The Atlanta City Council approved a new contract for CNN Airport Network to continue airing at Hartsfield-Jackson. The contract is worth at least $225,000 annually to the airport.
CNN Airport Network operator AC Holdings Inc., a division of WarnerMedia, already holds a contract for a network news broadcast system at the airport. That contract started in 2006, was due to expire in 2016 and has been extended multiple times on a month-to-month basis since then.
In the last round of bidding for a new contract, CNN Airport Network was the only company that submitted a proposal.
The contract had been rebid multiple times since 2016, with the first round getting only one proposal — from CNN. The proposal was disqualified and the contract was rebid.
Then, in June 2017 two companies submitted proposals: CBS and CNN.
At that time, Hartsfield-Jackson’s then-general manager Roosevelt Council said: “I had my team look at this a little bit closer,” adding that the airport wanted to attract more proposals and focus more on premium programming. As a result, the contract was rebid.
However, last year in the third round of bidding, only CNN submitted a proposal.
The new contract with CNN is for five years with an option for a five-year renewal with a minimum annual guarantee of $225,000. The deal calls for CNN to provide domestic and international news coverage, along with information and entertainment.
The city council also approved an extension of a controversial curbside management contract with A-National Limousine, for up to six months until a new company, MTI Limo and Shuttle Services, takes over the contract.
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