It’s official: CNN is being taken down from the airwaves across the United States.
CNN boss Jeff Zucker cited a large downturn in viewership and the costs of COVID-19 for the sudden decision to shutter one of his network’s major broadcast channels.
But don’t change your television dial yet.
The soon-to-be-shutdown channel is not the network most people would guess when they think, “CNN.”
CNN Airport Network, which has an exclusive contract to play on televisions in airports across the United States, will officially be shutting down in March.
“The steep decline in airport traffic because of COVID-19, coupled with all the new ways that people are consuming content on their personal devices, has lessened the need for the CNN Airport Network,” Zucker said.
“Having to say goodbye to such a beloved brand is not easy … I am sure most of us have a story to tell about which airport we were at when we first learned of a major news event.”
CNN also announced some major lineup changes to their flagship cable news station on Monday. CNN’s Jake Tapper is among those taking on new roles.
Tapper’s daily news show will increase an hour, running from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, taking over an hour from Wolf Blitzer’s “Situation Room.” Tapper will also be CNN’s lead anchor for all Washington-based events, the network said.
Tapper will keep his Sunday “State of the Union” show but time-share with new co-anchor Dana Bash. Both will anchor two Sundays a month.
Abby Phillip, a rising star at CNN, will host the Sunday morning show “Inside Politics” and has been named senior political correspondent. John King will continue to host “Inside Politics” on weekdays.
Jim Acosta, who became well known for his angry clashes with President Donald Trump at the White House, is moving off that beat with the incoming Biden administration. He’ll become a weekend anchor and chief domestic correspondent. Kaitlan Collins is replacing him as head of the White House team.
CNN says Pamela Brown will anchor a three-hour news program each Saturday and Sunday evening.
The Associated Press contributed to this article