Latest CC rumor

[Bug on the rug]

That they will, EVENTUALLY, sell off individual markets at a discounted price.

And even if CC layed off every employee, they STILL wouldn't be able to make a $2 bil payment in 2014 on a $20 bil loan!

(Maybe if CC posed a threat to facebook, Mark Zuckerberg would pay $1 bil for CC? )

 

[borderblaster]

That they will, EVENTUALLY, sell off individual markets at a discounted price.

And even if CC layed off every employee, they STILL wouldn't be able to make a $2 bil payment in 2014 on a $20 bil loan!

(Maybe if CC posed a threat to facebook, Mark Zuckerberg would pay $1 bil for CC? )

Exactly why CC is pushing iHeartRadio so hard.

 

[Ryan Williams]

That they will, EVENTUALLY, sell off individual markets at a discounted price.

And even if CC layed off every employee, they STILL wouldn't be able to make a $2 bil payment in 2014 on a $20 bil loan!

(Maybe if CC posed a threat to facebook, Mark Zuckerberg would pay $1 bil for CC? )

Ridiculous.

 

[MarioMania]

That they will, EVENTUALLY, sell off individual markets at a discounted price.

And even if CC layed off every employee, they STILL wouldn't be able to make a $2 bil payment in 2014 on a $20 bil loan!

(Maybe if CC posed a threat to facebook, Mark Zuckerberg would pay $1 bil for CC? )

Exactly why CC is pushing iHeartRadio so hard.

Is it working??

 

[borderblaster]

Way too early to tell

 

[microbob]

Pandora still isn't turning a profit so I would imagine CC will not make anything on I Heart Radio for awhile yet.

 

[borderblaster]

I think CC is thinking some big buyout or IPO. Hey. Facebook bought a nine-employee company for a billion dollars yesterday

 

[Brother Doug]

I agree wholeheartedly.. just look what CC has done to Memphis....and the suits running around trying to count people with clipboards....amazing.

 

[TheBigA]

That they will, EVENTUALLY, sell off individual markets at a discounted price.

They still have a bunch of stations in the Aloha Trust that they've been trying to sell at a discounted price for over 5 years.

Those are stations the FCC has required them to sell, and they can't do it. Some in major markets like NY and DC.

To sell stations, even at a discounted price, you need someone with money who wants to buy. That's not easy to find right now. Most of the companies who have money, and would like to buy stations, have already reached the ownership limits.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

That they will, EVENTUALLY, sell off individual markets at a discounted price.

They still have a bunch of stations in the Aloha Trust that they've been trying to sell at a discounted price for over 5 years.

Those are stations the FCC has required them to sell, and they can't do it. Some in major markets like NY and DC.

To sell stations, even at a discounted price, you need someone with money who wants to buy. That's not easy to find right now. Most of the companies who have money, and would like to buy stations, have already reached the ownership limits.

Obviously they have not discounted the price enough. The market is what it is, not what the seller (or buyer) wants it to be.

These trusts that hold castoff stations are a joke.

 

[TheBigA]

Obviously they have not discounted the price enough. The market is what it is, not what the seller (or buyer) wants it to be.

I think they know that. The point is there aren't a whole lot of buyers out there. Any ANY price.

 

[calguy]

So they will continue to dissect the company until it's a series of network channels playing the same thing at the same time everywhere they are all the while guided by a few central programming suits and some board ops... Sadder still, the rest of the cheapskates will follow their lead thinking that it saves them money, and it does. It also strangles an already shaky industry of localism, competition and creativity...

 

[TheBigA]

It also strangles an already shaky industry of localism, competition and creativity...

I'm inside the industry, and I don't share your view. There's more localism at the major companies than at the small locally owned ones. I'm not seeing a lot of "follow the leader" going on. Otherwise there'd be more radio companies investing in new media. There's more competition among all media today than there ever was within radio 30 years ago. And there's a lot of creativity in radio, given that the music they play isn't created by radio companies, and the general public very clearly and obviously prefers hamburger to sushi. By the way, none of the programmers I know wear suits. Most don't even own them.

 

[SimiRadioListener26]

So they will continue to dissect the company until it's a series of network channels playing the same thing at the same time everywhere they are all the while guided by a few central programming suits and some board ops... Sadder still, the rest of the cheapskates will follow their lead thinking that it saves them money, and it does. It also strangles an already shaky industry of localism, competition and creativity...

