XM going local/regional thanks to CC

[kaufcom]

One of the key advantages that over the air radio has over satellite radio is the ability to offer local talk programming. While the great majority of top syndicated talkers are available on satellite radio, over the air radio has maintained an exclusive franchise on a local and regional talk. Not anymore. A short while ago Clear Channel gave the okay to XM to add WLW in Cincinnati to its channel line-up. Most of the talkers on WLW do local/regional talk. They include the following personalities:

Scott Sloan
Gary Jeff Walker
Earl Pitts
Darryl Parks
Mike McConnell
Alan Cutler
Sterling
Bill Boshears
Tom Gamble
Richard Skinner

Now Clear Channel and XM have announced a deal to launch six more local/regional talk stations on XM. If those station offer as many talkers as WLW that would mean that XM subscribers will have access to 70 local/regional talkers. So much for over the air radio's advantage over satellite. And why would CC make such a deal? Oh yes, they are an investor in XM.
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[radiophile]

> Now Clear Channel and XM have announced a deal to launch six
> more local/regional talk stations on XM. If those station
> offer as many talkers as WLW that would mean that XM
> subscribers will have access to 70 local/regional talkers.
> So much for over the air radio's advantage over satellite.
> And why would CC make such a deal? Oh yes, they are an
> investor in XM.
>
One problem: CC doesn't have another N/T station like WLW. Most of their N/T stations carry Rush and many carry Glen Beck and other syndicated hosts. Finding orignial regional content for 18 or 19 hours a day five (let alone 7) days a week will be a patchwork challenge. Guess overnights and weekends will be filled with a lot of Best Ofs.

 

[nwebster]

Back to the Future

Before WLW was the "Big 700," it was "The Nation's Station." Ted Turner did not invent the idea of the "Superstation," WLW did. Even at 50kw, they cover most of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky and historically were a presence in the Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Indianapolis markets (and beyond). At 500kw, they reached most of the midwest during the day and most of North America at night.

Other Clear Channel clear channel stations have also had a strong regional presence beyond their immediate presence(KOA, KFI, KNBR, WGY for example). Yes, they do carry syndicated programming (mostly - but not exclusively from Premiere). So far Premiere Radio has held back on putting their talk radio programming on satellite radio - but, sooner or later, it's got to happen. Maybe Clear Channel's regional stations are Rush's indirect entre to satellite.

Also look for one of the satellite radio services to sign WGN and maybe KGO.

 

[OldAkronite]

Local Programming on the Bird

> Maybe Clear
> Channel's regional stations are Rush's indirect entre to
> satellite.

I don't see that happening at all. If Clear Channel/Premiere wanted to put Rush on satellite, they've been programming talk channels - or providing content to talk channels - on XM since day one. Glenn Beck, for example, was on XM's "Buzz" channel early on in his run.

I don't think they're gonna run Rush on any of these channels. I could be wrong, though.

> Also look for one of the satellite radio services to sign
> WGN and maybe KGO.

Interesting idea. I don't see it happening, but who knows if Sirius, for example, sees the need to do this to respond to the need for "local information" on the bird? They ran WSM/Nashville for years, only recently restructuring it to a mostly satellite-only channel ("WSM Entertainment").

It would appear, though, that this move is yet another piece of fallout from the Clear Channel/XM arbitration settlement, giving CC six more channels to sell commercial time on (seven, if you count WSIX-FM)...and nothing more.

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Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>

 

[mightynine]

> And why would CC make such a deal? Oh yes, they are an
> investor in XM.

Better find another reason. CC's long since sold their stake in XM.