CNN has rolled out a new video player this morning with the ability for authenticated TV viewers to watch the cable news network and HLN live online and on CNN’s iPad and iPhone apps. Here’s a screenshot of Anderson Cooper airing on an iPad:
Before watching, users have to confirm they’re subscribers of a participating cable, IPTV or satellite service. Powered by the TV Anywhere initiative, CNN is working with Comcast (Xfinity), Cox, Dish, Verizon, AT&T and SuddenLink — but not Time Warner Cable, Cablevision and DirecTV, to name a few. CNN is the first TV news organization to stream its air live 24 hours a day.
“The 10 million users who have downloaded CNN’s mobile apps and the tens of millions of people who get the latest news and information from CNN.com every day will soon be able to watch CNN TV on every device they have,” said KC Estenson, general manager of CNN Digital.
At the same time, CNN.com rolled out a new, HD-capable video player. As you play a video, resolution may increase over time as the player “optimizes” the stream. The quality is crisp.
And while you’re browsing video, the video you’re currently watching continues playing in the upper-left of the screen. Clips are shareable to Facebook, Twitter and email, but there’s no commenting or integrated social discussion, which would be interesting to add to CNN’s live broadcast.