CNN All Access’s focus on news limits its catalog. Granted, “the news” can take many forms, and the app delves deeply into its niche. For example, any All Access subscriber can watch a CNN feed for familiar 24/7 cable news. If you connect the service to your cable subscription, however, you can unlock additional CNN channels to stream live, such as HLN.
The rest of the library includes quick-hit daily news stories, lengthy films pulled from the CNN archives, and hosted TV shows. With CNN All Access, I watched the ongoing analysis of the New York City mayoral election. Award-winning documentaries cover pivotal historical topics, such as presidencies and tumultuous years, as well as cultural icons like Martha Stewart and Serena Williams. CNN also has a stable of beloved hosts, including Anderson Cooper and the late Anthony Bourdain, and their shows are available on All Access.
(Credit: CNN/PCMag)
Still, with only about 100 films and shows alongside news clips, CNN All Access feels like a robust channel rather than a fully independent streaming subscription. What’s worse, to push users to the new paid subscription, CNN live streams are being removed from HBO Max, where they nicely complemented the rest of the well-rounded entertainment library. You can now only watch select on-demand CNN shows on HBO Max. Reality show trash is allowed to live on both HBO Max and Discovery+, so the removal here feels disappointing and ultimately weakens all the platforms across the board.
Get Our Best Stories!
All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts
Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag’s latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.
Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag’s latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
