Clear Channel agrees to $18.7B buyout

[ljaesch]

Clear Channel Communications, Inc. to be taken private by an investment group

[themakshack]

Clear Channel has instituted several measures to try to win listeners back, including cutting back on the number of commercials. However other operators have yet to embrace its "less is more" strategy.

Cutting back on the number of commercials is not enough to win listeners back. Offering a wider selection and more customized playlist/music library would be the way to go.

[Crushcrushchris]

I don't know if much is going to change because of this, but it's clear that change is necessary.

[actuallyinradio]

themakshack said:

Clear Channel has instituted several measures to try to win listeners back, including cutting back on the number of commercials. However other operators have yet to embrace its "less is more" strategy.

Cutting back on the number of commercials is not enough to win listeners back. Offering a wider selection and more customized playlist/music library would be the way to go.

Yawn... typical "I hate Clear Channel because I think they ruined radio" argument.

[John77]

actuallyinradio said:

themakshack said:

Cutting back on the number of commercials is not enough to win listeners back. Offering a wider selection and more customized playlist/music library would be the way to go.

Yawn... typical "I hate Clear Channel because I think they ruined radio" argument.

But it is the truth.

[musicmania001]

Lol clear channel knew they messed up. Lol that's why they tryed to sale it.
I hope the new people in charge becomes more in tune with what listeners want to hear on radio, thats the only way they will get radio listeners back.
music isnt music anymore. It's also very juvenile.
Mature and grown folks dont wanna hear teeny bopper crap.
I hope this change is for the best.
Then we'll hopefully get to hear the great music we like we use to be 2002.

[Slinky]

2002? Uh, Clear Channel owned the same amount of stations back then as they do now.

[tico]

"Teeny bopper crap" music was out before and during Clear Channel and will be here afterwards. Whether or not CC was instrumental in pushing that kind of music is subject to debate.

[damnnnitzzjohn]

I find nothing wrong with my CC

[John77]

damnnnitzzjohn said:

I find nothing wrong with my CC

All 4 of my CC's have MAJOR programming issues.

[drock89]

john77 said:

damnnnitzzjohn said:

I find nothing wrong with my CC

All 4 of my CC's have MAJOR programming issues.

As does the country CC station here in St. Louis (can't comment on the others). It just spent a good 1 1/2 years off the R&R panel because the PD failed to program a playlist that met the current-ratio requirement. I wouldn't be surprised if they get kicked off again when R&R takes a look at their reporting panel.

[Marv]

Would that be WIL-FM?????

Also, why would a major radio station in a city as huge as St. Louis be SO overinfested with recurrents and gold music in the first place?

[billme]

With stockholders holding up the sale and period of time for other bids, I will say this sale is final when the ink dries and the lawsuits are done.

[musicmania001]

clear channel is done
I am fully aware that clear channel owned as many stations in 02 but we did hear a little more variety then.
now just about all of there artist are ridiculous with the exception of a few
hopefully the new people that purchased clear channel will listen to what the people really wanna hear on radio since we purchase the music
And you wonder why so many of there artist flop
Lolllllllllllllllll..............................

[drock89]

marv said:

Would that be WIL-FM?????

Also, why would a major radio station in a city as huge as St. Louis be SO overinfested with recurrents and gold music in the first place?

No, its KSD The Bull. They are losing BIG time to Midwest powerhouse WIL in the ratings, and WIL knows it!!!!

I really enjoy WIL's programming, for the most part anyway.

[reception]

Clear Channel radio deal rolling forward
By Erika Engle
Honolulu Star Bulletin

THE $26.7 billion deal to take Texas-based Clear Channel Communications Inc. private, including its cluster of seven Honolulu radio stations, is proceeding with no impact so far on the local stations.

"We expect ... business as usual," said Chuck Cotton, vice president and general manager of the Hawaii stations. It is the same message that has been conveyed to Clear Channel's 150 full- and part-time local employees working at KSSK-AM 590/FM 92.3; KIKI-FM 93.9; KDNN-FM 98.5; KUCD-FM 101.9; KHVH-AM 830; KHBZ-AM 990.

Last month, Clear Channel announced a merger agreement with a private equity group led by Thomas H. Lee Partners LP and Bain Capital Partners LLC, a deal subject to regulatory and stockholder approval. A Dec. 7 deadline for competing bids came and went with no additional offers, though the company has reserved the right to consider offers received through Jan. 5, 2007.

If no last-minute suitors come a-callin', Clear Channel stockholders will be bought out at the rate of $37.50 a share, a 25 percent premium over the company's average closing share price of $29.99 during the 30 days ending Oct. 24. Clear Channel stock closed at $35.38 yesterday.

Separately, Clear Channel also announced plans last month to sell 448 stations in markets No. 100 and below as well as its 42-station television group, but that decision does not affect the Honolulu stations, Cotton said. Honolulu is the No. 64 radio market.

Nationally, Clear Channel has restructured operations in several markets since early November resulting in the layoffs of several dozen employees, including some veteran broadcasters with more than 20 years' service at their respective stations. The ax has thus far spared Honolulu.

[beaston]

The best Clear Channel stations, imo, are Richmond and Boston. Boston's the best station in the country.