Air travelers will no longer receive their news from CNN.
CNN chief Jeff Zucker said Tuesday that the cable giant is shutting down its CNN airport network, which plays exclusively on TVs in US airport lounges.
The network, launched 30 years ago, will close the store on March 31, Zucker wrote in a note to staff, citing a “sharp decline” in use due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fact that more travelers are now receiving news from their smartphones.
“The sharp decline in airport traffic due to COVID-19, combined with all the new ways people consume content on their personal devices, has diminished the need for CNN’s airport network,” Zucker said. “It’s not easy to say goodbye to such a beloved brand … I’m sure most of us have a story to tell about the airport we were in when we first found out about a major news event.”
Launched in January 1992, the network is broadcast 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.