HLN stands for Headline News. It remains a U.S. pay-TV channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and associated with CNN, but it is no longer primarily the rolling-news service many viewers remember: its schedule is largely true-crime programming, with limited CNN news simulcasts.
What does HLN stand for?
HLN began as CNN2 and was soon branded Headline News. Over the years it also used the names CNN Headline News and HLN: Headline News before adopting the shorter HLN brand in December 2008. People may still call the channel “Headline News” or “CNN Headline News,” but HLN is its familiar current name. The network’s history traces those changes.
Is HLN still a TV channel?
Yes. HLN still exists as a linear television channel in the United States. CNN lists it as a live channel that eligible TV-provider customers may be able to watch through CNN’s website or apps. Availability depends on the country, provider, package and platform; a listing in one provider’s lineup does not mean it is available everywhere. CNN’s live-channel access guidance explains the provider and subscription conditions.
HLN is generally distributed through pay-TV providers and some live-TV streaming services, not as a free over-the-air broadcast station. Check your provider’s lineup to confirm both carriage and package eligibility.
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What does HLN show now?
HLN’s schedule is now heavily focused on true crime, including repeats and documentary-style crime programming. It also carries limited CNN news content, particularly morning simulcasts, and may schedule other Warner Bros. Television library programs or marathons. The exact lineup changes, so check a current program guide rather than assuming a particular show airs at a particular time.
That mix makes HLN a different proposition from the continuous original news service it once was. It still carries some news, but it is no longer primarily a 24-hour original headline-news operation.
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What happened to HLN’s original news format?
HLN launched on January 1, 1982, as CNN2. Its original format was built around a continuously repeating half-hour cycle of short news segments, so viewers could tune in at almost any point and catch up quickly. The network later moved toward personality-led shows and programming focused on social media, crime, legal stories, regional news and entertainment.
Warner Bros. Discovery ended HLN’s original live-news programming on December 6, 2022. That change ended the network’s original news operation; it did not mean the linear channel itself disappeared. The distinction helps explain why older descriptions still call HLN a headline-news network even though its present schedule has a different emphasis.
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Who owns HLN?
HLN is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and is associated with CNN Worldwide. It is not independently owned by CNN. Following the 2022 WarnerMedia–Discovery merger, HLN became a sister channel to Investigation Discovery, another Warner Bros. Discovery network. CNN’s corporate fact sheet describes its corporate context.
Is HLN the same as CNN?
No. These are distinct services, with different programming and distribution. Having access to one does not guarantee access to another; channel packages and streaming authentication are set by providers.
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| Service | What it is |
|---|---|
| CNN | The flagship U.S. cable news network, with extensive live news and analysis. |
| HLN | A separate Warner Bros. Discovery channel associated with CNN, now centered largely on true crime with limited CNN news simulcast content. |
| CNN International | CNN’s international news network. |
| CNN en Español | A Spanish-language CNN service. |
| CNN Headlines | A separate domestic free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel, not another name for HLN. |
| Investigation Discovery | A separate Warner Bros. Discovery true-crime network. |
Is HLN the same as CNN Headlines?
No. HLN is the legacy linear channel formerly known as Headline News. CNN Headlines is a separate domestic FAST channel: a free, ad-supported streaming service with its own curated news feed. CNN announced the channel in July 2025 and later announced a refreshed schedule; neither announcement made it a replacement or a new name for HLN. See CNN’s CNN Headlines announcement and schedule announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can you watch HLN?
- Check your TV package. Search your cable, satellite or live-TV streaming provider’s current lineup to see whether HLN is included in your plan.
- Use the provider’s guide or streaming app. If your package includes HLN, use the provider’s channel guide or its TV Everywhere service where available.
- Try CNN’s website or app. Choose Watch or Network TV, then select HLN if it appears among the channels available to you.
- Authenticate if prompted. Sign in with your TV-provider credentials. CNN notes that not all providers support app authentication and that the package must include the relevant channel. Its provider connection guidance describes the login process.
A CNN subscription and TV-provider authentication are not necessarily interchangeable. CNN’s support information distinguishes All Access features from live-channel access, which can depend on the subscription, platform and provider relationship. Review CNN’s live-channel information and subscription and pay-TV guidance before subscribing if your main goal is to watch HLN.
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What channel number is HLN?
There is no single national channel number. Placement varies by provider, market, package and whether the listing is for HD. Search your provider’s current online lineup or on-screen guide for both “HLN” and “Headline News,” and confirm the channel is included in your package. For scale only, an Xfinity lineup document effective May 1, 2025, listed HLN in several positions, including HD listings on channels 648 and 1112 and another package-specific listing on channel 45. Those are examples from that document, not current nationwide channel numbers. View the Xfinity lineup document.
Is HLN free?
The traditional HLN television channel is generally a pay-TV service. Free CNN clips or free ad-supported streaming programming do not establish free access to HLN’s linear feed. CNN says live HLN access through its website or app may require an eligible TV-provider login or an applicable CNN subscription; the access route and included channels depend on the provider and subscription. CNN Headlines is a separate FAST service, not free HLN.
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