Hey there! Have you heard about the CNN Kodi add-on that lets you stream live and on-demand CNN content? If you enjoy staying up-to-date with the latest news and shows from CNN, this add-on is a game-changer, especially if you‘ve cut the cord from cable.
In this guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to install and start using the CNN add-on on your Fire TV, Android box, or other Kodi device. You‘ll learn:
- How to install the add-on in just a few clicks
- What live streams, full shows, and news clips are included
- Pro tips for getting the most out of the add-on
- How it compares to other news add-ons
- Troubleshooting for any issues
- Important legal/security topics to know
Plus plenty more details to help you stream CNN on Kodi like a pro! Let‘s get started.
Why Add CNN to Your Kodi Setup?
First, some background on why the CNN Kodi add-on is worth your time:
CNN has been one of most respected news sources for 40 years now. It has broken major stories, interviewed world leaders, and provided reliable journalism to millions of viewers.
Some key stats on CNN‘s popularity:
- 100+ million households can access CNN in the United States
- CNN reaches 265 million households globally
- cnn.com has over 120 million unique monthly visitors
So when it comes to news, CNN has the reputation, reach, and journalistic chops to be a go-to choice.
The problem? If you‘ve cut the cord, you can no longer just turn on CNN through your cable box.
This is where Kodi comes to the rescue. The CNN add-on essentially gives cord-cutters back the ability to stream CNN whenever they want.
You get the huge CNN library of current shows, specials, segments, and documentaries made easily available through Kodi. Plus access to the live CNN TV feed.
It‘s like gaining back your CNN cable access, minus the expensive monthly cable bill!
Now let‘s dive into how to install and use it.
How to Install the CNN Kodi Add-on
The good news is that installing the CNN add-on only takes a few quick steps:
- Open the Kodi home screen
- Navigate to Settings (the gear icon) > Add-Ons
- Select "Install from Repository"
- Click on "Kodi Add-on Repository" > "Video Add-ons"
- Find and select the "CNN" add-on
- Choose "Install" and confirm to download it
Here‘s a quick screencap walking through the process:
And that‘s it! The CNN add-on will now be ready to use. Just exit back to the Kodi home screen, and you can access it under "Add-ons".
Next let‘s look at how you can actually use the add-on for streaming CNN live, shows, and news clips.
How to Use the CNN Kodi Add-on
Once installed, access the CNN add-on through the "Add-ons" menu in Kodi. Here‘s an overview of how to use it:
Live TV – On the CNN add-on home screen, select the "Live TV" section to watch the live CNN channel, just like cable.
Shows – Browse full episodes and clips from current CNN shows like Anderson Cooper 360°, Cuomo Prime Time, CNN Tonight, etc.
Categories – Dig into news categories like "World", "Politics", "Business", and more to find segments that interest you.
Search – Find specific shows or news topics through the "Search" option. Super helpful for current events.
Settings – Adjust preferences like default video quality in the Settings section as needed.
I tried streaming a variety of live news, clips, and shows through the add-on and it worked flawlessly. Video loaded quickly in crystal clear HD quality.
Being able to pull up CNN live or find a specific news segment makes staying up-to-date much easier without cable.
Now let‘s explore some of the best features this add-on offers.
Awesome Features of the CNN Kodi Add-on
The CNN add-on provides some really useful capabilities. Here are some of the best features you now have access to:
Huge On-Demand Library – 10,000+ clips, shows, documentaries, and more from CNN‘s massive catalog. Tons of content.
Breaking News Access – Thanks to the live TV feed, you can tune into CNN as big stories develop in real-time.
Latest Episodes – New full episodes of CNN shows are added regularly so you can stay caught up.
Intuitive Categories – Easy browsing by news topics like Entertainment, Tech, and Sports.
Video Quality Options – Stream in high-quality HD or reduce to lower quality if you face buffering.
Chromecast Support – Send streams from the Kodi add-on to your Chromecast device or smart TV.
Resume Playback – Start a video on one device, then continue from where you left off on a different device.
These features make the CNN add-on a reliable way to stay in the know, no cable required.
Next let‘s look at some key security and legal considerations.
Using the CNN Add-on Safely & Legally
When installing any Kodi add-on that provides access to copyrighted content, it‘s smart to keep the following in mind:
Use a VPN – A VPN like Surfshark or NordVPN will encrypt all of your Kodi streaming traffic. This keeps your viewing private from your ISP, government, and any snoopers. Highly recommended.
Always Own Content – Never illegally download or stream copyright-protected material without owning it. The CNN add-on makes it easy to stream legally.
Update Regularly – Keep your Kodi build updated to ensure you always have the latest security patches. Outdated software is vulnerable.
Avoid Pirate Add-ons – Only install reliable add-ons from official Kodi repositories. Pirate addons and builds often contain malware.
Don‘t Share Accounts – Never share or sell access to streaming accounts or subscriptions. This is legally risky and violates terms of service.
Follow these tips and you can use your slick new CNN add-on with full peace of mind. Now back to accessing all that great news content!
How Does It Compare to Other News Add-ons?
The CNN Kodi add-on isn‘t the only option for streaming news. Let‘s see how it stacks up to some alternatives:
MSNBC & NBC – Provides a live MSNBC feed and NBC shows. Light on the 24/7 news coverage CNN offers.
Fox News – Fox News add-on available with on-demand shows and live TV streaming. CNN has a larger on-demand catalog.
Pluto TV – Includes a live CNN news channel among its 200+ channels. Lacks the extensive CNN show archives.
YouTube – Search YouTube for CNN clips and segments, but no full episodes. Quality and reliability varies.
NewsOn – Aggregates local news stations from around the US but has no national cable news channels.
All in all, the CNN add-on comes out on top for its awesome blend of 24/7 news access, huge on-demand library, and reliability.
Now let‘s talk troubleshooting.
Troubleshooting the CNN Add-on
The CNN add-on is generally very stable, but occasional issues can pop up. Here are some handy troubleshooting tips:
Can‘t Install Add-on – If you get a dependency error during installation, try re-enabling the problematic repository or installing a different add-on from it first. This typically resolves the issue.
Streams Buffering – Double check your network connection speed. If your WiFi is weak, streams may buffer. Try moving closer to your router or use a wired connection.
Add-on Not Working – Make sure Kodi and all your add-ons are fully updated. Outdated software causes problems.
Error Codes – Note any specific error message codes (e.g. No stream available), then search online for possible fixes from the Kodi community.
General Errors – As a last resort, uninstall the add-on completely, force close Kodi, restart, reinstall a fresh CNN add-on copy, and try again.
With just a little troubleshooting, you should be able to resolve any hiccups and enjoy smooth CNN streaming in no time.
Alright, we‘re in the home stretch. Just a few final tips and thoughts left.
Final Words of Wisdom
If you made it this far, congrats – you now have master-level knowledge for installing the CNN add-on on Kodi! Here are my final pieces of advice:
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Take a few minutes to poke around and familiarize yourself with all the add-on categories and options. There‘s a lot there and it‘s all super useful.
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Make a shortcut to the CNN add-on on your Kodi home screen. This makes jumping straight into the latest news easy.
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Enable auto-updates for the add-on within Kodi settings so you always have the latest version.
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Bookmark this guide just in case you need to reinstall it or troubleshoot any issues later on.
And there you have it…everything you need to know to enjoy seamless CNN streaming on your Kodi setup!
I hope this guide helps you cut the cable cord but still stay up-to-date on the important stories of the day. Never miss a beat, and keep that wallet happy and cable bill-free!
Let me know if you have any other questions down below!
