Clear Channel going private or new ownership????

[Toddy-0]

CNBC had a story this morning about Clear Channel either going private or a group of investors (Blackstone and KKR among others mentioned) buying the ownership.

If so, could Radioactive buy the Cincinnati cluster????

 

[hipporadio]

CNBC had a story this morning about Clear Channel either going private or a group of investors (Blackstone and KKR among others mentioned) buying the ownership.

I read an article in the biz section of my local paper this morning that CC has enlisted the guidance of Goldman-Sacks (that means they are cutting a check) to advise them on "the new frontiers of their broadcast future - and to identify ways to maximize shareholder value"... WHAT???... The likes of G/S (usually sought after for I.P.O.s and major "restructuring") a full decade AFTER the ink dried on the Telcom Bill! ???

 

[hipporadio]

deleated... SORRY

 

[techie2]

I don't think they are going private in the sense that Emmis did (or at least talked about) where the Smulyans were to buy back all the public stock. It sounds like in the CC case that the Mays family is looking for someone to buy out their share or that the company will be bought by an investment group...which will likely then attempt to increase its value and sell it at a profit.

 

[tcsnrayp]

Mays mafia is going to cash out. No more blood in that turnip.

quoted from "knozall" on the Atlanta board

 

[WyllyWylly]

If so, could Radioactive buy the Cincinnati cluster????

Call me crazy, but I can't see them giving up their flagship station, the one responsible for the company name.

 

[major]

Clear Channel is based out of San Anonio, Texas. Their flagship is WOAI 1200AM.

 

[WyllyWylly]

I'm showing my ignorance. I thought the company was named for the WLW. Either way, I still don't see them giving up that cash cow.

 

[majicjim]

I'm showing my ignorance. I thought the company was named for the WLW. Either way, I still don't see them giving up that cash cow.

Avco Broadcasting formerly owned WOAI and WLW..the term "clear channel" referred to its 50,000 watt signal back then

 

[titoisradio]

I'm showing my ignorance. I thought the company was named for the WLW. Either way, I still don't see them giving up that cash cow.

Avco Broadcasting formerly owned WOAI and WLW..the term "clear channel" referred to its 50,000 watt signal back then

'
When did Avco own WLW?

 

[hipporadio]

I'm showing my ignorance. I thought the company was named for the WLW. Either way, I still don't see them giving up that cash cow.

Avco Broadcasting formerly owned WOAI and WLW..the term "clear channel" referred to its 50,000 watt signal back then

'
When did Avco own WLW?

I believe Avco operated WLW until (the late 70s or about 1980 - ??? ). It was sold it to the former Mariner Communications - who allowed it to nearly "melt down" - then returned to its "glory" by Randy M after Mariner developed financial troubles and sold 700 to a local group called Seven Hills Communications. I admit to NOT knowing the exact date, but I seem to remember 7 Hills aquiring WLW and hiring Mr M around '82 or '83. Avco also operated TV 5/WLWC/Cincy; TV 2/WLWD/Dayton; TV 4/WLWC/Columbus; and TV 13/WLWI/Indy.

 

[Toddy-0]

Avco Broadcasting (Aviation Company) bought Powel Crosley out in the very early 50's. The name Crosley Broadcasting remained until the late 60's when AVCO started using their own name. AVCO sold out in 1976 to Multimedia and the group with Seven Hills group.

 

[major]

I did not know Avco owned WOAI.

Someone please verify these two stories I remembering hearing during this Avco time period:

1. Avco bet the company on their video laser disc system that went nowhere. They lost so much $$$ they had to sell their broadcasting properties.

2. Avco Financial is all that remains today of this company.

 

[Toddy-0]

I stand corrected. Avco sold WLW to Mariner (Led by Charlie M. and others). Mariner sold to Seven Hills when the mass exodus from Taft Broadcasting occurred in 1982. The rest is history.

At one time AVCO/Crosley also owned a station in Atlanta, WLW-A-TV now WXIA.

 

[microbob]

AVCO had a regional TV network with WLWT Cincinnati as its flagship station serving its other TV stations in Columbus, Dayton, & Indianapolis with midday programming. Not sure if WLWA Atlanta picked up their daytime block of live shows.


AVCO was into manufacturing of TV Cameras also and I think they were one of the first Companies that had color capability as WLWT was one of the first color TV stations in the country.

 

[brian65]

I heard Jim Scott this morning do a tease that he was going to have some information about the 'real people' behind the scenes at Clear Channel. I don't listen to Scott anymore but I heard that while changing the station, so I never actually heard what that segment consisted of.

It seemed an odd topic though. I think it was to occur in the 7.30-8.00 segment, Monday morning.

 

[hipporadio]

AVCO had a regional TV network with WLWT Cincinnati as its flagship station serving its other TV stations in Columbus, Dayton, & Indianapolis with midday programming...

AVCO was into manufacturing of TV Cameras also and I think they were one of the first Companies that had color capability as WLWT was one of the first color TV stations in the country.

That would be Paul "Baby" Dixon (with his "camera pans" of ladies legs in the studio audience) at 9AM; the Ruth Lyons (and later) Bob Braun "50-50 Club" at noon; and the "original" Phil Donahue show in the afternoon. They also had "The Midwestern Hayride" on Saturday afternoons. All these programs were in color (circa 1968) on Channel 5 - but remained in black-and-white on WLWI (Indy) and WLWD (Dayton) until around 1970.

 

[Toddy-0]

All programs on WLWT were in color as far back as 51, 52 or 53. WLWT helped invent the technical side of color television (with the engineers at NBC) and, was, in fact, called Colortown U.S.A.

When did WLW move from the Comex building to 3 East 4th Street?

 

[majicjim]

When did Avco own WLW?
[/quote]

1960s up to early 1970s. AViation COrporation purchased Crosley Broadcasting in late 1950s after the death of Powell Crosley,but kept the Crosley name up until the mid 60s when it was dropped to promote the new owner's identity. Avco also owned a financial service division,a record label of the same name and New Idea Farm Equipment in addition to TV stations in Cincinnati,Dayton,Columbus,Indianapolis and San Antonio before the 1975-76 selloff.

 

[majicjim]

There was an excellent book published in the early 70s by Prentice-Hall entitled "Not Just A Sound...The History of WLW" which chronicles Powell Crosley's WLW beginnings up through the Avco era. If you can find that now outof print book at an auction,garage sale or used book store..more power to 'ya.