CNN launches CNN Weather app
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Screenshots of CNN Weather; Photo courtesy of CNN
CNN on Tuesday launched its new weather app in the U.S., marking its first standalone lifestyle product since management overhauled digital strategy last year.
Why it matters: CNN's ability to successfully build audiences across its lifestyle focused products, like CNN Weather, will be a major factor in determining how fast it can transition to becoming a digital-first news organization.
- "We are creating this portfolio of lifestyle products to help our audience navigate a complex world," said Ben French, senior vice president of new business at CNN.
- "CNN Weather will not only prepare people each morning for the day ahead and keep them safe and informed during severe weather events, it will also help our audience appreciate and understand the natural weather phenomena around them."
Zoom in: The app will initially be available for free to iOS users in the U.S., with plans to expand later. Eventually, Axios has reported, CNN may introduce a paywall.
- The new app combines coverage of real-time weather events alongside climate expertise and analysis.
- It also includes local forecasts and weather data, as well as minute-by-minute coverage of weather events as they unfold.
- That content will sit alongside broader features about the climate and natural world meant to provide context for CNN's weather coverage.
- The app is being built in partnership with Amazon's AWS, which has signed on as a launch partner.
Zoom out: CNN's global resources combined with investments in climate and weather reporters position it to build new editorial products to serve the standalone app.
- Currently, Fox News is the only other major cable news network that has a standalone weather product, which it launched five years ago as a free, ad-supported streamer.
- News networks are investing more in weather and climate coverage as natural disasters become more frequent, putting added pressure on incumbents such as The Weather Channel and AccuWeather.
The big picture: CNN Weather debuts as CNN looks to reimagine its suite of digital products for hyper-loyal fans.
- Last year, it introduced an all-access tier, three years after the chaotic collapse of CNN+.
- Unlike CNN+, the all-access service includes more of CNN's core cable product and less bespoke programming.
What's next: CNN Weather is the first of many lifestyle and subscription products that CNN plans to experiment with as it looks to find its future beyond cable.
Disclosure: The author is a paid contributor for CNN.
