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Not as a regular channel in the current U.S. Samsung TV Plus lineup. Samsung’s U.S. channel list includes free news services such as CBS News 24/7, ABC News Live and NBC News NOW, but does not list the CNN network. A compatible Samsung Smart TV can still run the CNN app; live CNN normally requires authentication with a participating TV provider whose package includes CNN. CNN also says its standalone All Access content is currently unavailable on Samsung TVs.
Samsung TV Plus and CNN are different things
“Samsung Plus” usually means Samsung TV Plus, Samsung’s free, ad-supported streaming-TV service. It is built into supported Samsung devices, requires an internet connection and does not require a separate subscription or credit card for its own channels. Samsung says availability begins with many 2016-and-newer Smart TVs and projectors in select areas.
The CNN app is a separate application. Finding it in the Samsung app store does not mean CNN is included in TV Plus or that installing the app gives you free, unrestricted access to the live network.
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The current U.S. Samsung TV Plus channel-list PDF does not list a regular CNN channel. Samsung’s U.S. marketing page has at times shown CNN in a promotional carousel, so the most reliable checks are your television’s on-device guide and the current regional channel list—not a promotional image.
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Channel catalogs are location- and device-specific, and Samsung warns that channels can be added, moved or removed without notice. Older material from other countries may mention CNN International; that does not establish current U.S. carriage of CNN. CNN, CNN International and HLN are separate feeds that can have different distribution rights.
What you can watch for free on TV Plus
Depending on your region and model, the guide may include:
- CBS News 24/7
- ABC News Live
- NBC News NOW
- Additional local, business, weather and specialty news channels
These are useful live-news alternatives, but they are not the CNN network and do not carry CNN’s full schedule, anchors or original programs.
Check your own Samsung TV
- Open the Samsung TV Plus app from the TV’s app bar. On some models it starts automatically.
- Open the channel guide by pressing the channel control inward on a Smart Remote, or press GUIDE on a standard remote.
- Search or browse for “CNN.” If it is absent, consult the current U.S. list and confirm that the TV is online.
To manage the TV Plus guide, open TV Plus, press the channel control inward, go to the far left, choose Edit, select channels, choose Delete and save. New channels can appear later, so edits may need to be repeated. On supported models, autorun is under Settings > General > Smart Features > Autorun Samsung TV Plus.
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How to install CNN on a compatible Samsung TV
CNN documents this path:
- Press Home on the Samsung remote.
- Choose Apps and search for CNN.
- Select the CNN app and choose Download or Install.
- Open it and follow the sign-in or provider-verification prompts.
If CNN does not appear in the Samsung app store, CNN says the television model may not be supported. Check the internet connection and available software updates, then search again. If the model remains unsupported, AirPlay or an external player such as Roku or Apple TV may be an option.
Watching live CNN with a cable, satellite or live-TV provider
If your pay-TV package includes CNN, use the app’s provider authentication:
- Open Network TV > Verify TV Provider, or go to Settings > TV Provider > Verify TV Provider (labels vary by app version).
- Scan the QR code shown on the TV, or use the activation page displayed by CNN.
- Select your provider and enter its account credentials.
- Open the live-TV section and choose an available CNN feed.
Authentication can unlock CNN, CNN International and/or HLN only when your specific package includes the relevant channel. CNN notes that not every provider supports connection through its app. If your provider is missing from the list, try the provider’s own Samsung app, a set-top box or another supported streaming platform.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWithout a connected provider, the app may offer clips or a limited preview before requesting sign-in. Installing the app alone is therefore not a free pass to the complete live network.
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Does CNN All Access work on Samsung TVs?
Currently, no. CNN’s support documentation says All Access content is unavailable on Samsung TVs (and VIZIO Smart TVs). The subscription can be usable on supported phones, computers and other TV platforms, but CNN’s device restriction matters if a Samsung television is your only viewing screen.
CNN support pages show different annual All Access prices—one lists $41.99 for the first year and another lists $69.99—alongside a $6.99 monthly figure. Offers, billing channels and introductory rates can change, so verify the price at CNN checkout. Regardless of the amount, confirm device compatibility before subscribing for Samsung-TV viewing.
CNN also says its Prime Video Channels version does not include live CNN television channels, so it is not a substitute for a live-network feed.
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Ways to get CNN when TV Plus does not have it
| Option | What it provides | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Existing cable, satellite or live-TV provider | Live CNN through provider authentication or the provider’s app | Your package must include CNN, and the provider must support the app or device |
| Live-TV streaming service | A cable-replacement package that may carry CNN | Lineups, prices and regional availability change; verify CNN specifically before signing up |
| CNN All Access | CNN digital content on supported devices | Currently unavailable for viewing on Samsung TVs; does not automatically solve live-TV access |
| External streaming player | May support CNN apps when the built-in Samsung app does not | Hardware costs extra and still requires eligible credentials or subscription |
| Samsung TV Plus news channels | Free live news | They are alternatives, not CNN programming |
Services such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV and Fubo may change their CNN carriage. Check each provider’s current lineup for the regular CNN channel rather than assuming that CNN International, HLN or a CNN-branded free channel is equivalent.
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- ENDLESS FREE CONTENT: Watch 2,700+ free streaming options, including 750+ subscription-free channels on Samsung TV Plus. Enjoy news, sports, movies, kids' shows and reality TV — all without a subscription. Discover endless entertainment with new content added regularly, tailored to your mood and interests.*
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Troubleshooting common problems
“Samsung’s website shows CNN, but my guide does not.”
The image may be promotional, outdated or from another region. Check the on-device guide and the current U.S. PDF. Samsung’s own channel availability can change.
“I installed CNN, but it asks me to sign in.”
That is expected for live network programming. Connect an eligible TV-provider account, or use a supported paid service that explicitly carries CNN.
“My provider is not listed.”
CNN does not support every provider connection. Use the provider’s own app or receiver, and ask the provider whether CNN access is supported on Samsung TVs.
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This matches CNN’s current device policy. Use a supported phone, computer or non-Samsung TV platform, or consider a provider-based live-TV option.
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“CNN is missing from the app store.”
Confirm internet access, install available Samsung software updates and search again. If the app still does not appear, the model may be unsupported; AirPlay or an external streaming player can provide another route.
Bottom line
For U.S. viewers, treat the answer as no for Samsung TV Plus, but potentially yes for a compatible Samsung TV. TV Plus does not currently confirm a regular CNN channel. The CNN app can work when the model supports it, but live access generally depends on a qualifying TV-provider login. CNN’s standalone All Access service is currently not available on Samsung TVs, so check the exact device and channel requirements before paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CNN free on Samsung TV Plus?
No regular CNN channel is listed in the current U.S. TV Plus lineup. TV Plus is free, but its free news channels are not CNN.
Can I watch CNN without cable on a Samsung TV?
Possibly through a current live-TV streaming service that explicitly includes CNN, subject to that service’s present lineup and Samsung-app support.
Is CNN International the same as CNN?
No. CNN, CNN International and HLN are separate feeds, and a provider may carry one without carrying the others.
Does every Samsung TV support the CNN app?
No. CNN says the model may be unsupported if the app is absent from the Samsung app store.
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