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The Ultimate Irony: Clear Channel Acquires Metro Traffic

And now that they've purchased the competition, they'll not only be free to cut some more, they'll practically be mandated to cut in order to pay the debt service on the loans for the purchase. Then again, maybe they'll make up the difference in "synergies"... ::)
 
SirRoxalot said:
And now that they've purchased the competition, they'll not only be free to cut some more, they'll practically be mandated to cut in order to pay the debt service on the loans for the purchase. Then again, maybe they'll make up the difference in "synergies"... ::)
Click to expand...

They can pay for it out of cash flow.

And it greatly enhances the new media strategy for CC.

I suspect that a number of comparable purchases will happen, as a few have already, as part of Pittman's plan to move beyond whatever a Harris or Nautel can pump out.
 
Another way to look at it (since this is The Business of Radio topic) is when two competitors merge, it opens the door for a new entity to debut. IF someone is looking for a new opportunity. Let's face it: Traffic information is easily obtainable. It doesn't cost a lot to do traffic reporting today. So let's say you're John Dickie. Why should you use traffic information from a competitor? Do you really want to share your revenue with CC? Probably not. Same with CBS. What's their upside to using Metro now? This is a potential opportunity for someone to start a new news & traffic service for radio, positioned as an independent. I really think there will be interest if they know what they're doing. This is a temporary advantage for CC as long as everyone else is satisfied. But there's a reason why TTN had to buy its competition. If CC starts laying off people, and those people know how to run a traffic service, there is potential for a new traffic service to pop up.
 
TheBigA said:
Same with CBS. What's their upside to using Metro now?
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Yeah, I have to wonder what the Metro clients in CC markets such as San Diego think about this? I was a once a Metro/Shadow employee who did nothing but work as part of the morning show for a CBS station and I think there are at least one or two Metro people now who serve as part of the air staff of a non-CC station (they do more than just traffic reports and are on just one station). Of course, the way radio is now, maybe no one will care that their afternoon show sidekick is an employee of CC.

Oh well, the number of jobs in radio just got smaller, again.
 
radio-darn said:
Of course, the way radio is now, maybe no one will care that their afternoon show sidekick is an employee of CC.
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The listeners may not care, but the suits at CBS care. As I said, I doubt they want to trust their air signal to CC employees.
 
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