CNN grounds Airport Network after 30 years, citing pandemic and streaming

[Mikey Radio]

Looks like the CNN Airport Network will be replaced by a system birthed from a partnership between Clear Channel Airports and Rockbot - It'll be rolled out to 4 airports initially, and they hope to grow it from there.

'Rockbot plans on delivering “a wide variety of the best family-friendly content.” This will range from live business news and sports highlights to local content, and even movies and entertainment. This will be meshed with informational messaging and promotions from concessions partners, Rockbot says."

Clear Channel Partnership Fills CNN Airport TV Void | Radio & Television Business Report

Clear Channel Airports has just partnered with a provider of music, TV, and digital signage services for businesses across North America in filling the void left by the closure of the CNN Airport TV Network.

www.rbr.com

 

[TheBigA]

Looks like the CNN Airport Network will be replaced by a system birthed from a partnership between Clear Channel Airports and Rockbot - It'll be rolled out to 4 airports initially, and they hope to grow it from there.

This may be the first big venture from the newly independent Clear Channel Outdoor company that was spun off from iHeart during its bankruptcy. CCO was the part of the company that remained public, with stock on the NYSE, while iHeart was private. They have some very creative video billboards around the country. It'll be interesting to see how they package content and advertising.

Rockbot is mainly a streaming music service, so I'm imagining this will look more like a music video service that's heavy on marketing.

Rockbot is a streaming media platform for brick and mortar businesses. We offer a background music, digital signage and video solutions. Business owners customize their catalog of music from our hundreds of out of the box playlists, millions of songs, or engage our custom curation team. With the optional Rockbot DJ app, guests in participating businesses can utilize our smartphone applications to browse the catalog, request music, and vote on the queue. Rockbot is a fully licensed music solution that provides a powerful engagement tool for any type of business.

 

[Mikey Radio]

Rockbot is mainly a streaming music service, so I'm imagining this will look more like a music video service that's heavy on marketing.

If done correctly, this can be a somewhat suitable replacement for the CNN Airport Network. However, if they get too heavy on marketing, it'll seem more like those annoying video screens that are built into some gasoline pumps where they have a few stale segments of weather, sports highlights or business news, bookended by a load of advertisements. If that's the case, people will tune out quickly and simply stream music or content on their phones and other personal devices, or perhaps even ask the airport staff to switch off the volume if it gets too annoying.

 

[crainbebo]

What Mikey said, i.e., those gas station pumps with the video screens. I don't want to see Limu Emu. I want to pump my gas. DAMMIT!

 

[TheBigA]

If that's the case, people will tune out quickly and simply stream music or content on their phones and other personal devices, or perhaps even ask the airport staff to switch off the volume if it gets too annoying.

I think the issue was that people were complaining about the politics on CNN. This is a way to solve that.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

NBCU, ReachTV Sign New Airport Partnership

Today, NBCUniversal and ReachTV announced a new, scaled content and monetization partnership that will take flight across more than 90 airports in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. The expanded collaboration between the media and technology powerhouse and the groundbreaking in-airport entertainment...

tvnewscheck.com

In some places NBC and Reach TV have a deal to have their content some airports. Note this contract is a renewed deal from 2019. I am not sure if this also effects ones where some of the Airports that carried CNN are switching to NBC for now.

Today, NBCUniversal and ReachTV announced a new, scaled content and monetization partnership that will take flight across more than 90 airports in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. The expanded collaboration between the media and technology powerhouse and the groundbreaking in-airport entertainment company will bring NBCUniversal’s content — from local news to Peacock — to the TV screens that inform travelers’ journeys. From concourses to lounges, bars and restaurants to retail hubs and newsstands, airport gates, and over one million hotel rooms, advertisers will have new ways to connect with more than one billion consumers as they embark.

ReachTV, a certified minority business, provides scale and precision for marketers seeking to reach key consumers.

 

[TheBigA]

In some places NBC and Reach TV have a deal to have their content some airports. Note this contract is a renewed deal from 2019. I am not sure if this also effects ones where some of the Airports that carried CNN are switching to NBC for now.

This appears to be a much bigger deal than the Clear Channel announcement. This one is 90 airports, while CC is in 4.

 

[KML0224]

What Mikey said, i.e., those gas station pumps with the video screens. I don't want to see Limu Emu. I want to pump my gas. DAMMIT!

THHHIIIIISSSSSS is Cheddar! 😋😉

 

[davideduardo]

I think the issue was that people were complaining about the politics on CNN. This is a way to solve that.

The CNN airport service was pretty much pure news. It had been cheapened in more recent years since the "real" CNN no longer had a true headline news service. And, of course, they did not cover airport, airline or certain terrorist stories like hijackings.

 

[TheBigA]

The CNN airport service was pretty much pure news. It had been cheapened in more recent years since the "real" CNN no longer had a true headline news service. And, of course, they did not cover airport, airline or certain terrorist stories like hijackings.

However, anything with the CNN brand was perceived as a negative to a certain group.