Congressman proposes government keep CNN off airport televisions

FILE -- A television plays Jake Tapper on CNN in the House studio on Capitol Hill in Washington, Nov. 8, 2017. A congressman in Iowa is looking to ban news networks from retaining exclusive rights to be displayed at airports, declaring that CNN has an "airport monopoly" on TV content. less FILE -- A television plays Jake Tapper on CNN in the House studio on Capitol Hill in Washington, Nov. 8, 2017. A congressman in Iowa is looking to ban news networks from retaining exclusive rights to be ... more Photo: AL DRAGO / Al Drago / New York Times Photo: AL DRAGO / Al Drago / New York Times Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Congressman proposes government keep CNN off airport televisions 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

An Iowa congressman is seeking to diversify airport viewing options by filing an amendment to a proposed FAA act that will require airports to "turn the channel on CNN."

Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa) filed an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 Tuesday, suggesting a change to airport viewing. King proposed that television broadcast networks not be allowed to create an "airport monopoly" of TV shows or channels that are displayed at airports, stating that competition will lead to a "quality product" people will choose to watch, King said.

"It's time that travelers in airports were allowed to turn the channel on CNN," King said in a press release. "My amendment would allow greater broadcast choice for the nation's travelers by eliminating CNN's efforts to create an 'airport monopoly' through the use of agreements that restrict content to only its programs."

A Fox News report also recently criticized CNN's prominence at airports, looking at the company's airport-specific CNN brand appropriately dubbed "Airport CNN." The news network purportedly pays airports to leave its channel on, or pays for the installed televisions, Fox reported.

The price the network has allegedly paid can be over $100,000 per year, with Fox pointing to a deal with Miami International Airport of up to $150,000 a year as part of an eight-year contract.

San Francisco International Airport is also in contract with Airport CNN. But airport officials told Fox they plan to let the contract expire at the end of April, citing the fact that free airport Wi-Fi allows people to choose their own viewing content.

As to whether the news displayed on airport televisions is the exact same as the broadcast version people watch at home, Philly.com columnist Stu Bykofsky states this is not the case. Bykofsky wrote that the airport edition of CNN is a filtered version on a 10-second delay, allowing the opportunity to avoid "bad" airline news and instead insert "filler" content such as the weather. The company also curates travel programming and commercials for the airports on Airport CNN.

The cable news channel has deals in place with at least 60 airports, including the Des Moines International Airport in King's home state, news station WHO-HD pointed out.