Business Notes: Customer Service

Tired of standing in line at the supermarket, gazing at the ceiling or thumbing through magazines? Then check out CNN's Checkout Channel, introduced last week for shoppers who must wait to be served. Available in 150 stores throughout the U.S., including A&P, Kroger and Acme, the channel placates the impatient with news capsules and short features. The station, produced by a subsidiary of Turner Broadcasting, offers yet another outlet for CNN -- already visible in airports and movie theaters -- and has sold more than 80% of available airtime to advertisers like Coca-Cola and Nabisco.

While it's too early to tell if customers want another video screen in their faces, initial response has been favorable. Says Michael Rourke, V.P. of communications and corporate affairs for A&P, which offers the channel in 14 outlets: "It makes waiting on line a little more palatable. Customers say it helps keep them informed and entertained."