Clear Channel Airports (CCA), a division of Clear Channel Outdoor, announced the launch of a new in-airport TV network called ClearVision. It features entertainment, news, music, and sports programming. ClearVision, which will debut at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) this fall, brings together customized sports and music, from over 100 content providers including CBS with offerings from CBS News, CBS Entertainment, CBS Daytime, and CBS Interactive, among others; NBC, with shows including The Today Show, Smash, The Voice, Grimm, America’s Got Talent and The Office; daily headlines from around the world from The Wall Street Journal’s WSJ Live; and sports from the Tennis Channel with original programming like the travel series Destination Tennis and highlights from major tournaments like the French Open and US Open.
ClearVision is the first real alternative in decades to CNN’s news-only airport network. Created through a partnership between Clear Channel Airports and connectiVISION Digital Networks, a leading digital media companies, ClearVision provides airports, content partners, and advertisers with the ability to reach and engage air travelers – through customized content ranging from local news to top network shows and live events. Airports ultimately will be able to leverage WiFi services to provide travelers accustomed to on-demand content access to the ClearVision network on their smartphones, iPads, and laptops.
Licensed ClearVision content can be transformed into short-form “mini-sodes” that will be woven together with local programming to create a localized sense of place for airport passengers and visitors. Content acquisition and licensing will be managed by connectiVISION, which enjoys deep relationships in the television, entertainment, sports and music industries. ClearVision will also feature innovative and adaptive airport promotions that will provide passengers with relevant concession promotions through pop-up advertisements.
Toby Sturek, Clear Channel’s head of airports, told Reuters the company is in discussions with about 20 airports including some large ones where CNN has its TVs. CNN does not have a presence at RDU.
Sturek said Clear Channel previously had agreements to sell advertising with CNN in a handful of airports in the United States, and that advertisers did not see the value in CNN’s offering.
In response, a CNN spokeswoman told Reuters that its airport network has been “a valued brand for over 21 years” and a “reliable source of current news programming and localized custom content for busy, on-the-go travelers.”
CNN’s screens can be seen in 49 of the busiest U.S. airports, including Chicago O’Hare and Dallas/Fort Worth. CNN said it reaches 248 million customers every year in airports.
