Jeff Zucker shuts down CNN airport network, cites COVID-19

Air travelers will no longer receive their news from CNN.

CNN boss Jeff Zucker said on Tuesday that the cable giant was shutting down its CNN airport network, which plays exclusively on televisions in airport lounges across the United States.

The network, which started 30 years ago, will close on March 31, Zucker wrote in a note to staff, citing a “sharp drop” in use due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the fact that more travelers now receive 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,” Zucker said. “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 learned of a major event.

Launched in January 1992, the network is broadcast at 58 airports across the United States 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.