CNN+

CNN+ was a Spanish-language, 24-hour television news channel launched in 1999 through a joint venture between Sogecable, a subsidiary of Spanish media group Prisa, and Turner Broadcasting System, the Time Warner unit associated with CNN. The service adapted the CNN news-channel model for the Spanish market, offering continuous coverage of national and international news rather than operating as a general entertainment network. Its brand identity was closely connected to CNN while its programming and market focus were Spanish. The channel competed in an increasingly crowded Spanish television-news environment. By 2008, CNN+ faced competition from Intereconomía TV and TVE 24h, among other 24-hour information services, and it was no longer the audience leader in the general-information segment. Its ratings remained modest, with reported peaks of approximately 0.6 percent. These audience limitations contributed to continuing financial pressure and weakened the commercial case for maintaining a dedicated channel. A major structural change occurred on 18 December 2009, when Sogecable's channels were merged into Gestevisión Telecinco, the company that already controlled Spain's Telecinco network. This broader reorganization altered the corporate context in which CNN+ operated. The channel continued broadcasting during the subsequent period, but management ultimately announced that it would close because of low ratings and financial losses. CNN+ ended its transmission at 11:59 p.m. Spanish time on 28 December 2010, although the closure had been announced for the end of that month. Its digital-terrestrial television capacity was subsequently used by Gran Hermano 24 horas, a channel devoted to continuous coverage of the Spanish version of Big Brother, and later by Divinity from 1 March 2011. CNN+'s relatively short life illustrates the difficulty of sustaining a specialized 24-hour news channel in a competitive national television market when audience scale and financial performance are insufficient.

CNN+ entered the Spanish television market in 1999 as a dedicated 24-hour news channel. It was created as a joint venture between Sogecable, a subsidiary of Prisa, and Turner Broadcasting System, the Time Warner division that owned CNN. The arrangement combined a Spanish media operator's domestic distribution and production context with the international CNN news brand. CNN+ therefore occupied a distinct position: it was not simply a retransmission of the American CNN service, but a Spanish-market channel using the continuous-news format associated with CNN. Its core proposition was ongoing coverage of current affairs, including Spanish and international news. The channel used the slogan "Está pasando, lo estás viendo"—translated as "It's happening, you're watching"—to express its real-time information positioning. CNN+ operated within Spain's evolving multichannel television environment, where 24-hour information services competed for a relatively limited audience and advertising base. By 2008, CNN+ was no longer the audience leader among general-information channels. Intereconomía TV and TVE 24h were among the competing services in the sector. CNN+'s reported audience peak was approximately 0.6 percent, a level that made it difficult to support the costs of continuous news production and transmission. The channel's weak ratings became central to the later assessment of its financial viability. The corporate structure around CNN+ changed in December 2009. On 18 December, Sogecable's channels were merged into Gestevisión Telecinco, which already controlled Telecinco. This reorganization placed CNN+ within a changed Spanish television ownership landscape and preceded the channel's eventual shutdown. Management announced that CNN+ would close because of low ratings and financial losses. The service continued until 11:59 p.m. on 28 December 2010, when it went off the air. Although the channel's closure was associated with the end of December, the actual final transmission occurred two days earlier than 31 December. Its digital terrestrial television slot was taken by Gran Hermano 24 horas, dedicated to continuous coverage of Spain's Gran Hermano reality franchise, and later by Divinity beginning on 1 March 2011. CNN+'s history is consequently defined by its attempt to establish a continuous Spanish news brand, its difficulty achieving sufficient audience scale, and its termination after eleven years of operation.

1. 2011Divinity takes over the former channel position

   From 1 March, Divinity uses the digital terrestrial television position that had previously carried CNN+ and Gran Hermano 24 horas.

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2. 2010CNN+ ends broadcasting

   The channel stops transmitting at 11:59 p.m. Spanish time on 28 December after management cites low ratings and financial losses.

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3. 2009Sogecable channels merged into Gestevisión Telecinco

   The channels of Sogecable are merged into Gestevisión Telecinco on 18 December, changing the corporate context around CNN+.

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4. 2008Audience position weakens amid competition

   CNN+ faces increased competition from services including Intereconomía TV and TVE 24h and is no longer the audience leader among general-information channels.

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5. 1999CNN+ launches in Spain

   CNN+ begins operating as a Spanish 24-hour television news channel through a joint venture between Sogecable and Turner Broadcasting System.

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A CNN-associated Spanish 24-hour news service positioned around continuous coverage of current events for viewers in Spain.

• CNN+24-hour television news channel1999

  CNN+ was a Spanish television news service providing continuous coverage of current events. Launched in 1999 through the Sogecable–Turner Broadcasting System joint venture, it combined a Spanish editorial and broadcasting operation with the CNN-associated continuous-news format. Its programming focused on general information and national and international news for the Spanish market. The channel remained on air until 28 December 2010, when it was closed after low audience performance and financial losses.

• 1999Está pasando, lo estás viendo

  Spain

  CNN+ used the Spanish slogan "Está pasando, lo estás viendo" to communicate its real-time news proposition and emphasize the immediacy of its continuous coverage.

  Outcome. The slogan became the channel's stated brand line during its operating period.

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• 2010Management decides to close CNN+Strategy

  The channel faced low ratings, reported peaks of approximately 0.6 percent, growing competition, and financial losses.

  What changed. Management announced the termination of the service, which ended its broadcast on 28 December 2010.

  Aftermath. Gran Hermano 24 horas replaced CNN+ on digital terrestrial television, followed by Divinity from 1 March 2011.

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• 2009Sogecable channels transferred into Gestevisión TelecincoM&A

  Sogecable, the Prisa subsidiary involved in CNN+, underwent a corporate reorganization in which its channels were merged into Gestevisión Telecinco.

  What changed. The channel portfolio was combined with the company already controlling Telecinco on 18 December 2009.

  Aftermath. The reorganization changed CNN+'s ownership environment before the channel was eventually closed.

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• 2010CNN+ closed after low ratings and financial losses

  Management announced the closure of CNN+ after citing low audience performance and financial losses. The channel stopped broadcasting at 11:59 p.m. Spanish time on 28 December 2010.

  Bankruptcy
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• 2010CNN+ replaced on digital terrestrial television

  After CNN+ left the air, its digital terrestrial television position was used by Gran Hermano 24 horas, a continuous reality-television channel. Divinity later occupied the position from 1 March 2011.

  Other
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• 2009Sogecable channels reorganized within Gestevisión Telecinco

  On 18 December 2009, the channels of Sogecable, the Prisa subsidiary involved in CNN+, were merged into Gestevisión Telecinco, which already controlled Telecinco. The transaction changed the corporate setting surrounding CNN+.

  M&A
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1. CNN+ (TV network)