CNN is close to dropping its subscription to the Associated Press, people familiar with the decision tell TVNewser.
A CNN spokesperson said that no decision has been made.
The move, if it happens, will mean that CNN no longer subscribes to either of the major wire services.
The network stopped subscribing to news reports, photos and video from Reuters in 2007, and has been testing out periods without using AP content since November, 2009.
CNN is looking to expand its own in-house wire service in 2010 and 2011. The expansion is part of CNN’s “content ownership” strategy, which executives at the network view as a major potential revenue driver over the next few years.
In a chart released by the company last month, the wire service and other content licensing still represented a very small chunk in the overall revenue pie.
Dropping Reuters and the AP provides an excellent platform to showcase the kind of content the network is looking to sell through its wire service. It also sends a message to potential wire customers (newspapers, local television stations, etc) that it can provide all of the news, photos and video they need.
Some divisions of CNN, such as CNN.com and CNN Radio, have been operating without AP content since early 2009.