CC-Bot, coming to (a)ll stations near you...

[Cameron]

Allaccess.com

Clear Channel Unveils National Programming Plan

New Programming Plan
Our programming objective is to increase audience size and engagement across all day parts and all platforms.
Two major programming announcements are coming out of the CLEAR CHANNEL Management Meetings in DALLAS, as the company has unveiled what it calls "a multi-point plan to raise the bar for radio programming across all dayparts and platforms, including online and mobile." The plan includes the expected introduction of national and regional programming in a program called "Premium Choice" that the company says makes proven programming and popular on-air talent available more broadly to local PDs in all markets for all dayparts.

CLEAR CHANNEL RADIO Pres./CEO JOHN HOGAN said, "Our programming objective is to increase audience size and engagement across all dayparts and all platforms. At the same time, we face a particularly difficult economy that makes it extremely challenging for some local stations to invest in developing the highest-quality programming and talent. So despite the difficult economy, we see enormous long-term opportunity in investing in things that immediately improve the competitive situation of our stations."

Premium Choice Programming

The long-rumored rollout of regional and national programming appears to be taking the form of what CLEAR CHANNEL is calling "Premium Choice" Programming. According to CLEAR CHANNEL, programmers will have "total choice and flexibility in choosing the Premium Choice programming elements. They can elect large portions, single pieces, or none of the offered programming."

"These improvements have been part of the company's long-term strategy to strengthen its competitive position," added HOGAN. "We're accelerating these pieces because of the undeniable competitive opportunity presented by this market."

Among the Premium Choice offerings are RYAN SEACREST and STEVE HARVEY, based on the evaluation of new PPM-based audience-measurement reports and data produced by CLEAR CHANNEL RADIO's proprietary talent performance tool.

...and when people start bitching that it's all national programming with no local talent...cue this smoke-screen to keep the licenses...

Allaccess.com

Clear Channel Local Plan Features PSAs, Partnerships
In the second sweeping programming initiative out of the current CLEAR CHANNEL Management Meeting taking place in DALLAS is what the company calls a "new level of commitment to local community affairs that will define a new, higher 'minimum level of service' for all markets. The commitment spans five areas: charitable partnerships, public-service announcements (PSAs), local public-affairs programming, local advisory boards, and 24/7 access to station management for local officials." The initiative appears to be offered as a counterbalance to the potential introduction of expanded regional and national programming under the "Premium Choice" program unveiled by the company at the same time (see story above).

CLEAR CHANNEL RADIO Pres./CEO JOHN HOGAN explained, "We are materially increasing our commitment to community programming, increasing our accountability, and broadening our public-service contributions in every local market we serve. We believe when radio focuses on serving local communities, it is radio at its finest."

Included are what the company characterizes as improvements to, and expansions of, existing programs, as well as the launch of entirely new programs. In several cases, the company is expanding the reach of individual market's "best practices" as well as adding new local-service programs.

They can elect large portions, single pieces, or none of the offered programming

Translation: They can elect to keep large portions of their current salary by carrying option-1, pieces of their salary, or none of their salary.

[Force Commander]

Has anyone ever read my signature at the bottom of my posts?

[Hoosier Daddy]

National programming from Clear Channel.
Someone in Dallas hits a button, and Britney Spears plays on 800 stations at the same time.



I'm sure one of those consultant-led "focus groups" will swear this is what we said we wanted ...

Did anyone else besides me see this coming?

[genlock]

Why did it take so long?
Is there anyone left locally for the grim reaper to get?

[Cameron]

By-George, that, "By-May" info I was given looks like it's right-on-time.

[The Interpreter]

This could certainly explain the decided turn towards even more negativity recently taken by a certain local talk show host in the Huntington area, even telling listeners LOUDLY to CHANGE THE STATION, if they wish. Virtually 90 percent of each of his recent shows has been decidedly cynical, negative and even strident. I guess fear can and does do that to a person.

[genlock]

Waiting for Clear-Channel to act was like waiting for Bray Cary to finally decide to consolidate operations of his TV stations.
It will eventually have to be done but some money will have to be spent up front to get it going.
Bray hasn't had very much luck peddling his stations, neither has CC.
Can't run them like this forever.

[genlock]

OK, Cameron, which in-n-out burger are you going to visit?

[Cameron]

OK, Cameron, which in-n-out burger are you going to visit?

Dean Martin Drive.
(Although I have been going there since it was called the lowly, "Industrial Blvd.".)
The routine is as follows:
Get off the plane at McCarran.
Check in to hotel at kiosk.
Get luggage.
Get rental car.
Get your arse to In-N-Out.
...and that's how it's been for over a decade with no signs of changing it now.

