Air travelers will no longer get their news from CNN.
CNN boss Jeff Zucker said Tuesday that the cable giant is closing its CNN airport network, which plays exclusively on TVs in airport seats across the United States.
The network, launched 30 years ago, will close the store on March 31, Zucker wrote in a memorandum to staff, citing a “steep decline” in use due to the COVID-19 pandemic , as well as the fact that more travelers are now getting news from their smartphones.
“The sharp decline in airport traffic due to COVID-19, coupled with all the new ways people are consuming content on their personal devices, has reduced the need for the CNN 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 at which airport we were when we first heard of a major news event. . ‘
The network, launched in January 1992, is broadcast at 58 airports across the United States and includes 24/7 CNN and HLN news programming, as well as entertainment programming from sister channels such as Cartoon Network, TBS and HBO.