CNN and Snapchat have have a close relationship since the latter company launched its Discover platform back in 2015, but one aspect of their partnership will not continue in 2018. As shared by the Wall Street Journal, CNN’s daily Snapchat series The Update has been canceled, ending a four-month run.
The Update condensed each day’s top news stories into a short series of Snaps designed for mobile consumption. While the show gained viewers, it reportedly struggled to make money. “Snap and CNN have built a great partnership over the years and our teams have enormous admiration for each other,” reads a joint statement from the two companies. “We plan to keep working together and mutually decided to hit pause as we explore the best opportunities for doing that. Our relationship will very much be continuing.”
The cancellation of The Update comes at a time when Snap’s brand is struggling, beset by stiff competition and a number of failed ventures. In light of those issues, the company recently announced a plan to redesign its app and place a larger emphasis on a recommendation algorithm. As users get acclimated to that change, the next step in CNN’s Snap-sized approach could become clear.
