Cnn's Airport Rights: What's The Deal?

CNN Airport was an American out-of-home television network that was available in 58 airports across the United States. It was owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN. The network paid local airport authorities for the exclusive rights to broadcast its programming on monitors throughout their terminals. This sparked some controversy, with an Iowa congressman seeking to ban news networks from retaining exclusive rights to be displayed at airports, declaring that CNN had an airport monopoly. The network ceased operations on March 31, 2021, with CNN's president Jeff Zucker citing the ubiquity of streaming video on mobile devices as a reason for the network's discontinuation.

CNN Airport was a 24-hour spin-off of CNN, shown in 58 airports in the US

CNN Airport was a 24-hour spin-off of the Cable News Network (CNN) shown in 58 airports across the United States. It was launched in 1992 as the CNN Airport Network, a television network designed specifically for airports. The service was available in 2,400+ gates and reached roughly 323 million travellers per year.

CNN Airport's programming consisted of a mix of live CNN and HLN news programming, as well as lifestyle, entertainment, business, and local airport content. The network was careful to exclude material that was sexually explicit or graphically violent, as well as any news related to aviation incidents or crashes. This was due to its prominence in public waiting areas and to avoid causing distress to passengers.

The network was owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN. It was originally test-launched in 1991 at three major airports: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Hartsfield-Atlanta International Airport, and O'Hare International Airport.

CNN Airport was unique in that it paid local airport authorities for the exclusive rights to run its programming on monitors throughout the terminals. This business model led to accusations of creating an "airport monopoly" by an Iowa congressman, Steve King, in 2018. King proposed an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to prohibit a single broadcaster from holding a monopoly over television programming in airport terminals.

Despite its popularity, CNN's president, Jeff Zucker, announced that CNN Airport would cease operations on March 31, 2021, citing changes in consumer behaviour, such as the widespread use of streaming video on mobile devices, as reasons for the network's discontinuation.

The network paid local authorities for exclusive rights to run its programming

The CNN Airport Network, a spin-off of the Cable News Network (CNN), was available in 58 airports across the United States. The network paid local airport authorities for exclusive rights to broadcast its programming on monitors throughout the terminals. This included 2,400+ gates, reaching an estimated 323 million travellers per year.

CNN Airport's content was carefully curated to be more family-friendly than regular CNN, as it was often displayed in public waiting areas. This meant that the network avoided broadcasting material that was sexually explicit, graphically violent, or related to aviation incidents and crashes. The network also had stricter content standards than regular CNN, with larger on-screen graphics to allow for readability at a distance.

The programming consisted of a mix of live news, sports, lifestyle, travel, and local airport inserts. It also included weather, business, and travel segments designed specifically for air travellers. The network was able to break into programming for airport-wide advisory messages if needed.

The exclusivity of CNN Airport's rights to broadcast in airports led to some criticism and attempts to diversify airport viewing options. In 2018, Republican Iowa Congressman Steve King proposed an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to prohibit a single broadcaster from holding a monopoly over television programming in airport terminals. King's proposal was unsuccessful, and CNN Airport continued its operations until March 31, 2021, when it ceased operations due to changing consumer behaviour and the ubiquity of streaming video on mobile devices.

Content was family-friendly, with no sexual, violent, or aviation incident content

CNN Airport was a television network designed specifically for airports. It was available in 58 airports across the United States and was shown at over 2,400 gates, reaching approximately 323 million travellers per year. The network was family-friendly and did not include any sexual, violent, or aviation incident content.

The content mix of CNN Airport was 48% lifestyle and entertainment, 17% business headlines, and 10% local inserts from airports as needed. The network also provided emergency messaging when required. CNN Airport was careful to avoid any material that could be deemed sexually explicit or graphically violent. Due to its presence in public waiting areas, the network also refrained from broadcasting stories involving commercial aviation incidents and crashes. Instead, it overlaid automated weather conditions or other filler" content during such stories.

The absence of sexual, violent, or aviation incident content ensured that CNN Airport maintained a family-friendly environment. This was particularly important given that the network was often playing in public areas where travellers of all ages could view the content. By excluding sensitive or explicit material, CNN Airport provided a more comfortable and inclusive viewing experience for individuals and families passing through the airport.

The decision to omit this type of content was likely influenced by the unique context of airport travellers. Air travel can be stressful, and providing family-friendly content helped create a more relaxed atmosphere. Additionally, travellers may be more vulnerable or sensitive due to the various pressures associated with air travel, so avoiding potentially upsetting or disturbing content was a considerate choice.

The absence of sexual, violent, or aviation incident content was a defining feature of CNN Airport's programming. It set the network apart from regular CNN and other news channels. By prioritising family-friendliness, CNN Airport offered a unique viewing experience that was well-suited to the diverse audience found in airports. This approach contributed to the network's popularity and reach, making it a familiar presence for travellers across the United States.

The network ceased operations in 2021 due to the rise of streaming on mobile devices

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 news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content to airports across the United States. The network was available in 58 airports, reaching around 323 million travellers per year.

CNN Airport ceased operations on March 31, 2021, due to several factors, including the rise of streaming on mobile devices, which made the network's purpose outdated. With travellers able to easily access news and entertainment on their personal devices, the need for a dedicated airport television network diminished.

The network was careful to curate its content for an airport audience. It avoided stories involving commercial aviation incidents and crashes and excluded sexually explicit or graphically violent material. The network also provided larger-than-usual on-screen graphics to ensure readability from a distance.

The end of CNN Airport marked a shift in consumer behaviour, with travellers increasingly relying on their mobile devices for entertainment and information while on the go. This shift made dedicated airport television networks less relevant, as travellers could now choose their own preferred content, whether it was the latest news, sports, or entertainment.

While CNN Airport may have ceased operations, its impact on airport entertainment and information delivery is undeniable. It set a standard for curating content suitable for a diverse airport audience and paved the way for future innovations in reaching travellers through more personalised digital channels.

Some critics called for CNN to be replaced with less stressful or biased content

The Cable News Network (CNN) was previously available in 58 airports across the United States, with CNN Airport paying local airport authorities for the exclusive rights to broadcast its programming on monitors throughout their terminals. However, some critics have called for CNN to be replaced with less stressful or biased content.

CNN Airport was a spin-off of CNN, providing a mix of content, including live news, sports, lifestyle, travel, and business headlines, as well as local airport inserts. While it aimed to be more family-friendly than regular CNN by avoiding explicit or violent content, critics argued that the news today is stressful, and no one makes it more stressful than CNN.

One critic, Jason O. Gilbert, a writer in Brooklyn, described the stress of air travel, from high prices to technical difficulties, and argued that CNN compounds this stress by broadcasting anxiety-inducing news. Gilbert suggested that CNN be replaced with more relaxing or entertaining content, such as cooking shows, sitcoms, sports, or ASMR videos.

In 2018, Republican Iowa Congressman Steve King accused CNN Airport of having a monopoly on partisan grounds and proposed an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to prohibit a single broadcaster from holding a monopoly over television programming in airport terminals. King argued that travellers should have greater broadcast choices and that competition would lead to a better product.

While CNN Airport ceased operations on March 31, 2021, the debate around the stress and bias of news content in airports remains relevant. Critics continue to call for a diverse range of programming to cater to the varying preferences and political leanings of travellers.

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