CNN+ comes to Roku

By MixDex Article may include affiliate links

Over a week after its big launch, CNN+ is set to debut on Roku Monday, April 11, 2022, making it part of the top connected TV platform.

CNN+ launched March 29, 2022 with support for some connected TV platforms but was missing Roku, Google TV, Android TV, Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox and Samsung and LG’s smart TV systems.

That appeared to be a glaring oversight — given that Roku has over 60 million active users and is often bundled with other smart TVs and devices. Some questioned why CNN hadn’t worked out deals with these platforms before launching — especially given that it’s been working on the service for over a year.

For Roku, CNN+ will be offered through an updated version of the core CNN app and include the ability to sign up from within the app and link to a pay-TV provider account to enable TV Everywhere features including enable streams of the linear CNN and HLN channels.

The approach of funneling CNN+ signups through the primary CNN app is similar to what the network did with its launch partners. While this does mean that users can access the streamer without adding another app, it also means that there’s no clear way to determine the number of signups CNN+ is generating other than by comparing estimated differences in app downloads between two or more time periods.

CNN has been mum on how many signups its streamer has registered.

Updates to other providers are still in the works, CNN says.

CNN+ is a commercial free offering that requires a paid subscription. It normally costs $5.99 a month but is being offer at 50% off during its first four weeks, bringing the cost to $2.99 a month. These “Deal of a Lifetime” subscribers are also guaranteed a 50% discount on any future price hikes.

Alternatively, users can sign up for a free trial but this voids the discounted pricing option.