Air travelers no longer get their news from CNN.
CNN chief Jeff Zucker said Tuesday that the cable giant is closing its CNN Airport network, which plays exclusively on TVs in airport lounges in the US.
The network, which launched 30 years ago, will close on March 31, Zucker wrote in a memo to staff, citing a “sharp drop” in usage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the fact that more travelers now get news from their smartphones.
“The sharp drop in airport traffic due to COVID-19, coupled with all the new ways people consume content on their personal devices, has reduced the need for the CNN Airport Network,” said Zucker. “Saying goodbye to such a beloved brand isn’t easy … I’m sure most of us have a story to tell about the airport we were in when we first heard of a major news event.”
Launched in January 1992, the network airs at 58 US airports and includes 24/7 news programs from CNN and HLN, as well as entertainment programs from sister channels such as Cartoon Network, TBS and HBO.