Cnn's Airport Airtime: Paid Or Free?

The CNN Airport Network was a 24-hour television network that broadcast news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content to 58 airports in the United States. The network was available in 2,400 gates and had a purported 329 million annual viewers. CNN Airport was a spin-off of CNN and was shown exclusively in airports. The network paid local airport authorities for the rights to run its programming on monitors throughout the terminals. The content was curated to be more family-friendly than regular CNN, with stricter content standards that excluded stories involving aviation incidents and crashes, sexual content, and graphic violence. The network ceased operations on March 31, 2021, due to changing consumer behaviour and the decrease in airport traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

CNN Airport Network was available in 58 airports across the US

The CNN Airport Network was available in 58 airports across the US. The network was an American out-of-home television network owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN. It broadcast a mix of news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content to millions of viewers across the US. The network was first test-launched in 1991 at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Hartsfield-Atlanta International Airport, and O'Hare International Airport. It officially debuted in 1992 as the CNN Airport Network.

CNN Airport was available in 2,400 gates across 58 US airports, with a claimed 329 million annual viewers. The network paid local airport authorities for the exclusive rights to broadcast its content on monitors throughout the terminals. This arrangement did not include airport lounges. The network featured a dedicated staff and specialised content, including weather, sports, and travel segments.

The CNN Airport Network had stricter content standards than regular CNN due to its prominence in public waiting areas. For example, stories involving commercial aviation incidents, sexual content, and graphic violence were not aired on the network and were overlaid with automated weather conditions. The network's graphics were also designed with larger fonts to allow for readability at a distance.

In 2018, the network faced accusations of having a monopoly by Republican Iowa congressman Steve King, who proposed an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to prohibit a single broadcaster from controlling airport television programming. However, the amendment was unsuccessful.

On 12 January 2021, CNN's president Jeff Zucker announced that the CNN Airport Network would cease operations on 31 March 2021, citing changes in consumer behaviour and the decline in airport traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic as reasons for the decision.

The network was curated and had a dedicated staff

The CNN Airport Network was a curated network that was available in 58 airports across the United States. It was a spin-off of CNN, headquartered in Atlanta, and had a dedicated staff of around-the-clock technical and editorial staff, including three of its own reporters. The network was available 24/7 at 2,400 gates and had a purported 329 million annual viewers.

CNN Airport had a unique content mix, with 48% lifestyle and entertainment, 16-19% live CNN, 17% business headlines, and 19-24% sports. It also included 10% local inserts from airports and, in the case of an emergency, could provide emergency messaging.

The network had stricter content standards than regular CNN due to its presence in public waiting areas. For instance, stories involving commercial aviation incidents and crashes were not shown, and neither were stories involving sexual content and graphic violence. The network's on-screen graphics were also designed with larger-than-standard fonts to allow for readability at a distance.

The CNN Airport Network ceased operations on March 31, 2021, due to changes in consumer behaviour and the decrease in airport traffic caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

CNN Airport was a mix of news, sports, lifestyle, travel, and business content

CNN Airport was a unique television network, separate from the regular CNN channel, which was available in 58 airports across the United States. The network was curated specifically for air travellers and was a mix of news, sports, lifestyle, travel, and business content.

CNN Airport's 24-hour schedule consisted of roughly 16% live news, 19% live sports, 24% lifestyle, 24% travel, and 10% for local inserts from airports. The network also aired weather, business, and travel segments designed specifically for air travellers.

The content standards for CNN Airport were stricter than those of the regular CNN channel. Stories involving commercial aviation incidents, sexual content, and graphic violence were not aired on the network. The network's on-screen graphics were also designed to be larger than industry standards to allow for better readability at a distance.

CNN Airport was launched in 1992 and was available in airports such as Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Hartsfield-Atlanta International Airport, and O'Hare International Airport. The network ceased operations on March 31, 2021, due to changes in consumer behaviour and the decrease in airport traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The network ceased operations on March 31, 2021, due to changing media consumption habits

CNN Airport was an American out-of-home television network owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN. The service broadcast a mix of general news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content to airports across the United States. The network was available in 58 airports across the country, reaching approximately 323 million travellers annually.

CNN Airport's programming was carefully curated to be suitable for public waiting areas. It featured stricter content standards than regular CNN, excluding stories involving commercial aviation incidents, sexual content, and graphic violence. The network also featured larger-than-standard on-screen graphics to enhance readability at a distance.

On January 12, 2021, CNN's president Jeff Zucker announced that the network would cease operations on March 31, 2021, citing changing media consumption habits as a key factor in the decision. The rise of personal mobile devices and streaming video made the network's purpose outdated, and the economics of the dedicated network no longer made sense. Additionally, the coronavirus pandemic had significantly reduced the number of people in airports.

The end of CNN Airport marked a shift in how passengers consume content while travelling. With smartphones, tablets, and Wi-Fi widely available, travellers now have greater control over their media choices. The network's closure sparked discussions about the role of television in public spaces and the potential for alternative content or increased quiet areas in airports.

CNN Airport was more family-friendly than regular CNN

CNN Airport was a television network that was available in 58 airports in the United States. It was a spin-off of CNN and was shown on monitors throughout airport terminals. The network was curated and had stricter content standards than regular CNN due to its prominence in public waiting areas. It did not air stories involving commercial aviation incidents and crashes, sexual content, or graphic violence. Instead, it focused on lifestyle, entertainment, business headlines, sports, and travel content.

The absence of stories involving aviation incidents and crashes was particularly notable, as CNN Airport wanted to avoid causing distress or anxiety to travellers. Additionally, the network's sports coverage, including the NFL and the Super Bowl, was a popular feature that appealed to a broad range of viewers. The network also aired weather, business, and travel segments specifically designed for air travellers, further contributing to its family-friendly nature.

The strict content standards of CNN Airport also extended to its on-screen graphics, which were designed to be larger than industry standards to allow for better readability at a distance. This consideration ensured that travellers could easily view and read the content from various distances and angles within the terminal.

In conclusion, CNN Airport's focus on lifestyle, entertainment, sports, and travel, along with its exclusion of sensitive or explicit content, created a more family-friendly viewing experience than regular CNN. The network's content curation demonstrated a conscious effort to cater to a diverse airport audience, ensuring that families and other sensitive viewers could comfortably watch the programming without exposure to inappropriate or distressing content.

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