# CNN: you should come up with a better way to say this **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 5, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-you-should-come-up-with-a-better-way-to-say-this/311204 "2005-07-05T22:33:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-you-should-come-up-with-a-better-way-to-say-this/311204/1 "2005-07-05T22:33:03Z")
In the last couple of weeks, CNN has changed its video policy from a subscription service to free. While I applaud this, I think they need to change the way they let you know there’s a video clip to go with their stories. Here’s a couple from their current home page (with apologies to the victims and their families): Bodies of 2 SEALs found | Watch Free Two die trying to rescue boy from riptide | Watch Free How about a tiny TV icon? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-you-should-come-up-with-a-better-way-to-say-this/311204/2 "2005-07-05T22:54:47Z")
I’m just glad that there are no watches involved. ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-you-should-come-up-with-a-better-way-to-say-this/311204/3 "2005-07-06T04:38:05Z")
This has been annoying me too. In part, it feels like a confession as in “we were stupid enough to try to charge people for what everyone else is giving away for free and now we are catching on” Hopefully it ends soon. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-you-should-come-up-with-a-better-way-to-say-this/311204/4 "2005-07-06T05:13:46Z")
I’m dreading the next report of a shark attack: Man loses arm above the wrist | Watch free ---
**Author:** ![EleventyOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@EleventyOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EleventyOne)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-you-should-come-up-with-a-better-way-to-say-this/311204/5 "2005-07-06T05:31:32Z")
Could be worse. Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes Begin Honeymoon | Watch Free Wow, he really will do anything for attention. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-you-should-come-up-with-a-better-way-to-say-this/311204/6 "2005-07-06T08:41:57Z")
“Watch free” on the .com doesn’t bother me as much as the constant pimping on the cable feed. For those first few days you’d think they were giving out gold bullion, the way their talking heads were required to effuse about it. “Golly gee! Streaming video – on the internet. Supported entirely by advertising! I don’t have to pay a dime! Did I hear that right, Carol?” “That’s right Wolf, Ted Turner’s lost his mind. Free! Absolutely free!” Yeah, it’s a nice revenue stream for CNN, and it’s great content for the site. Everybody wins. Now drop the carnival huckster routine and read the goddamned news, monkeys. A discreet “video” icon beside the story would be a little less jarring, though. > [@](#): > > Idaho girl says suspect tied up family | Watch Free What the fuck are they _thinking?_