CNN’s Progressive Politics Cast Spotlight On Their Airport Monopoly
“critics are now asking if busy travelers should be subjected to CNN’s increasingly ideological programming”
Have you ever wondered why CNN is playing on every TV at most airports? Years ago, when the network passed for a non-partisan news outlet, most people didn’t give it a second thought. Yet in recent years they have drifted as far left as MSNBC, and some people are wondering why they must be subjected to it every time they travel.
Tucker Carlson started asking this question and looking for answers last month. What he found is that CNN actually has an agreement with airports all over the country. Now more people are asking questions.
Brian Flood reports at FOX News:
Growing questions about CNN’s airport monopoly as network veers left
CNN’s ubiquitous presence in airports — where it broadcasts from thousands of screens to a captive audience of millions — is facing new scrutiny after the cable network’s hard left turn.
The CNN Airport network dates back to when CNN was known for straightforward news programming — and has been a fixture at airports since before competitors MSNBC and Fox News even existed. But critics are now asking if busy travelers should be subjected to CNN’s increasingly ideological programming — at gates, bars, food courts and baggage claims — which can include on-screen chyrons or subtitles that gleefully mock President Trump. Many travelers have even taken to Twitter and started online petitions to urge airports to change the channel.
Media Research Center Vice President Dan Gainor told Fox News that CNN has become more partisan than MSNBC since Trump moved into the White House and travelers should have the option of not watching the network.
“How are airports justifying the idea of bombarding captive viewers with content many of them oppose? Sadly, almost any outlet is fairer now than CNN,” Gainor said.
None of this happens by accident. CNN pays handsomely for this arrangement:
Long-term contracts typically give CNN the ability to curate content seen by travelers whether they like it or not. The eight-year contract that was signed in 2016 promises Miami International Airport “a maximum annual guarantee of $150,000” that may be adjusted annually to ensure the deal is on par with similar airports.
This video contains all kinds of fascinating tidbits about CNN’s airport package:
Would it surprise you to learn that the CNN Airport Network even has its own verified Twitter account? The feed is full of ridiculous travel related memes:
— CNN Airport Network (@CNNAirportNet) February 26, 2018
— CNN Airport Network (@CNNAirportNet) March 13, 2018
— CNN Airport Network (@CNNAirportNet) March 20, 2018
Frankly, I think cable news adds to the stress of airport travel. In the 1970’s, experimental music artist Brian Eno created a series called Ambient Music for Airports. Here’s a track:
Isn’t that better than Wolf Blitzer?
Featured image via YouTube.
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Comments
I always travel with a preprogrammed remote and turn TVs off in the terminals I’m in if I find them obnoxiously loud. But I could care less about whether or not CNN or Fox is playing. Like any rational adult, if I don’t like the channel, I either go somewhere else until my flight is boarding, or on go my headphones.
There are smartphone apps you can use for this too
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tekoia.sure.activities&hl=en
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sure-universal-smart-tv-remote/id1097801576?mt=8
“Long-term contracts typically give CNN the ability to curate content seen by travelers whether they like it or not. The eight-year contract that was signed in 2016 promises Miami International Airport “a maximum annual guarantee of $150,000” that may be adjusted annually to ensure the deal is on par with similar airports.”
So… the CNN Tax? Counter offer airports to *not* show CNN?
The EU has cnn as part of the group of stakeholders that will help combat “fake news and online disinformation”. The report came out March 12, 2018. I got interested in this after attending a Media and the Judiciary conference sponsored by CNN and realizing they use the term Fake News to refer to undesired sources of unapproved information. It’s actually not about accuracy at all.
Wrote about it here. http://invisibleserfscollar.com/outside-in-conjoining-education-media-to-consciously-create-consensus/
The program also confirmed that google and FB have begun to rank products from the legacy media including cnn higher. Essentially the push is for professional journalists to get to determine what is the truth and what we are supposed to even have access to unless we are very determined.
Add that to the airport monopoly issue and it really stinks.
Our local hospital just removed all public TVs except in emergency. Back to magazines. Surprisingly, Prevention Magazine has a very strong presence, and Readers Digest has made a comeback. So I actually have something to read.
My ophthalmologist, who has terrible magazines (Tropical Fish…??) has done something quite clever. He has the Food Channel playing. I have even seen patients taking notes and discussing the project among themselves.
At my company’s headquarters, it’s FOX News across the campus.
Wolf Blitzer and Wolfgang Puck go great together! At least they both leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Having reached the
agestate of maurity at which I spend far more time in hospitals than airports … I’m not sure CNN is the wort that can be inflicted. A couple of months ago I saw the nice big screens showing CNN reporting on some Muslim atrocity—I don’t recall which, they all blend together after a while—and while there wasn’t much to report, they hadn’t gotten around to blaming Trump or the NRA yet. But the last time I was in, that stuff was replaced by a sort of Aztec version of Jerry Springer, with some woman with expensive hair and a voice like a fire alarm haranguing—in Spanish—a captive bunch of third worlders all wearing badly fitted Stetsons. I have no idea what it was all about, but it was certainly very odd and thoroughly useless. If given the option, I think I’d have opted for CNN.Several years ago I was getting new tires for my truck and while waiting for the 2nd mortgage on my house to clear and the tires to be installed I was treated to a marathon of “How Its Made”. It was a real treat. Really. I usually have to wait until late at night to watch HIM as it drives my wife absolutely crazy.
I wonder if CNN stays on at the airport when the programming is wall-to-wall of a plane crash?
re: Airplane crash news – the newsfeed that CNN sends to airports under contract is NOT their straight newsfeed, but a carefully managed version of it. Part of their contract is the stipulation that NO plane crash news or discussion is ever allowed to be shown on the airport channel.