Clear Channel frozen

[gameon]

Found this on the LA board:

Clear Channel freeze
« on: Yesterday at 11:12:24 pm » Quote

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A budget freeze for Q1 and perhaps beyond has just been issued for all of Clear Channel. From the front page of radio-info.com (and also reported at All Access), the budget freeze edict from John Hogan includes: "all research monies after 2/1. All advertising and promotion monies after 2/1. All new sales hire guarantees not already implemented, effective immediately (do NOT hire any additional salespeople, effective immediately). All new hires budgeted but not hired, effective immediately (do not hire any additional new employees). Any/all discretionary monies (i.e., travel, meals and entertainment) for your market. Additionally, you are not to replace any departing personnel without specific approval from your EVPO."

 

[newsperson]

An evaluation from Newsperson:

Anyone who is currently working for a Clear Channel station has all of a sudden become more valuable to that station. A good feeling on one hand and bad feeling on the other hand as one might think "will my position be eliminate next?".

Clear Channel acts as if it has no compeition and this should give other stations an opportunity to go after other business or other listener promotions, that is if the other companies have not laid off needed personal or failed to hire them.

Your comments?

Newsperson

 

[grudgelfeltz]

An evaluation from Newsperson:

Anyone who is currently working for a Clear Channel station has all of a sudden become more valuable to that station. A good feeling on one hand and bad feeling on the other hand as one might think "will my position be eliminate next?".

Clear Channel acts as if it has no compeition and this should give other stations an opportunity to go after other business or other listener promotions, that is if the other companies have not laid off needed personal or failed to hire them.

Your comments?

Newsperson

Anyone who is currently working for Clear Channel had best figure they're next on the chopping block, especially if they're long-time loyal employees making significant money.

In my experience, Clear Channel is a already very weak competitor against well-run locally owned stations.

Clear Channel's goal is that all stations will consist of a computer plugged into a transmitter with sales by Google. No pesky payroll required.

 

[CarterB]

Clear Channel is about to take the company mostly private. They will do anything to keep dollars in house rather than waste them on such items as salary etc.

 

[weav]

Anyone who is currently working for a Clear Channel station has all of a sudden become more valuable to that station. A good feeling on one hand and bad feeling on the other hand as one might think "will my position be eliminate next?".

Any salesman on salary and not making quota better be ready to hit the bricks...

Clear Channel acts as if it has no compeition and this should give other stations an opportunity to go after other business or other listener promotions, that is if the other companies have not laid off needed personal or failed to hire them.

Indeed, it's not exactly flush times in a lot of places. At Energy, they cut back on the company limos so the talent have to drive their own cars now. I think a lot of CCU employees will wind up finding other lines of work rather than hopping across town.

 

[DavidKaye]

In my experience, Clear Channel is a already very weak competitor against well-run locally owned stations.

How is it possible to compare? Assuming you're talking about audience when you say "competitor", there are so very few locally-owned stations that a comparison is probably statistically inconsequential. In the 12+ Arbitrons you have to dig down to #30 in order to find a locally-owned station, KNGY, Energy 92.7, and then #31, KRTY. And then there's nothing until #35, KZST.

If you're talking about sales, a listen to various CCU stations gives me the impression that they're not exactly hurting in time sold, either.

 

[weav]

In my experience, Clear Channel is a already very weak competitor against well-run locally owned stations.

How is it possible to compare? Assuming you're talking about audience when you say "competitor", there are so very few locally-owned stations that a comparison is probably statistically inconsequential. ....

I think he meant in other markets, or overall. What you say is true here in market #4; in e.g. Sacramento or even SJ, I'm pretty sure CCU is not so hot against local ownership.

 

[Tibbs4]

Yeah, it's gonna be a blood bath. They're actually going to trim more fat from
already lean machines. Next thing up for cuts --- toilet paper. You'll have to
bring your own.

 

[sfradio]

They already cut their VO's, barely using them on all their stations

 

[flakunkel]

In my experience, Clear Channel is a already very weak competitor against well-run locally owned stations.

How is it possible to compare? Assuming you're talking about audience when you say "competitor", there are so very few locally-owned stations that a comparison is probably statistically inconsequential. In the 12+ Arbitrons you have to dig down to #30 in order to find a locally-owned station, KNGY, Energy 92.7, and then #31, KRTY. And then there's nothing until #35, KZST.

Outside of the San Francisco market, there are several places where CC stations have tried to make inroads on locally-owned stations and failed to make a dent. One example that comes to mind is Bakersfield, where their launches of stations directly targeting local owners American General Media and Buck Owens have been total flops. In the case of AGM they've abandoned the effort. And CC's Bakersfield country station has fallen below a 1 share.