CNN brings back free access to streaming video

The Washington Post reports that CNN is pulling streaming video out from behind its paid subscription wall. As of last Friday, the video clip service was sponsored by Xerox, Chase and General Motors.

CNN offered free streaming video from its launch in 1995 until March 2002, when it withdrew the free service and started charging $4.95 a month for access. Now, CNN has brought video back out into the open because more people have high-speed Internet access and because it is much cheaper now to provide streaming video, according to CNN News Services executive vice president Susan Grant.

There will be a new Web video subscription service for the fall. CNN did not say how the paid service would differ from the new free service, according to the Post.