.360 that could pull off what we're trying to pull off 0:18:43.400 --> 0:18:45.520 if you practically look at the advantages that we have 0:18:45.600 --> 0:18:49.520 were global. We reached two million people across digital and 0:18:49.560 --> 0:18:53.480 linear platforms every month UM. We have a rich history 0:18:53.480 --> 0:18:57.480 and tradition and video. We have a rich archive and 0:18:57.600 --> 0:19:00.560 library of nonfiction content, and we have the product and 0:19:00.560 --> 0:19:03.040 technology chops to be able to build a world class 0:19:03.080 --> 0:19:07.200 platform and and and there isn't another organization that can 0:19:07.240 --> 0:19:10.280 do that. And so I think the way we're looking 0:19:10.320 --> 0:19:14.080 at it is we have a tremendous entertainment subscription service 0:19:14.080 --> 0:19:17.760 in HBO max UM that is growing and thriving, and 0:19:17.800 --> 0:19:21.639 that is drawing new customers every day, and that allows 0:19:21.760 --> 0:19:24.280 HBO max to do what it does best and to 0:19:24.400 --> 0:19:27.840 reach their customers with a very clear value proposition. And 0:19:27.880 --> 0:19:32.560 of alongside that, the company can also have an unparalleled 0:19:32.600 --> 0:19:36.200 global news and information service. You've got a really powerful 0:19:37.640 --> 0:19:40.719 set of products that the company can roll out. If 0:19:40.760 --> 0:19:43.320 we were a different news organization, you might go a 0:19:43.359 --> 0:19:47.560 different path because you know, other news organizations frankly just 0:19:47.600 --> 0:19:50.680 don't have the resources that we do that you need 0:19:50.760 --> 0:19:56.920 to be able to build a standalone subscription service if 0:19:56.920 --> 0:20:00.119 you're just joining us. We're talking with Andrew Morse. He 0:20:00.240 --> 0:20:03.680 is the chief Digital officer of CNN Worldwide, and we'll 0:20:03.720 --> 0:20:13.240 be back with him in a minute. We're back with 0:20:13.320 --> 0:20:16.680 Andrew Morrise, the chief Digital officer of CNN Worldwide, who's 0:20:16.720 --> 0:20:20.520 tight taking us through CNN Plus. I mean, another thing 0:20:20.560 --> 0:20:24.160 I was wondering about is, of course, there's this pending 0:20:24.240 --> 0:20:28.879 merger next year between A T and T and Discovery. UH. 0:20:29.119 --> 0:20:32.680 You could argue that there's overlap between Discoveries prowess and 0:20:32.840 --> 0:20:36.359 unscripted content and a lot of the your catalog, which 0:20:36.400 --> 0:20:40.520 is long form unscripted. So is that a consideration in 0:20:40.560 --> 0:20:44.040 this in terms of you're launching before that merger is 0:20:44.080 --> 0:20:46.359 going to happen, But in the event that it does, 0:20:46.440 --> 0:20:50.000 I would imagine the existence of Discovery could really change things. 0:20:51.480 --> 0:20:54.320 You know. I can't really comment on on that at all. 0:20:54.440 --> 0:20:56.439 What I can say is we're on the track that 0:20:56.480 --> 0:20:59.320 we're on and we're building this service, um, you know, 0:20:59.359 --> 0:21:01.240 and we'll have to wait and see, you know, what 0:21:01.400 --> 0:21:04.120 happens with the merger. But right now we're just focused 0:21:04.119 --> 0:21:07.200 on building the platform, UH and working with Warner Media 0:21:07.200 --> 0:21:09.560 and A T and T to do that. You know, 0:21:09.600 --> 0:21:13.080 you referenced that what you're launching has been in the 0:21:13.080 --> 0:21:15.560 works for a while, and you actually came on this 0:21:15.640 --> 0:21:18.919 podcast nearly two years ago and we talked about the 0:21:18.960 --> 0:21:22.560 prospect of some kind of direct to consumer play. So 0:21:22.960 --> 0:21:27.040 let's you know, the flip side is what took so long? Why? 0:21:27.119 --> 0:21:29.360 You know, why has it taken so long to do 0:21:29.480 --> 0:21:33.879 something like this? Well, because nothing like this has been done, 0:21:34.280 --> 0:21:38.399 and the path to success here just it's not a 0:21:38.480 --> 0:21:41.399 straight line, especially when you're trying something with this degree 0:21:41.400 --> 0:21:44.320 of ambition. If if it were easy, somebody would have 0:21:44.720 --> 0:21:46.639 would have done this. You know. The fact is there 0:21:46.640 --> 0:21:49.680 are three news and information services right now with over 0:21:49.720 --> 0:21:52.359 a million paid digital subscribers, The New York Times, the 0:21:52.359 --> 0:21:54.680 Washington Post, in the Wall Street Journal, and all three 0:21:54.680 --> 0:21:57.080 of them, by the way, I had pretty thriving direct 0:21:57.160 --> 0:22:01.439 to consumer businesses subscription businesses before they made their pivot 0:22:01.480 --> 0:22:04.639 to digital. UM. There isn't a service like CNN Plus. 0:22:04.760 --> 0:22:08.440 And the reality is, especially when you're talking about product development, 0:22:08.720 --> 0:22:10.639 and that's what we're talking about here, it's not just 0:22:10.680 --> 0:22:13.399 about taking content and throwing it at the wall. Um. 0:22:13.480 --> 0:22:15.400 And and that's the thing I think people who would 0:22:15.400 --> 0:22:17.640 suggest or relate to the game somehow, I don't think 0:22:17.640 --> 0:22:21.200 they understand the game that we're playing. Um, because we're 0:22:21.240 --> 0:22:23.359 gonna have world class content. We have some of the 0:22:23.359 --> 0:22:26.639 best journalists and storytellers around, and we'll continue to invest 0:22:26.680 --> 0:22:29.399 in them. But we've spent the last few years, as 0:22:29.520 --> 0:22:31.240 as we discussed, you know the last time I was 0:22:31.240 --> 0:22:33.679 on the podcast, investing in the kind of product and 0:22:33.720 --> 0:22:38.520 technology and analytics and growth marketing capabilities that you need 0:22:38.560 --> 0:22:40.959