I don't get it. So it's dangerous when Clear Channel expands (oh noes! corporate radio!!!), but it's also bad when it shrinks? Shouldn't the "I hate corporate radio" crowd be happy over the possibility of CC being gutted?

 

[nmoore6676]

So they will continue to dissect the company until it's a series of network channels playing the same thing at the same time everywhere they are all the while guided by a few central programming suits and some board ops... Sadder still, the rest of the cheapskates will follow their lead thinking that it saves them money, and it does. It also strangles an already shaky industry of localism, competition and creativity...

But to the average listener out there does it matter? Howard Stern proved the people would listen to a morning show that was not live and local. Here in Iowa, many stations are hooked into a Dial Global total format. Or something like "The True Oldies Channel". The ones which are local are automated and tracked using local talent. The owner of one local AM/FM combo is the "DJ" for both signals and it is not a simulcast (one is current hits and the other oldies). They also have local news, a morning show on the FM and a local callin on the AM but the rest is music from the computers. What would be the difference if they had DJs coming down from the bird if people only listen mainly for the music. The other local combo, three FMs and one AM is all Dial on the FMs and syndicated talk on the AM. It is the wave of the future but CC will keep it all in house rather than contracting to a program provider. Which might explain the demise of Westwood One. If the big guys program all their own stations there is less market share for out of house programming.

 

[borderblaster]

If consolidation never happened, and we had the ownership rules of the 80s, we'd have mostly out of house programming, not tons of local DJs hitting the post and doing comedy bits between songs. Westwood One would be providing those formats and voice tracks. We'd have a bunch of stations that would have gone silent years ago as well. CBS just sold its West Palm Beach cluster to a local owner. I'm betting they won't be hiring a slew of DJs.

 

[garnet]

At least with consolidation we don't have to hear about some loser 9 yr old crying about their lost puppy. Although, sometimes its would be nice to end a break with something other than "dot com"...but anything else doesn't do anything for the bottom line. And be honest, did any of us give a rats ass about the puppy?...only if suckers would call begging for its safe return...close to tears always a plus!

 

[calguy]

It also strangles an already shaky industry of localism, competition and creativity...

I'm inside the industry, and I don't share your view. There's more localism at the major companies than at the small locally owned ones. I'm not seeing a lot of "follow the leader" going on. Otherwise there'd be more radio companies investing in new media. There's more competition among all media today than there ever was within radio 30 years ago. And there's a lot of creativity in radio, given that the music they play isn't created by radio companies, and the general public very clearly and obviously prefers hamburger to sushi. By the way, none of the programmers I know wear suits. Most don't even own them.

I'm inside the industry as well and that's how I see it. Depends on your view of localism. For some it's a PSA every hour for others it's an actual show that originates from that city. Yes, there's more competition, anyone with a computer and some cash can set up an internet station, and then there are the competitors that have been around like TV-cable and satellite. But you're surmising that without consolidation the industry would have died. Since consolidation happened we'll never know if things would have changed or not. One thing I do know is that for those "inside" it's not a very fun or profitable way to make a living anymore and that there are a LOT less jobs. At least before deregulation the real idiots of the industry didn't have control over so many stations and believe me, there are some real jerks running things now days... When I think back 20 years, things seemed pretty good to me. I made 3 times as much money and there were many more outlets to find a job at, not so today... Now I make a fraction of what I used to and work 10 times harder, but the suits are living higher off the hog than ever before and don't seem to be doing anything more than they ever did, go to meetings and sit behind a desk wondering how they can squeeze the lemon harder.

 

[TheBigA]

Depends on your view of localism. For some it's a PSA every hour for others it's an actual show that originates from that city.

If you look at the programming at stations owned by CBS, Entercom, Cox, or Lincoln Financial, all shows originate from that city. They're very big companies, with big loans to pay back, and they're not following the leader. They're not the only ones. Cumulus owns the former ABC/Satellite Music Networks 24/7 formats, which they syndicate to hundreds of small, locally owned stations. But they don't run those formats on their own stations. In most cases, they're running local shows from local DJs. So your generalization is really incorrect.

But you're surmising that without consolidation the industry would have died. Since consolidation happened we'll never know if things would have changed or not.

