Lois Larson
CNN is a familiar presence in airports across the United States, with many travellers expressing frustration at the network's coverage being played on TVs in airport lounges. CNN Airport, a version of the network geared specifically towards airports, covers the costs of TVs and infrastructure and pays airports for the opportunity to be the sole broadcaster in their facilities. This has led to criticism and the introduction of bills like H.R. 3426, which aims to entice airports to stop signing contracts with CNN Airport News.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| CNN's presence in airports | Ubiquitous |
| Reason for ubiquity | CNN covers the costs related to TVs and infrastructure, provides programming specifically for airports, and pays airports for the opportunity |
| Annual viewers of CNN Airport | 323 million |
| Number of airport gates carrying the CNN Airport channel | 2,400+ |
| Alternative to CNN Airport News | ReachMe.TV partnered with CBS Television Stations |
| Bill to stop airport TVs from being exclusively owned by cable networks | H.R. 3426 - 116th Congress |
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What You'll Learn
- CNN Airport pays for the TVs and infrastructure, and pays airports for the opportunity to be there
- CNN Airport covers sports and weather, and doesn't cover plane crashes
- CNN Airport has long-term contracts that allow it to curate content seen by travellers
- Some travellers are aggravated by CNN's coverage of the Trump administration
- ReachMe.TV has partnered with CBS to offer an alternative to CNN Airport News
CNN Airport pays for the TVs and infrastructure, and pays airports for the opportunity to be there
The ubiquity of CNN in airports across America has been a source of aggravation for many travellers, especially those who disagree with the network's coverage. CNN Airport has a monopoly in America's airports and covers the costs of TVs and infrastructure, providing programming specifically geared towards airports. Airports have long-term contracts with CNN, which give the network the ability to curate content seen by travellers. For instance, CNN Airport does not cover plane crashes and includes sports and weather coverage in its programming.
CNN Airport also pays airports for the opportunity to be there, and these contracts are an important revenue source for airports. Miami International Airport's eight-year contract with CNN Airport, signed in 2016, promises the airport a "maximum annual guarantee of $150,000", which may be adjusted annually to ensure the deal is on par with similar airports. CNN Airport media kits boast that an incredible 323 million people view CNN Airport annually at the 2,400-plus gates throughout the country that carry the channel.
The presence of CNN in airports has been compared to the requirement in North Korea that every household display portraits of dictators Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il on their most prominent wall. Some travellers have questioned when they consented to being bombarded by CNN as a precondition to boarding a flight.
There have been attempts to challenge CNN Airport's monopoly in airports. H.R. 3426, a bill introduced in the 116th Congress, would have used grant money to entice airports to stop signing contracts with CNN Airport News. The bill's sponsoring representative, Steve King, argued that airport TVs should not be exclusively owned by cable networks like CNN. ReachMe.TV, an upcoming in-airport mobile entertainment network, has partnered with CBS Television Stations to offer an alternative to CNN Airport News.
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CNN Airport covers sports and weather, and doesn't cover plane crashes
CNN Airport is a version of the CNN channel that is geared specifically towards airports. It is available in over 2,400 gates across the country and is viewed by 323 million people annually. CNN Airport covers the costs related to the TVs and infrastructure and pays airports to be able to broadcast in their facilities. While the content of CNN Airport technically differs from that of regular CNN, it only does so in that it adds sports and weather coverage to its otherwise political spin. Notably, CNN Airport does not cover plane crashes.
CNN Airport's monopoly in America's airports has been described as "shady" and "skeezy." Some travellers have expressed discomfort at being bombarded by CNN as a precondition to boarding a flight, comparing it to North Korea's requirement that every household display portraits of dictators Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. However, CNN Airport's coverage of sports and weather may be seen as a welcome distraction from the stresses of air travel.
CNN Airport's decision to not cover plane crashes may be strategic, as viewers in airports may not want to be reminded of plane crashes while waiting to board a flight. This is supported by the fact that CNN Airport does cover other types of crashes, such as car crashes, as evidenced by a CNN article about a car crash in Jerusalem. Additionally, CNN's main channel does cover plane crashes, as seen in their coverage of the 2025 Toronto Pearson Airport plane crash.
While some may be critical of CNN Airport's ubiquity in airports, its content may be comforting to travellers who are anxious about flying. The addition of sports and weather coverage may provide a welcome distraction, and the exclusion of plane crash coverage may help to ease worries. Ultimately, CNN Airport's content may be geared towards providing travellers with a sense of comfort and normalcy while waiting to board their flights.
