CNN has been making a concerted effort to widen its digital portfolio. It launched its CNN Weather app in May; the CNN All Access subscription debuted in October 2025; and now, it’s celebrating the first year of its free, ad-supported streaming channel, CNN Headlines.
The FAST channel soft-launched in July 2025, with live and original programming, including two hours of a new, live original show, CNN Headline Express, at 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. ET. The addition of the 5 p.m. newscast in August 2025 marked the full launch of the streaming channel.
Thanks to its mix of quick headlines, buzzy interviews, and high-level storytelling, CNN Headlines has been an under-the-radar success story at the network in its first year.
Since January, CNN Headlines has almost doubled its audience. In the just-concluded quarter, it grew by +192% vs. a year ago and +51% for unique viewers.*
Linear CNN viewers can also sample CNN Headlines, as CNN Headline Express airs at 5 a.m. ET, the slot previously held by Early Start. The streaming channel has also secured new partners this year, including Roku, Amazon, and Vizio, with more to come.
Overseeing this entire operation is Melody Taylor, senior director of U.S. programming at CNN and executive producer of CNN Headlines. The Atlanta-based executive has been with the network since 2012, played a central role in major programming and platform initiatives, and has held leadership roles across CNN, HLN, and CNN International.
“At a time when there’s a lot of ambiguity when it comes to journalism, CNN investing in something like this was so exciting,” Taylor said about the launch of CNN Headlines.
TVNewser recently spoke to Taylor, who discussed CNN Headlines’ success and why the comparison to it being a digital version of the linear channel HLN does not exactly match.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How would you describe CNN Headlines to those not familiar with it?
Taylor: CNN Headlines is our live network that we have for free, ad-supported television, FAST. The biggest thing is we’re just doing a lot of live news, fun stories, quick stories, casual stories, just a whole different product; it’s pretty fun.
Is CNN Headlines the digital reincarnation of HLN?
I spent a lot of time over at HLN because I was on Robin Meade‘s show, Morning Express. I’m going to say that, in some ways, it is very similar, but Morning Express and HLN had their own space and time. The fact that it was a linear product meant it had its own boundaries, its own fan base. While there are some things that we have taken on, that Express kind of feeling—trying to do as many stories as we can, trying to make sure that folks are entertained as well—we’re taking some pieces of that. But what I love about it is, because of how FAST works, people are choosing this show in a different way.
