Apple News Plus has lost a big media partner

Apple News users will be seeing one less familiar byline in their feed this week, and it is a big one.

After roughly a decade of partnership, CNN has pulled its stories from Apple’s News app, dropping one of the most recognisable news brands from both the free Apple News experience and the paid Apple News Plus tier.

For now, the break is not necessarily permanent, but it does mark a noticeable change in the app’s daily mix.

Semafor notes that CNN removed its content from Apple News over the weekend, effectively ending its existing deal with Apple. The two companies are still in talks about a possible new agreement that could bring CNN stories back in the future. But neither side has commented publicly on the negotiations. CNN had been a key Apple News launch partner back in 2015, known for producing feature style stories inside the app that blended photos, video, and animation into more immersive pieces.

The timing lines up with a broader shift in CNN’s own digital strategy. The network recently introduced a paid digital subscription and added a paywall to parts of its website. It now charges $29.99 per year for an articles-only plan, or $69.99 per year for an All Access package that includes streaming, with a discounted first year available.

Stepping back from Apple News while this new model settles in could give CNN more control over how its content is packaged and monetised.

Apple, meanwhile, has been growing its premium news bundle in other directions. Apple News remains free at the basic level, while Apple News Plus costs £12.99/$12.99 per month and is also folded into the Apple One Premier bundle alongside Apple TV Plus, Apple Music and more.

The service recently added stories from The Washington Post to sit alongside The Wall Street Journal and other big names, which helps soften the blow of losing CNN but does not erase the gap entirely.

For readers, the change means CNN pieces will no longer appear inside Apple News’ curated sections or search results, at least for now. If you want to follow the network’s coverage, you will need to go directly to CNN’s own apps or website or subscribe to its new digital offerings. Whether CNN returns to Apple News will depend on how those ongoing talks shake out and how both sides decide to balance reach, control, and subscription revenue.