November 1st, 2016

New CNN Skill Available on Amazon Echo

First publisher to deliver topic-based TV coverage in near-real time on Amazon Echo, Amazon Tap, and Echo Dot

Amazon Echo owners can now access the latest news, election coverage, and top stories from CNN’s on-air coverage minutes after broadcast.

CNN’s new “skill” (Amazon’s word for an Alexa voice app) improves listener experiences by delivering audio news straight from CNN’s world-class anchors and reporters around the globe. Content from the likes of Anderson Cooper, Wolf Blitzer, and John King are available as soon as 5 minutes after broadcast. The skill helps users quickly discover the latest stories CNN is covering and dive into any one of them for CNN’s full broadcast audio coverage. Users can request the latest news anytime or explore top stories CNN is covering.

“We are aggressive in the voice service space because we believe that Amazon Echo and other services like it can be a powerful way to deliver real-time, personal news to our audience,” said Alex Wellen, CNN’s chief product officer. “Our Amazon skill is at an early stage, but this product is a glimpse into how CNN is exploring fresh ways to reach new audiences across all types of platforms.”

To get started with the new CNN skill, Alexa device owners should enable the “CNN” skill in the Alexa mobile app or by saying “Alexa enable CNN skill.” Once enabled, users can receive the latest top news stories using the Amazon Echo product by simply saying, “Alexa, Open CNN” or “Alexa, Ask CNN for the Latest.” If users are interested in receiving the latest news on the election, simply say, “Alexa, Ask CNN for the Latest on Elections.”

The new skill compliments CNN’s previously launched experiences on Alexa, which include Alexa’s built-in Flash Briefing and CNN audio through the TuneIn audio service.