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CNN Airport has long-term contracts that allow it to curate content seen by travellers
The presence of CNN in airports across the United States has been a source of frustration for many travellers, especially those who do not agree with the network's political coverage. This has led to the introduction of H.R. 3426 – 116th Congress, which aims to use grant money to incentivise airports to refrain from signing contracts with CNN Airport News.
CNN Airport covers the costs of TVs and related infrastructure and pays airports for the opportunity to broadcast in their facilities. This provides a significant revenue stream for airports, which may struggle financially without this money. For instance, a representative from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport stated that CNN Airport "covers the costs related to the TVs and related infrastructure, provides programming specifically geared for airports, and pays us for the opportunity to be in our facility".
The ability to curate content seen by travellers at airports across the country has been made possible by CNN Airport's long-term and financially lucrative contracts with individual airports. These contracts have allowed CNN Airport to establish a monopoly in American airports, with an incredible 323 million people viewing CNN Airport annually at the 2,400-plus gates throughout the country that carry the channel.
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Some travellers are aggravated by CNN's coverage of the Trump administration
CNN is a staple of American airports, with the network commanding a monopoly in airports across the nation. CNN Airport covers the costs related to the TVs and infrastructure, provides programming specifically for airports, and pays airports for the opportunity to be in their facilities. Long-term contracts also give CNN the ability to curate content seen by travellers, whether they like it or not.
Some travellers have expressed frustration with the ubiquity of televisions playing CNN in airports, likening the experience to being "bombarded" by the network. The political spin of CNN's coverage has been a particular point of contention for travellers, with some feeling that they are being force-fed a particular narrative.
While CNN's coverage of the Trump administration has garnered praise from some viewers, it has also been a source of aggravation for travellers, particularly those concerned about the administration's impact on America's global reputation. Some Americans have expressed fear and hesitation about travelling abroad during the Trump administration due to perceived backlash and changing perceptions of Americans globally.
For example, travellers like Lisa VanderVeen, an avid traveller, have noted that the administration's global policies, including its stance on Ukraine, potential travel bans, and "chaotic" trade policies, have cast a harsher spotlight on Americans abroad. Sierra Malone, a digital marketing specialist, also shared that she felt "more nervous" than usual before an extended trip to Europe during Trump's presidency.
The impact of Trump's presidency on international travel to the US has also been observed by Gyawali, the founder of a travel company, who noticed an uptick in American clients cancelling trips due to fears of travelling during the Trump administration.
In addition to concerns about personal safety and backlash, travellers have also expressed worries about defending or apologising for America's actions and policies under the Trump administration. As a result, some travellers have chosen to boycott travel to the US during this time.
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ReachMe.TV has partnered with CBS to offer an alternative to CNN Airport News
ReachMe.TV, an in-airport mobile entertainment network, has partnered with CBS to offer an alternative to CNN Airport News. The startup aims to make waiting at airports more enjoyable by providing thousands of hours of content, including original programming, local news, sports, and weather updates. With experience in deploying screens in retail spaces and hotels, co-founder and CEO Lynnwood Bibbens is well-equipped to ensure that ReachMe.TV's content reaches audiences on the go.
The 10-year exclusive partnership with CBS will bring CBS programming to ReachMe.TV's network, including local news, weather, and sports reports provided by CBS TV Stations, as well as programming from other CBS Corporation divisions like CBSN and Entertainment Tonight. CBS TV Stations will exclusively manage advertising sales for the venture, and ReachMe.TV will also ramp up its own content creation.
This partnership will provide a fresh alternative to CNN, which has long been the dominant network in airports across America. CNN Airport holds long-term contracts that allow it to curate content for travellers, often including sports and weather coverage alongside its political spin. However, some travellers have expressed discomfort with the ubiquity of CNN in airports, likening it to being \"bombarded\" with content they never consented to view.
With ReachMe.TV, viewers will have the option to sync their personal devices with airport screens, taking content with them on the go. The network focuses on short and concise content, from brief news segments to longer documentaries and scripted comedies, ensuring that travellers can enjoy complete stories even during short wait times.
Through this partnership with CBS, ReachMe.TV is poised to revolutionize airport entertainment and offer travellers a diverse range of programming to suit their waiting periods.
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Frequently asked questions
CNN has a monopoly in America's airports across the nation. CNN Airport covers the costs of TVs and infrastructure and pays airports to be in their facilities.
CNN Airport is a version of CNN that includes sports and weather coverage and excludes plane crashes.
Many travelers are aggravated by CNN's presence in airports, especially those who disagree with the network's political coverage.
Yes, ReachMe.TV, an upcoming in-airport mobile entertainment network, has partnered with CBS Television Stations to offer an alternative to CNN Airport.
