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Many airports around the world play CNN on their television screens. This is because CNN Airport Network, a variant of the CNN channel, has a financial relationship with airports. It pays airports to leave the channel on and reimburses them for the televisions, cable connections, and maintenance. The CNN Airport Network is a 24/7 service that offers a range of programming content, including news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content. It is tailored to airport audiences, with larger on-screen graphics and no stories involving aviation incidents, sexual content, or graphic violence. While some people find the presence of CNN in airports comforting, others have criticized it as being stressful or propagandistic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Content | General news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content |
| Content Curation | Airports can request content and broadcast their own |
| Content Restrictions | No stories involving aviation incidents, crashes, sexual content, or graphic violence |
| Content Presentation | Larger on-screen graphics for readability |
| Sports Coverage | Coverage from Turner Sports, NFL, and the Super Bowl |
| Financial Relationship | Pays airports to leave the channel on and reimburses them for TVs and infrastructure |
| Exclusivity | 50 airports have signed contracts for exclusive screening |
| Broadcasting Hours | 24/7 |
| Broadcasting Locations | Airport lounges, gates, bars, baggage claim |
| Broadcasting History | Launched in 1992, discontinued in 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
CNN Airport Network pays airports to air its channel
CNN Airport was an American out-of-home television network owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN. It broadcast general news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content to airports across the United States. The network was launched in 1992 and discontinued operations on March 31, 2021.
CNN Airport's 24-hour schedule consisted of roughly 16% live news, 19% live sports, 24% lifestyle, 24% travel, and 10% local airport content. The network also carried sports coverage from Turner Sports and other properties, such as the NFL and the Super Bowl, which were contractually bound to only air on airport screens.
The CNN Airport network was available in over 2,400 gates across the country and was seen by 323 million people annually. However, its presence in airports has faced scrutiny, with some travelers questioning why they are subjected to constant news programming while waiting for their flights.
CNN Airport paid airports to air its channel, and some travel hubs even had agreements where CNN paid for their TVs and infrastructure. This business model allowed CNN to maintain its dominance in airport television programming, despite facing accusations of having a monopoly and concerns about the partisan nature of its content.
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CNN Airport is a 24/7 service
CNN Airport was an American out-of-home television network owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN. It was a 24/7 service, with around-the-clock technical and editorial staffing, including three of its own reporters. The service broadcast general news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and
CNN Airport was different from its broadcast parent, with stricter content standards due to its prominence in public waiting areas. For example, stories involving commercial aviation incidents and crashes were not aired, and sexual content and graphic violence were also not shown. The network's digital on-screen graphics were designed to be larger than industry standards, allowing for readability at a distance.
CNN Airport had a financial relationship with airports, paying them to leave the channel on and even reimbursing them for their TVs and infrastructure. This arrangement gave CNN Airport a monopoly on television programming in airport terminals, which was criticised by some as being partisan. However, the network's purpose became outdated due to the ubiquity of streaming video on mobile devices, and it ceased operations on March 31, 2021.
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The network has stricter content standards than regular CNN
The CNN Airport Network, which was operational from 1992 until March 31, 2021, was a variant of the CNN channel designed for travellers. It was available in 50 airports across the United States and was also available in some larger train stations. The CNN Airport Network was owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN.
The CNN Airport Network was subject to stricter content standards than the regular CNN channel. This was due to the network's prominence in public waiting areas. Stories involving commercial aviation incidents and crashes did not appear on the network, and were overlaid with automated weather conditions. Similarly, stories that involved sexual content and graphic violence were censored. The network's digital on-screen graphics were also designed to be larger than industry standards, allowing for readability at a distance.
The CNN Airport Network was often criticised for being stressful and politically biased. However, it is important to note that the network allowed airports to request content changes and broadcast their own local inserts. The network also offered a range of programming content, including live news, sports, lifestyle, and travel segments.
The decision to play CNN in airports has been a controversial topic. Some have argued that it is a form of propaganda, while others have pointed out that CNN pays airports to air its channel. Additionally, CNN reimburses airports for the cost of televisions, cable connections, and maintenance. 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. However, this amendment was ultimately unsuccessful.
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Airports can request content and broadcast their own
The CNN Airport Network is a television network that is aired in airports across the United States. The network was launched in 1991 and ceased operations in March 2021. It was owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN. The network offered a range of programming content, including news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content. While it was similar to the regular CNN channel, the airport variant was tailored specifically for travellers and could be further customized by airports upon request.
The CNN Airport Network was available in over 2,400 gates across the country, with 329 million people exposed to the broadcast. CNN achieved this reach by paying individual airports a negotiated sum and handling all the infrastructure and associated costs. For instance, in 2020, CNN and Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta agreed to a 10-year contract, with the network paying the airport $225,000 annually to air its airport network.
The content aired on the CNN Airport Network was subject to stricter content standards than regular CNN. Stories involving commercial aviation incidents, crashes, sexual content, and graphic violence were not shown on the network and were overlaid with automated weather conditions or other content. The network's digital on-screen graphics were also designed to be larger than industry standards to ensure readability from a distance.
While the CNN Airport Network was widely available, it was not the only news channel played in airports. Some airports aired alternative channels such as MSNBC and Fox News. Additionally, American Airlines and Delta Airlines decided to stop showing news channels like CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC in their private lounges to prevent arguments among patrons.
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The network ceased operations on March 31, 2021
The CNN Airport Network, a version of the CNN channel, was specifically tailored for audiences in airports. It was launched in 1991 and broadcast a mix of news, weather, sports, lifestyle, and travel content. Notably, it excluded stories involving aviation incidents, graphic violence, and sexual content, making it more suitable for a broad audience. The network also featured larger-than-standard on-screen graphics to enhance readability from a distance.
The CNN Airport Network was available in numerous airports across the United States, and airports could request specific content to be aired. The network paid airports to broadcast its channel, covering the costs of televisions, cable connections, and maintenance. This financial arrangement led to a degree of exclusivity for CNN in many airport settings.
However, on January 12, 2021, CNN's president Jeff Zucker announced that the CNN Airport Network would cease operations on March 31, 2021. He attributed this decision to changes in consumer behavior, particularly the widespread adoption of streaming video on mobile devices, which rendered the network's original purpose obsolete.
The closure of the CNN Airport Network sparked mixed reactions. Some, like Republican congressman Steve King, had previously criticized the network for having a monopoly in airports. On the other hand, Tucker Carlson, a former CNN host, described the network as "propaganda posing as news." Nonetheless, the CNN Airport Network's closure marked the end of a 30-year chapter in airport television history.
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Frequently asked questions
Airports play CNN Airport Network, a variant of the CNN channel that is intended to offer a range of programming content and can be tailored by airports upon request. This version of CNN edits out any scenes that might prove upsetting to passengers, such as news reports on plane crashes.
CNN Airport Network is an American out-of-home television network owned and operated by AT&T's WarnerMedia through CNN. It broadcasts general news, weather, stock market updates, entertainment, and travel content to airports across the United States. The network ceased operations on March 31, 2021.
CNN Airport Network has a financial relationship with airports. It pays airports to leave the channel on and reimburses them for the televisions, cable connections, and maintenance. It also allows airports to promote themselves and local attractions, with the right to use up to six minutes each hour for these promotions.
