CNN Launching Pay iPhone App; Live Streaming For $2 Plus Ads
October 1st, 2009 by Daniel Kagan
The fact that CNN are charging for news via a mobile device is a fascinating development in the pay for content debate – I would of expected Rupert Murdoch to make this type of move. However, Time Warner have taken the plunge and have unveiled their new iPhone News Application at a $2.00 price tag plus advertising. They have already secured Lexus and Chevron as major banner sponsors. The App itself looks pretty hot with a ’standard’ blend of constantly updated headlines, sharing, alerts—plus CNN iReport uploads/management and live streaming. There is also on-demand access to video clips etc – Screenshots and demo here. What I love most about this app is the iReports. Essentially iReports is a function that allows for user generated content to be viewed and, with the iPhone 3GS, recorded, then uploaded directly to the users phone. In America, this isn’t a first; CBS News Mobile has a dedicated, free user-gen report app called CBS EyeMobile but its certainly a sign of things to come. What better way of spreading the word, especially news, via first hand encounters by the user. I really wish Australian news broadcasters got their act together and started to engage in this type of dialogue with technology. To charge for the application is a brave and correct move by CNN. A once off fee of $2.00 is minimal as compared to buying a newspaper and/or purchasing a pay TV subscription. People need to be conditioned to want to pay for good, timely and relevant content, in order to facilitate good journalistic practices in the field of photo, video, editorial and opinion-based journalism. In addition, the incorporation of technology and the uses of technology need to be rewarded – I haven’t downloaded (US only) the application but by all accounts, CNN are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the mobile space and I think this needs to be financially rewarded… What do you think? 
Comments (1)
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further reviews here: http://mashable.com/2009/09/28/cnn-iphone-app/
Comment by patrick — October 5, 2009 @ 8:15 am