CNN chief Jeff Zucker announced today that the CNN Airport Network will cease operating on March 31, 2021.
Zucker said in a statement that the decline in airport traffic due to COVID-19 was part of the decision. Also, Zucker acknowledged the “new ways that people are consuming content on their personal devices”. He says travelers didn’t have as much need for the CNN Airport Network.
Zucker heralded the 30 year history of the network that played on screens within airport terminals.
The latest press kit for the network said it was programmed live, 24 hours a day with a dedicated staff. It promised to never air footage of commercial airline crashes.
Nearly half (48%) of the programming was lifestyle & entertainment content. Sports content made up 19% of what CNN Airport Network broadcast. Partnerships allowed them to air live sports events within the airport terminals.
CNN Airport Network touted it had 329 million annual viewers at over 2,400 gates within 58 airports.
