East Rutherford, NJ – June 1, 2006 - Travel retailer Hudson Group has signed an exclusive agreement with Cable News Network (CNN) to pursue joint marketing and retailing objectives, which includes featuring CNN news feeds in selected Hudson News airport locations. In addition, the two companies will work together to develop new, co-branded “CNN Newsstands” in airports throughout the United States. Specific locations for these stores are yet to be announced.
The initiative leverages Hudson’s expertise as an airport retailer to complement CNN’s strong brand awareness among the millions of travelers who pass through North American airports every day.
Joseph DiDomizio, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Hudson Group said: “We are delighted at the pairing of our flagship concept, Hudson News, the nation’s leading newsstand brand, with CNN, the most trusted name in news. Imagine walking into Hudson News and being able to view reports by Anderson Cooper, Larry King, Paula Zahn, Lou Dobbs, Wolf Blitzer or any of CNN’s other talented news men and women. We think these new ‘media sections’ will make shopping in our stores more fun and exciting – coupling the immediacy of a CNN telecast with the full functionality and convenience that travelers have come to expect from Hudson News.”
CNN’s unique blend of news, information and feature programming – along with a branded CNN line of merchandise – is expected to attract customers into the new CNN Newsstands as well. These stores will be designed to evoke a “live TV studio” atmosphere. Aluminum lighting trusses, plasma screens tuned to CNN and alternating CNN/Hudson News illuminated signage will complete the dazzling effect.
“Hudson News has a proven track record in airport concessions and we are pleased to collaborate with them on this endeavor,” said Scot Safon, senior vice president, CNN marketing and on-air promotion. “This agreement builds upon the successful strategy we put in place in 2005 to give even more consumers access to our award-winning products and services in an airport environment.”
About Hudson Group: Hudson Group is a privately held corporation that operates more than 500 newsstands, bookstores and premier specialty retail shops in 66 airports and transportation terminals throughout North America. The company’s flagship concept, Hudson News, is North America’s only national newsstand brand. Under the familiar blue sign can be found the most complete selection of magazines in the aviation industry, along with newspapers and a wide variety of travelers’ necessities, snacks and bottled soft drinks. Hudson Group specialty retail shops include such proprietary brands as Hudson Booksellers, Kids Works, Euro Cafe, $10/$15 Boutique, and more. Other national brands partnering with Hudson Group include Discovery Channel, Crabtree & Evelyn, Godiva Chocolatier, Roots, House of Blues, Quiznos and Life Is Good.
About CNN: CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is one of the world’s most respected and trusted sources for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; four Web sites, including CNN.com, the first major news and information Web site; CNN Pipeline, an on-demand broadband video service; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and partnerships for four television networks and one Web site.
Turner Broadcasting System is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and is a leading provider of programming for the television industry.