CNN, Variety expand partnership for entertainment programming

CNN and Variety are expanding their relationship through a long-term partnership covering entertainment programming, live events and industry interviews.

The companies announced the agreement July 23, 2026, saying they will jointly develop, produce and distribute content examining the people, events and trends shaping film, television and theater.

Planned programming includes red-carpet coverage of major entertainment events, interviews with actors and other industry figures, and discussions about the business and creative sides of entertainment. Additional projects are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The arrangement will also give CNN and Variety additional advertising and sponsorship inventory across their combined programming and audiences.

Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals and creative development for CNN Worldwide, said the agreement would help CNN connect subscribers with artists and cultural conversations beyond the network’s traditional news programming.

“This partnership allows us to expand how we serve CNN audiences, bringing them closer to the conversations and the artists defining entertainment today,” said Entelis in a join statement. “Together with Variety, we’re building on a model that delivers dynamic and high-impact programming, along with the kind of cultural moments that resonate far beyond the screen, for our subscribers.

Ramin Setoodeh, co-president and co-editor-in-chief of Variety, said the companies plan to expand their long-form work together during awards season, including coverage surrounding the Emmys, Golden Globes and Academy Awards.

“Through this new collaboration, we will be producing definitive, conversation-leading coverage. From the Emmys to the Golden Globes to the Oscars, CNN subscribers and Variety readers will have a front-row seats for what promises to be a thrilling awards season,” said Setoodeh.

Advertisement

The broader deal follows an initial collaboration that brought Variety’s “Actors on Actors” franchise to CNN’s streaming service in December 2025.

The CNN edition of “Actors on Actors” was nominated for outstanding arts and popular culture program at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. The original Variety and PBS version received a separate nomination in the same category.

Other joint projects have included “CNN & Variety Red Carpet Live” ahead of the 98th Academy Awards and “A CNN & Variety Town Hall Event: Timothée Chalamet and Matthew McConaughey.”

CNN has attempted similar content partnerships in the past, including when it co-branded “CNN Newsstand” with Entertainment Weekly while both outlets were owned by Time Warner. Prior to that, CNN produced its own entertainment news program, “Showbiz Today,” which spurred the spinoff “Showbiz Tonight,” which ended its run on HLN in 2014.