Located at the corner of Marietta Street and Techwood Drive, the renowned CNN Center Complex houses the global headquarters of CNN and Turner Broadcasting. A must visit for any tourist to Atlanta, the CNN complex also encompasses the Turner Studios, the Philips Arena and the Turner stores.
At the Center, you can sign up for the CNN Studio Tour which offers you a behind-the-scenes experience of how the International CNN networks function. The forty minute tour guides visitors through the main control room, the interactive exhibit area, an up-close study of special effects techniques and a presentation that features other Networks like TBS, TNT and Cartoon Network, which constitute Turner Broadcasting. You can virtually watch every step of news production and follow news as it travels from the Newsrooms of CNN and Headline News, to the anchor's desk where it is delivered live to television sets across the world. The special effects studio demonstrates several special effects techniques, including the Blue Background that is used for weather forecasts. The tour also includes snippets of CNN history and trivia which outline the growth of CNN, right from its inception to its current status as the world's finest and largest 24-hour news network. However, as the tour requires you to descend eight flights of stairs, if you do need any assistance, it is advisable you inform the authorities at least 72 hours before you embark. Although the tour is conducted in English, you can also ask for written translations in a variety of languages. Inside CNN also conducts a guided interactive tour dedicated to elementary school students.
The Turner Store enjoys immense popularity with visitors of all ages. Here, you can film a video of yourself as you read out the day's top news stories or get yourself photographed with a host of 'virtual' Tuner personalities. Another crowd puller is the 'Talk Back Live' studio where you can participate in an interactive talk show hosted by the award winning anchor, Bobbie Battista. You can be a part of the audience or even voice your opinion on the topic for the day. It is recommended that you book your place well in advance for the show, which is telecast daily at 3 pm in the atrium.
You can also shop for official Braves merchandise at the Brave Clubhouse store. Similar Hawks and Thrashers keepsakes are offered at their respective official outlets. There's something at the CNN Centre to suit every taste and age group. The Turner Store and Studio offers a host of MGM, Cartoon Network and TNT memorabilia. If all this shopping and touring has worked up an appetite, the Food Court has plenty of variety to offer. You can even opt to stay back for a plush dinner at the Prime Meridian in the Omni Hotel. Another attractive alternative is to catch a movie at the United Artists CNN Centre theatre.
The best way to get to the CNN centre is a brief MATRA ride from the Turner field. Parking spaces are also available on Marietta Street. Tours are conducted every ten minutes, between 9 am and 6 pm, everyday. For further information and rates, you can refer to the website http://www.cnn.com/CNNCenter or call (404) 827-2300.
The CNN Center
190 Marietta St,
NW, Atlanta, GA 30303.
