CNN is set to offer a streaming-only Election Night special on its new 'All Access' subscription service, targeting younger, digital audiences. The live-cast will feature moderator Harry Enten alongside provocative radio host Charlamagne Tha God, conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro, and technology journalist Kara Swisher, among others. Unlike traditional CNN coverage, the group will sit on couches and discuss voting returns over food and drink.
The program, airing from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Eastern time, will be exclusive to CNN's 'All Access' platform, accessible via CNN.com, mobile apps, and connected TV devices. Abigail Crutchfield, CNN senior vice president of Washington and special-events programming, said the goal is to provide 'a unique and more casual experience' with 'unfiltered access to a raw, smart, engaging conversation.'
This move reflects CNN's broader strategy under CEO Mark Thompson to attract cord-cutting viewers. The network recently launched the 'All Access' subscription tier, which offers on-demand news reports alongside the linear feed. Similar experiments have been tried by other outlets, such as Amazon's Prime Video, which hosted an Election Night hangout with Brian Williams and various journalists in 2024.
The shift comes as digital news consumption grows. A Pew Research survey in September found that 56% of U.S. adults often get news via digital devices, compared with 32% who use TV. CNN's streaming special aims to capture this audience with a more informal format, akin to sports 'alterna-casts' like ESPN's ManningCast or NBC's 'Gold Zone' during the Paris Olympics.