I was there, and I know what was happening. Voice-tracking began five years before consolidation. LMAs began in the 80s. Satellite-delivered formats started in the 80s, and replaced tape-delivered formats from the 60s. Consultants were really running local programming, not PDs. That’s the reality I worked in before 1996. I’ve said many times that without consolidation, we’d be in the same place with a lot fewer stations. Because a lot of older owners like NBC were getting out, and were replaced by radio-only companies. The days of diversified insurance or electronics companies owning broadcasting was over.

One thing I do know is that for those "inside" it's not a very fun or profitable way to make a living anymore and that there are a LOT less jobs.

There are also a lot less jobs in the auto industry. A lot fewer cashiers at the local grocery store. A lot less traditional jobs in all industries. What I see in radio is that a lot of people have failed to grow their skills and talents as the industry and technology changed. I still know on-air guys who don’t have an email address, and refuse to do social media. There are a lot of jobs in broadcasting if people get their heads out of the 70s. Clear Channel is growing in this area, and it gets overshadowed by the cutbacks in the traditional side of the business. How much have you invested in your own career? Time and money? You’re whining because there are fewer high paying jobs with benefits. Look around. Even the government is trying to wipe out that kind of life. The changes that happened in broadcasting came about at the same time as a sociological and technological revolution. No question that it was going to have an effect on the way things used to be. You need to understand those changes and find ways to profit from them. But they weren’t caused by deregulation.

 

[calguy]

Depends on your view of localism. For some it's a PSA every hour for others it's an actual show that originates from that city.

If you look at the programming at stations owned by CBS, Entercom, Cox, or Lincoln Financial, all shows originate from that city. They're very big companies, with big loans to pay back, and they're not following the leader. They're not the only ones. Cumulus owns the former ABC/Satellite Music Networks 24/7 formats, which they syndicate to hundreds of small, locally owned stations. But they don't run those formats on their own stations. In most cases, they're running local shows from local DJs. So your generalization is really incorrect.

But you're surmising that without consolidation the industry would have died. Since consolidation happened we'll never know if things would have changed or not.

I was there, and I know what was happening. Voice-tracking began five years before consolidation. LMAs began in the 80s. Satellite-delivered formats started in the 80s, and replaced tape-delivered formats from the 60s. Consultants were really running local programming, not PDs. That’s the reality I worked in before 1996. I’ve said many times that without consolidation, we’d be in the same place with a lot fewer stations. Because a lot of older owners like NBC were getting out, and were replaced by radio-only companies. The days of diversified insurance or electronics companies owning broadcasting was over.

One thing I do know is that for those "inside" it's not a very fun or profitable way to make a living anymore and that there are a LOT less jobs.

There are also a lot less jobs in the auto industry. A lot fewer cashiers at the local grocery store. A lot less traditional jobs in all industries. What I see in radio is that a lot of people have failed to grow their skills and talents as the industry and technology changed. I still know on-air guys who don’t have an email address, and refuse to do social media. There are a lot of jobs in broadcasting if people get their heads out of the 70s. Clear Channel is growing in this area, and it gets overshadowed by the cutbacks in the traditional side of the business. How much have you invested in your own career? Time and money? You’re whining because there are fewer high paying jobs with benefits. Look around. Even the government is trying to wipe out that kind of life. The changes that happened in broadcasting came about at the same time as a sociological and technological revolution. No question that it was going to have an effect on the way things used to be. You need to understand those changes and find ways to profit from them. But they weren’t caused by deregulation.

I can agree with most of what you've said as I was there as well, and I was voice tracking in the 70's, so your history lesson wasn't necessary. But I see it differently. By the way, I have a social media presence and my own home recording studio, so I'm doing everything I can to stay relevant in the business just like most of the people I know. CC is now a radio only company? They are not owned by a radio only company, it's an investment firm. I have no problem with companies saving a dime, but many do it at the expense of those who actually put the product on the air, The GM's, GSM's and those above them all seem to be doing well. When a guy bankrupts a company because of greed and ego and then walks away with 40 million that it's okay? I have no problem with progress, I just don't think the path taken to get there has been handled very well. Yes the Government is doing so well making change isn't it? Lets not even go there as we all know how many crooks there are in congress. You have a different viewpoint, I can respect that, but it's not the way I'm seeing the industry. I see it flushing itself down the drain and taking it's people with it.