COLOGNE \u2013\u00a0In the midst of \u201cone of the biggest stories of our lives, from a news perspective,\u201d many\u00a0viewers who don\u2019t access CNN in the traditional way are watching CNNgo via connected televisions, with dwell and session times of \u201cmore than an hour and a half,\u201d\u00a0says Chris Berend, SVP, Global Video.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe audiences are coming to us not just on the desktop home page, which is such a powerful force for us. Our mobile numbers are going through the roof and, frankly, OTT has begun to really, really take hold,\u201d Berend explains in this interview with Beet.TV at the annual DMEXCO<\/a> conference.<\/p>\n \u201cThat for us is proof that the brand resonates as much as it ever has. It\u2019s also an indicator of where a lot of consumption and behavior is headed.\u201d<\/p>\n CNN sees news consumption as \u201cless fragmented and more of a giant fire hose,\u201d Berend<\/a> adds.<\/p>\n The global news provider walks a daily tightrope that is the oft-vitriolic political discourse some advertisers don\u2019t want to be associated with, according to Berend. Among advertisers, there\u2019s a higher sensitivity right now to salaciousness and vitriol prevalent within the political realm in the United States.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery advertiser is different and within categories, you have a lot of different concerns and sensitivities,\u201d he says. \u201cBut we\u2019ve also been very smart and we understand what they\u2019re concerned about and so we put, whether it\u2019s technical things or thematic things or editorial pieces in place, to make sure that they do have a safe environment to get their message across.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, CNN has been growing a lower-profile asset in Great Big Story, launched nearly three years ago. Great Big Story is an independent media company owned by CNN that\u2019s executed more than 50 brand partnerships this year while opening new doors for the news network.<\/p>\n