CNN Forms Exclusive Data Partnership with Kalshi

News broadcaster CNN has entered into an exclusive partnership with prediction market operator Kalshi, which will provide the network with access to real-time probability data to be used across all its television, digital, and social platforms, according to Axios. 

Kalshi co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Tarek Mansour said the partnership was a sign of how newsrooms were shifting their future-focused reporting, suggesting that while news coverage focuses on past or ongoing events, prediction markets provide updated probabilities that can help audiences interpret how political, cultural, or weather events could develop. 

Under the agreement, CNN will get access to Kalshi’s data through an automatically updating API.

The network plans to use the data on-air and blend it into reporting across its digital channels. CNN Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten will reportedly lead the integration, and other CNN journalists will be able to access the data for fact-checking purposes. 

According to the terms of the deal, CNN will not be required to pay to access Kalshi’s feed; however, the agreement is exclusive, meaning CNN won’t be able to partner with other prediction market apps.

Sam Felix, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Business Development at CNN, emphasized that the deal would bring innovation to news coverage. 

"CNN is renowned for accurate, fact-based journalism and analysis that helps audiences understand what's happening. By partnering with Kalshi to showcase prediction market data in our programming, CNN journalists will have a fresh, data-based angle from which to explore and better understand the world around us,” Felix said.

The deal comes as other news operators have also been signing with prediction market firms. Yahoo Finance has partnered with Polymarket, while both Sports Illustrated and Time have used data from Galactic, a rival to Polymarket and Kalshi. 

Record trading volumes 

Emphasizing the rapid growth in the prediction market sector, both Kalshi and Polymarket recorded their strongest trading months to date in November. 

Combined revenue neared $10 billion, fueled by heightened public interest, a flurry of media deals, and a series of high-profile economic and political events. 

Reports indicate that Kalshi hit a new monthly record of $5.8 billion in November trading volume, up 32% from October’s $4.4 billion. Polymarket also hit a new record, reaching $3.74 billion, a 23.8% increase over the previous month. The two platforms have a clear majority of global prediction market activity in a fast-consolidating duopoly.

The prediction market mechanism has drawn increased attention from both institutional investors and media companies, and the November surge extends a breakout year for both firms. 

Kalshi’s valuation doubled within weeks following a $1 billion fundraising round. At the same time, Polymarket, which is now free to operate in the US after getting the regulatory green light, has struck deals with several partners, including Yahoo Finance, UFC, and Google Finance.