Jazmin Li
CNN Airport was an American out-of-home television network that was available in 58 airports across the United States. CNN paid local airport authorities for the exclusive rights to broadcast on monitors throughout the terminals. The network featured a mix of news, sports, weather, business, travel, and entertainment content, with a focus on stories suitable for a public setting. This included excluding coverage of plane crashes and graphic content, presenting a curated version of the CNN channel specifically for airports.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Service | CNN Airport |
| Owner | AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN |
| Content | General news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content |
| Percentage of Live News | 16% |
| Percentage of Live Sports | 19% |
| Percentage of Lifestyle Content | 24% |
| Percentage of Travel Content | 24% |
| Local Inserts from Airports | 10% |
| Number of Airports Served | 58 |
| Programming | News programming from CNN and HLN, aired on a 10-second delay |
| Content Standards | Stricter than regular CNN; excluded stories involving aviation incidents, crashes, sexual content, and graphic violence |
| Sports Coverage | Turner Sports properties, NFL, and the Super Bowl |
| Commercial Breaks | Interstitials from Turner and Time Warner properties |
| Ability to Break into Programming | Yes, for airport-wide advisory messages |
| Monopoly Concerns | Yes, raised by Republican Iowa congressman Steve King in 2018 |
| Discontinuation Date | March 31, 2021 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- CNN Airport was a special version of CNN that excluded stories about plane crashes
- CNN Airport was available in 58 airports across the United States
- CNN Airport was broadcast 24/7, with around-the-clock technical and editorial staffing
- CNN Airport paid local airport authorities for the rights to run its programming on monitors
- CNN Airport's schedule included news, sports, lifestyle, travel, and local airport inserts
CNN Airport was a special version of CNN that excluded stories about plane crashes
CNN Airport was a special version of CNN that was broadcast in 58 airports across the United States. CNN paid local airport authorities for the exclusive rights to run its programming on monitors throughout their terminals. The content of CNN Airport was different from regular CNN in that it excluded stories about plane crashes. This was due to the network's prominence in public waiting areas, which meant it had stricter content standards than regular CNN. Instead, CNN Airport focused on general news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content. It also aired sports coverage and aired commercials from other Turner and Time Warner properties.
CNN Airport was launched on January 20, 1992, as the CNN Airport Network, following a test launch in June and July 1991 at three international airports. The network operated 24/7, with around-the-clock technical and editorial staffing, including three of its own reporters. Its schedule included roughly 16% live news, 19% live sports, 24% lifestyle, 24% travel, and 10% local inserts from airports. CNN Airport discontinued operations on March 31, 2021.
While CNN Airport did not include stories about plane crashes, it is important to note that CNN itself does cover plane crashes and aviation incidents. For example, CNN has reported on various plane crashes and incidents, such as the Delta plane crash in Canada, the American Airlines flight that crashed into the Potomac River, and the collision between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. These incidents were covered by CNN after they occurred, and the network provided updates and details about the investigations that followed.
Spending the Night at Gatwick Airport: Is it Possible?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
CNN Airport was available in 58 airports across the United States
CNN Airport was an American out-of-home television network that was available in 58 airports across the United States. The service broadcast a mix of news, sports, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content to millions of passengers across the nation. The network was owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN.
CNN Airport's programming was carefully curated to exclude certain sensitive topics, such as commercial aviation incidents and crashes, sexual content, and graphic violence. This special version of CNN was designed specifically for air travellers, ensuring that they received relevant and appropriate content during their time in the airport. The network was available 24/7 at gates throughout the participating airports, providing continuous access to information and entertainment for travellers awaiting their flights.
The presence of CNN Airport in these airports was the result of exclusive agreements between CNN and local airport authorities. CNN paid for the rights to run its programming on monitors throughout the terminals, ensuring that travellers had access to news and other programming while on the go. This arrangement offered a unique opportunity for CNN to reach a captive audience and provided airports with a way to keep their passengers informed and engaged.
However, on January 12, 2021, CNN's president Jeff Zucker announced that CNN Airport would be ceasing operations on March 31, 2021. This decision was attributed to several factors, including changes in consumer behaviour, such as the widespread adoption of streaming video on mobile devices, which rendered the network's purpose less relevant. Additionally, there were accusations of 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 dominating television programming in airport terminals.
The shutdown of CNN Airport marked the end of an era, with many associating the network with the domestic US travel experience. Despite its closure, CNN Airport left a lasting impact on the airport environment, shaping how travellers consume content and engage with information during their journeys.
