CNN Studio Tours | Atlanta

The CNN Studio Tours, once a popular Atlanta attraction, provided an immersive behind-the-scenes experience of one of the world’s most renowned news networks. Located inside the CNN Center at 190 Marietta Street NW in downtown Atlanta, the tours allowed visitors a rare glimpse into the workings of a major television news operation. However, it is important to note that the CNN Studio Tours were permanently discontinued in March 2020, and the CNN Center has since undergone significant changes, including CNN relocating many of its operations away from the building.

Historical Overview and Location

The CNN Center itself is a large multi-purpose complex in downtown Atlanta that historically housed CNN’s global headquarters, along with offices, studios, restaurants, and retail spaces. It was originally constructed in the 1970s and became a central hub for Turner Broadcasting System and CNN, founded by Ted Turner. The CNN Studio Tours began offering public access to this media hub as a way to engage visitors with the excitement of live news production and broadcast journalism.

Tour Experience Before Closure

Prior to its closure, the CNN Studio Tour was a 50-minute guided walking tour led by knowledgeable staff who took visitors through multiple key areas inside the CNN Center. The experience was designed to be both educational and entertaining, appealing to people of all ages interested in media, journalism, and television production. The tour highlights included:

The World’s Largest Freestanding Escalator:
Visitors began their journey by ascending a 196-foot-long escalator—known as one of the longest freestanding escalators in the world—that transported them from the main lobby up to the studio tour entrance. This escalator itself was a notable architectural feature of the CNN Center.

Newsroom Viewing Area:
Guests were led to observation decks overlooking the live newsroom, where CNN anchors and producers were seen at work, delivering real-time news broadcasts. This vantage point offered a dynamic view of the fast-paced environment involved in producing global news.

Control Rooms and Production Studios:
The tour included stops in production control rooms where technical staff managed live feeds, video switching, graphics, and sound. Visitors learned how multiple cameras, lighting, and audio systems come together to create the seamless broadcasts seen on television.

Broadcast Technology Demonstrations:
Interactive presentations explained key technologies used in modern news production. Visitors experienced how teleprompters operate, how weather forecasts are generated with green-screen technology, and how special effects and graphics are integrated into live shows.

Anchor Desk Photo Opportunity:
A popular part of the tour allowed visitors to sit behind a replica CNN anchor desk and take souvenir photos, simulating the experience of being a news anchor on a live broadcast.

Historical Displays:
Throughout the tour, exhibits showcased CNN’s groundbreaking moments, such as its coverage of the Gulf War in 1991, which revolutionized 24-hour news reporting, and other significant events captured live by CNN reporters.

Impact of the Tour

The CNN Studio Tour was more than just entertainment; it served an educational purpose by demystifying the news production process and helping visitors understand the importance of journalism and media literacy. School groups, families, and tourists often included the tour in their Atlanta itineraries for its unique insight into one of the most influential media companies in the world.

Closure and Current Status

The permanent closure of the CNN Studio Tours in March 2020 was part of a broader transformation of the CNN Center. CNN gradually moved many of its operational functions to the Warner Bros. Discovery campus in Midtown Atlanta, focusing on modernized facilities. Since then, the CNN Center has shifted toward a mixed-use complex with retail, dining, and entertainment venues, but the studio tours no longer exist.

Today, visitors can still see the iconic CNN signage outside the building and explore the surrounding downtown area, but the interior no longer offers the immersive media tour experience. For those interested in media or broadcast production, alternatives in Atlanta include visiting Georgia Public Broadcasting’s studios or exploring film and television location tours that highlight Atlanta’s growing role as a hub for the entertainment industry.

Visitor Information

Location: 190 Marietta Street NW, Atlanta, GA

Tour Duration (when available): Approximately 50 minutes

Accessibility: The CNN Center was fully accessible, with elevators and accommodations for guests with disabilities.

Nearby Attractions: The CNN Center is close to Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Summary

The CNN Studio Tours provided a rare and exciting opportunity to explore the inner workings of a global news network through a guided, hands-on experience. It combined technology, history, and live observation to engage visitors in the world of broadcast journalism. While no longer operational, the legacy of the tour remains part of Atlanta’s rich cultural and media history, reflecting the city’s role as a major center for news production and media innovation.