ClearChannel Wants More Stations Per Market

[SmokeRing]

No shock here. ClearChannel is lobbying the FCC to allow radio companies to own more than eight stations in the largest markets:
http://www.randr.com/Newsroom/2006_08_07/cclobbying.asp

The groups lining up to block this are stronger and more vocal than ever, but I'm not sure they're strong enough. Radio Pros are probably going to have to unionize if corporate radio is going to be kept in check. I've never been a proponent of unions, but my recent experiences with corporate bosses have led me to believe that a Radio Union would be the lesser of the two evils. And if you're going to have two corrupt institutions, it would be nice if one of them is looking out for you. Plus, a Radio Union would show up at these FCC hearings. Right now, Radio Pros have no voice in the process. And they're getting screwed because of it. Fewer employers. Fewer jobs. Far less pay than the same positions paid 10 or 15 or 20 years ago--and that's without inflationary adjustments.

And let's face it. The current version of Corporate Radio doesn't stand a chance vs. the iPod. We all know it. If terrestrial radio is going to stand a competitive chance in the future, just like in Hollywood, the creative workers are going to have to come to the table and start influencing things.

 

[klifhanger]

Regretably,those with the major influence are on the side of the corps. They have the $$ to buy decisons. Its been that way since the telecom act was passed and gained momentum on Jan.20,2001. Now its an out of control monster devouring stations right and left. IF CC and others want to make money then sell the underperforming stations to those who can do something with them. That ain't gonna happen in major markets. "Greed' as noted in the movie "wallstreet" is good. CC and their brethren corps believe in Greed and control. Diversity is weakend and relegated to the dictionary. Many groups and individuals oppose futher expansion of ownership,but they don't have influential pacs and there is not enough of them to get the word out,especially if the outlets that used to delive the word are controlled by CC and co. Do you simply lay down on your sword and surrender? No. But what are you willing to do to get others behind you to fight this cancer? That's when the FCC will notice you.

 

[nuzguy]

Good quote from Wall Street, the movie. Corporate radio profit meisters say greed is not only good, it's great, i's outstanding. They cheerfully admit, " greed is us."

A united front is the only answer to the tele comm act's license for corporate radio to print money. Restructuring and the consolidation it allows have turned out to be the best government blessing of a monopoly money can buy.

 

[jbhtexas]

And let's face it. The current version of Corporate Radio doesn't stand a chance vs. the iPod. We all know it. If terrestrial radio is going to stand a competitive chance in the future, just like in Hollywood, the creative workers are going to have to come to the table and start influencing things.

The iPod killing off Corporate Radio in the short-term might be the only solution to the long-term survival of terrestrial radio. Kind of like how a forest fire destroying the junk that has taken over the forest acutally promotes the regrowth of a more vibrant forest. If it gets bad enought that even CC has bankrupty staring them in the face, they may be forced to have a massive "fire" sale, at which point the creative folks can jump in and buy some stations and properly resurrect them. Unfortunately, along the way, lots of folks are going to get burned, to continue the analogy, and lose jobs. It's really sad.

I wouldn't count on much help from the FCC. I've been somewhat following another "little guy" issue (the building out of the cellular network in rural areas). The cellular corps play their games, the people end up with poor or no cell service, and all while the FCC watches it go on year after year and does nothing.

 

[airwave999]

Media, like most busineses, goes through its cycles of expansion and contraction. I believe we are in the end of the expansion cycle. No doubt Ipods and satellite radio are the giant equalizers to terrestrial radio run by the large publicly held corps like CC and the rest. The only way for them to survive is economies of scale and in the face of declining revenues their only solution is to get bigger. Unfortunately for them, this country is about to go through a fundamental polictical change that will most certainly lead to the contraction business phase we are about to see in media. There is no question that the ruling Republicans are about to lose congress, which will in effect neutralize the FCC. Nothing will be accomplished and no further expansion of the 1996 act will be passed to even get to the White House for a signature. CBS sees the light and you see it in the rampant rumors out there of a giant sell-off. Where there's that much smoke there has to be a fire somewhere. Sumner Redstone sees it. Without the ability to grow in the face of declining shares and revenues in major markets, shareholders will demand unit sales. I wouldn't be surprised if you could pick up a station in the not so distant future in the neighborhood of a 5 times cash flow vs. the 10-15 today. Only then, will you see individuals and small companies take back terrestrial radio. Even then, how pervasive will the Ipod and satellite radio be? Would it even be worth it for anyone to invest in a shrinking industry? In the end content is king and if the really talented folks out there can direct their ideas to a forum where they will be heard in mass then you have found radio's future. Today, that seems to be the Internet and Satellite Radio. The Ipod is simply a secondary delivery devise. The place or medium to watch is where the content is born.

 

[copydesk2]

A highly accurate assessment of the situation in a most literate thread.