Exploring Airport Terminals: Non-Passenger Access Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$14.36 $17.95
CNN Airport was broadcast 24/7, with around-the-clock technical and editorial staffing
CNN Airport was a 24/7 television network that was broadcast in 58 airports across the United States. It was owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN. The network featured a mix of live news, sports, lifestyle, travel, and local airport content. To ensure a seamless viewing experience, CNN Airport maintained around-the-clock technical and editorial staffing, including three dedicated reporters.
The 24-hour schedule of CNN Airport was carefully curated to cater to the diverse interests of travellers. Approximately 16% of the content was dedicated to live news, 19% to live sports, 24% to lifestyle, 24% to travel, and 10% to local airport information. The network also had the flexibility to include local inserts from airports, accounting for around 10% of the overall content.
The CNN Airport network was subject to stricter content standards compared to regular CNN due to its presence in public waiting areas. Notably, stories involving commercial aviation incidents and crashes were excluded from the broadcast. Instead, these sensitive stories were overlaid with automated weather conditions to maintain a comfortable viewing environment for travellers.
To provide a comprehensive viewing experience, CNN Airport partnered with other networks to enhance its sports and entertainment offerings. It carried sports coverage from Turner Sports, including properties like the NFL and the Super Bowl. Additionally, CNN Airport had contracts with networks such as Cartoon Network, TCM, and HBO to showcase their entertainment content.
The technical and editorial staffing behind CNN Airport played a crucial role in its smooth and continuous operation. With dedicated reporters and staff working around the clock, the network was able to deliver timely updates, address any technical issues, and ensure that the content met the unique requirements of the airport environment. This included larger-than-usual on-screen graphics to enhance font readability at a distance.
Airport Security: Can You Bring Your Razor?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
CNN Airport paid local airport authorities for the rights to run its programming on monitors
CNN Airport was an American out-of-home television network owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN. The service broadcast general news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content to 58 airports across the United States. CNN Airport was available on monitors throughout the terminals, for which CNN paid local airport authorities. The network had a 24-hour schedule that included live news, sports, lifestyle, and travel segments, with a focus on content suitable for airport audiences.
CNN Airport's programming differed from regular CNN in that it excluded stories involving commercial aviation incidents, sexual content, and graphic violence. Instead, it featured more weather, travel pieces, and world stories, with sports coverage from Turner Sports and other networks. The network also had the ability to break into programming for airport-wide advisory messages.
CNN Airport's presence in airports was not without controversy. Some passengers and observers expressed concerns about the network's monopoly on airport television programming, suggesting that it amounted to "force-feeding" a particular source of information to a captive audience. Congressman Steve King proposed amendments to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to expand broadcast choices and prevent exclusive contracts between airports and news networks. However, these proposals were not included for debate in Congress.
Despite the criticism, CNN Airport's model of paying for exclusive rights to airport monitors and providing 24/7 programming was successful in generating revenue for airports and alleviating their equipment maintenance responsibilities. The network operated from 1992 until its discontinuation on March 31, 2021.
Using Boost Mobile with Heathrow Airport WiFi
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$179.99 $299.99
CNN Airport's schedule included news, sports, lifestyle, travel, and local airport inserts
CNN Airport was an American out-of-home television network that was available in 58 airports across the United States. CNN paid local airport authorities for the exclusive rights to run its programming on monitors throughout their terminals. The network was owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN.
The CNN Airport schedule included news, sports, lifestyle, travel, and local airport inserts. The network's 24-hour schedule consisted of roughly 16% live news, 19% live sports, 24% lifestyle, 24% travel, and 10% local airport inserts. The network's content standards were stricter than those of regular CNN due to its prominence in public waiting areas. Stories involving commercial aviation incidents, crashes, sexual content, and graphic violence were not aired and were overlaid with automated weather conditions.
CNN Airport's breakfast and early fringe schedule included news programming from CNN and HLN, broadcast on a 10-second delay. The network also aired weather, business, and travel segments designed for air travellers. In addition to its news and lifestyle content, CNN Airport carried sports coverage from Turner Sports properties, along with other sports rights such as the NFL and the Super Bowl. Commercial breaks carried interstitials from other Turner and Time Warner properties.
On January 12, 2021, 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.
Apple Pay at Airports: Where and How to Use It
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
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 service broadcast general news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content.
The network discontinued operations on March 31, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CNN Airport broadcast a mix of content, including news, sports, lifestyle, and travel segments. Notably, it excluded stories involving commercial aviation incidents and crashes, as well as graphic violence and sexual content.
