Here is a quick tip send in by Alex who is a regular reader and commenter here at Ghacks. If you want to watch CNN live and all other methods and applications do not seem to work right now you might want to try the following easy method providing that you have access to a computer with Windows Media Player installed.
Might be just what you need to watch the current US elections live but it is of course working all the time not only during the elections.
To start open Windows Media Player. Press the keyboard combination [CTRL U] to open a small window where an url of a media stream can be entered. Paste the following url in the form exactly as it is shown below:
rtsp://cnn-cnnlive-1-primary.wm.llnwd.net/cnn_cnnlive_1_primary/
Hit ok to load the stream. It usually takes a few seconds before the stream becomes active due to the buffering process. After that everything should run smooth and fine.

The screenshot above was taken from the live CNN stream. It works pretty well. Any tips to get this running on different operating systems or media players? Let us know!
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34 Responses to “Watch CNN Live”
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[...] web site in a Flash player, but it won’t let you watch full-screen. For Windows users, gHacks has published the direct URL for the stream that you can access via Windows Media Player. But users on any platform can use free, open-source [...]
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[...] Click Here to get the URL [...]
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[...] Watch CNN Live Just saw this hot on some tech blogs. If you don’t have cable or dish it’s sort of hard to know what’s happening around the world on a local news station. But now there is a way to watch CNN live on your computer without paying a cent. I’m sure that 90% of you know that CNN is one of the best news providers. So let’s get to the part where you watch CNN. Windows * Open Windows Media Player * Hit Ctrl+U (Small Box Appears) * Paste this "rtsp://cnn-cnnlive-1-primary.wm.llnwd.net /cnn_cnnlive_1_primary/" without the quotes. * Now you can watch CNN Live! Linux and OS X * Download VLC Player-Here is the link * Select File > Open Network. Select HTTP/FTP/MMS/RTSP from the list on the left. * Paste this "rtsp://cnn-cnnlive-1-primary.wm.llnwd.net /cnn_cnnlive_1_primary/" without the quotes. * Now you can watch CNN Live! Windows (VLC Player) If you don’t like Windows Media Player here is a way to watch CNN on VLC. * Download VLC Player-Here is the link * Open Network Stream> Select the Network Tab> Select HTTP/HTTPS/FTP/MMS. * Paste this "rtsp://cnn-cnnlive-1-primary.wm.llnwd.net /cnn_cnnlive_1_primary/" without the quotes. * Now you can watch CNN Live! Source: Thetechlunch and Ghacks [...]
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[...] web site in a Flash player, but it won’t let you watch full-screen. For Windows users, gHacks has published the direct URL for the stream that you can access via Windows Media Player. But users on any platform can use free, open-source [...]
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[...] Ghack published direct link and instructions how to watch it with WMP, but since no everyone have Windows here is the hack how to do it woth VLC media player. [...]
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[...] web site in a Flash player, but it won’t let you watch full-screen. For Windows users, gHacks has published the direct URL for the stream that you can access via Windows Media Player. But users on any platform can use free, open-source [...]
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[...] Although most people would like to see the presidential election converage, you can see CNN live feed even after the elections. Thanks Martin. [...]
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[...] Free Stuff Friday and Challenge + Prilosec? + Bruce Springsteen single + Free dog bone? + Free Kids meal at Dennys for up to 3 kids in a household + Free Frozen juice bar samples + Calendar of free chocolate at Godiva stores + Use VLC to watch CNN live, full screen, no ads [...]
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[...] web site in a Flash player, but it won’t let you watch full-screen. For Windows users, gHacks has published the direct URL for the stream that you can access via Windows Media Player. But users on any platform can use free, open-source [...]


linux
vlc–>file–>open file
paste in “open:”:
rtsp://cnn-cnnlive-1-primary.wm.llnwd.net/cnn_cnnlive_1_primary/
ok
done.
Hi Martin,
I just had this played on my VLC 0.9.4 portable.
I have klite mega codecs installed too if that matters. i do have WMP 11 installed but it does work well on my limited account which I use whenever I go online.
Sadly, though, since I am limited to only about 250 Kbps on my internet it is agonizingly sooo slow. Video and sounds works despite.
Charlie
Sorry correction on my previous post. WMP DOES NOT work well on my limited account.
Charlie
For a Canadian student stuck at University on a late night doing some projects, this is a great resource.
Thank you SO much!
Great for us in Sweden! :)
Do you have a feed for CNBC? Thanks.
It’s not working for me… I just get an error. Perhaps it won’t work in Canada.
I get an error too… Also in Canada.
Works great for me, I’m in Canada, using VLC. File, Open Stream, Paste into the rtsp field…
Anyone knows how to get the URL for other streaming media to open it in “my” player instead of the network window?
Thanks
You can also use the totem media player (default player in the Gnome Desktop). Just change rttp to http.
Lifehacker’s commenter Tyson0016 pointed out http://www.cnn.com/video/live/cnnlive_1.asx which was much more reliable for me.
it works great with windows media player, but with
VLC it stops after 2 minutes.
@ Charlie, the flux is around 360 Kbps.
by the way, tt’s “The day” to watch CNN
thx for this tip and
congratz Obama !! here in france we are being happy, Obama has won by 86% cons 6% for McCain.
http://www.francesoir.fr/societe/2008/11/04/tendance-86-des-francais-preferent-barack-obama.html
Bruno
I dont get any sound? weird?? do you? (using WMP11)
Sound works here. Awesome post.
With this link i get CNN International, but i’m looking for CNN US (btw i’m located in Europe).
Please advise!
The link above appears to be CNN International. I noticed when I view the US version in the flash player it was stream 4. So I took the link above and replaced all the “1″s with “4″s and it worked.
So you should be able to get the US Feed by going to.
rtsp://cnn-cnnlive-4-primary.wm.llnwd.net/cnn_cnnlive_4_primary/
I’m guessing you can play with the numbers to get other feeds.
thanks nwilliam3, unfortunatelly i get ‘CNN Weather’ with feed nr. 4 .. no luck either with feeds 2 or 3
so still looking 4 tips to get the CNN US stream!
(again, i’m located in Europe)
rtsp://cnn-cnnlive-1-primary.wm.llnwd.net/cnn_cnnlive_1_primary/
This does not work anymore. ANy new link?
That link is not working for me either.
This link:
http://www.cnn.com/video/live/cnnlive_1.asx
still works for me.
Nothing works anymore…
this is garbage anyway. it’s not a feed of the cnn cable channel we get in the states. it’s just something they sloppily threw together for their website. it’s not worth anyone’s time. of course if you just want to get the news straight up and you don’t care how or from where then anything is fine, i suppose, but if you thought that this is what americans see on tv when they watch cnn you’re wrong.
CNN is no live at present, and i go to cnn.com, there is the same
anyway, you could watch FOX , and the website is
http://en.udonno.com/live-tv/english-tv/770-fox-news.html
enjoy it
DOES NOT WORK!