So here's a piece from Clear Channel's recent FCC filing that I didn't notice before: the largest radio conglomerate in the country is calling satellite radio "a genuine threat" to terrestrial radio.
Maybe they didn't get the memo from Cox Radio? Didn't Robert Neil say that satellite radio just wasn't "a real business" - and yet now it's a genuine threat?
In the filing, Clear Channel said a merged XM and Sirius would create "a genuine threat to the economic framework of terrestrial broadcast radio."
But of course, Clear Channel is no stranger to building up that "economic framework." Clear Channel's co-founder Red McCombs (who started the radio giant with Lowry Mays back in the '70s) has a personal net worth of a whopping $1.6 Billion.
And this "genuine threat" consists of a mere 4.1% metro unweighted quarter hours, according to the latest Arbitron numbers. Oh but, the company which is synonymous with "monopoly," is now crying foul. Lest we forget, Clear Channel's forward sales agreement with XM (a product of their early investment in the satcaster) is set to expire in June of this year, at which time they're expected to hand over 8.3 million shares in XM to Bear Stearns.
So I wonder if they have any ulterior motives in seeing the merger get scuttled? Nah, I'm sure it's all just completely "genuine."
[via FMQB]
Maybe if the Clear Channel station i did get would turn off the HD i could get them again.
So many people i know can no longer get them because of sharing the power with the HD.
I talked to the Engineer at the station and i am not the only one that has lost the station.
What he tells me is CC does not care that they have lost listeners it is that they want HD in all the cars.
Is that the same Red McCombs who used to own the Minnesota Vikings? If so, I hate him even more!
Hey Clear Channel "Go **** yourself"!
xm_rube - yes, it's the same one.
So, if the agreement expires in June, does this mean we can get rid of Nashville (move the Opry to 10 or 17), Kiss, Mix, Sunny, WSIX, and some of their talk programming? Could we see a possible return of The Torch and/or Music Lab, or some other lost channels? Or, if approved, would the bandwidth used by the CC stations be used to possibly bring over some of Sirius's channels? Could be interesting.
So says the "evil empire".. they should know threat.. they invented threat as far as radio is concerned...
You know what's another threat to the economic framework of terrestrial radio? Sucking!
so is blowing.. they have that equal, one sucks while the other blows effect..
how can clearchannel blame sat radio for their fall.....it's not sat radio's fault they choose to play they same songs and people want an alternative...if FM radio used HD radio to branch out (MORE independent music more songs and no repeats) then they could do well, but they are too money hungry and choose to play what they want! and who is the NAB to tell us what benefits the consumer when those douche bags dont even have satellite radio! WHAT DO THEY KNOW!!!!!!
how can clearchannel blame sat radio for their fall.....it's not sat radio's fault they choose to play they same songs and people want an alternative...if FM radio used HD radio to branch out (MORE independent music more songs and no repeats) then they could do well, but they are too money hungry and choose to play what they want! and who is the NAB to tell us what benefits the consumer when those douche bags dont even have satellite radio! WHAT DO THEY KNOW!!!!!!
It sounds to me like Clear Channel is looking to the government for a bailout of their failing business model.
Hmmm, Why does that sound familiar?
What a bunch of ass-napkins...
it's funny watching the bloated radio executives and industry types run around like panicked little cockroaches. I've been waiting years for satellite radio to transform the landscape that the Cox's and Clearchannels destroyed. Although Clearchannel's pathetic little stunt of forcing XM through arbitration to run commercials on KISS and MIX is annoying, basically they fucked radio and now they are getting what they deserve. The only time I switch away from my XM is to listen to college radio...those kids do great programming. Even NPR is a big yawn...they never snapped out of their stupor..who cares about "Prairie Home Companion"...
The payola, the Arbitrons...it's all one giant bad movie. I have producer friends who are finally getting decent royalties through iTunes and satellite, and they could care less about terrestrial...