The one near UNLV is the backup site with the one south of McCarran running as third.

Corona, California was still the best after the Buffet concert.

The great "Cheesecake" Desrochers of MRN engineering-fame (A.K.A. Billy Mays' stand-in)
got is nickname at the Ontario In-N-Out before a side-trip to see Dennis Miller Live in Studio City.

But I digest...er....digress...Dean Martin location.

[herdgirl72]

OK, Cameron, which in-n-out burger are you going to visit?

Dean Martin Drive.
(Although I have been going there since it was called the lowly, "Industrial Blvd.".)
The routine is as follows:
Get off the plane at McCarran.
Check in to hotel at kiosk.
Get luggage.
Get rental car.
Get your arse to In-N-Out.
...and that's how it's been for over a decade with no signs of changing it now.

The one near UNLV is the backup site with the one south of McCarran running as third.

Corona, California was still the best after the Buffet concert.

The great "Cheesecake" Desrochers of MRN engineering-fame (A.K.A. Billy Mays' stand-in)
got is nickname at the Ontario In-N-Out before a side-trip to see Dennis Miller Live in Studio City.

But I digest...er....digress...Dean Martin location.

Fifteen minutes later, the answer to your question Gen...

[EZ103.3FM]

OK, Cameron, which in-n-out burger are you going to visit?

Dean Martin Drive.
(Although I have been going there since it was called the lowly, "Industrial Blvd.".)
The routine is as follows:
Get off the plane at McCarran.
Check in to hotel at kiosk.
Get luggage.
Get rental car.
Get your arse to In-N-Out.
...and that's how it's been for over a decade with no signs of changing it now.

The one near UNLV is the backup site with the one south of McCarran running as third.

Corona, California was still the best after the Buffet concert.

The great "Cheesecake" Desrochers of MRN engineering-fame (A.K.A. Billy Mays' stand-in)
got is nickname at the Ontario In-N-Out before a side-trip to see Dennis Miller Live in Studio City.

But I digest...er....digress...Dean Martin location.

Fifteen minutes later, the answer to your question Gen...

When I was in Vegas last year and on my own for lunch, I wasted my time going to Puck's and Flay's places for lunch. I should have tried the in-N-Out...and I'm not being sarcastic. I'll have to try one if there's a next time.

[genlock]

At NAB, I always enjoyed the hospitality rooms and free dinners offered by the
vendors. Our Legal group had an excellent feed and bar. Door prizes and freebies galore.

[The Interpreter]

Of course, that was then and this is now. The way things are going, the reception may well be Ritz crackers with canned tuna...if that!

[Mike]

CC sucks. Sorry, they are robot radio. If you work for them, you are either a robot or will shortly be replaced by them.

[cgarison]

I was greatly disgusted to find out by the end of February all CC stations in Philly essentially had no local talent. Canned radio shows from NYC for the Morning Drive. Ryan Seacrest has one of several flavors on most stations for midday. Then some putz is VT'ing from who knows where for the afternoon drive. And music is on the back burner for useless host chit-chat. The CC Borg stations have been replaced on my car presets with stations owned by other companies.

CC has destroyed themselves. Only NYC is guaranteed to have live shows because of union contracts.

[Mike]

Ryan Seacrest is the biggest no talent ass clown in the history of radio that for some reason has been judged the 2nd coming of Casey Kasem and Dick Clark.

He isn't a boil on their asses. He's boring, stupid, and generally only entertaining to those with an IQ lower than the floors in the tallest building in Huntington.

[Big Media]

Ryan Seacrest is the biggest no talent ass clown in the history of radio that for some reason has been judged the 2nd coming of Casey Kasem and Dick Clark.

He isn't a boil on their asses. He's boring, stupid, and generally only entertaining to those with an IQ lower than the floors in the tallest building in Huntington.

Bingo. My new signature quote.

[Mr. Jones]

Ryan Seacrest is the biggest no talent ass clown in the history of radio that for some reason has been judged the 2nd coming of Casey Kasem and Dick Clark.

He isn't a boil on their asses. He's boring, stupid, and generally only entertaining to those with an IQ lower than the floors in the tallest building in Huntington.

Bingo. My new signature quote.

Damn... you took my idea. Can we put that at the top of the board, under the Dedications?

[Arp2]

Ryan Seacrest is the biggest no talent ass clown in the history of radio that for some reason has been judged the 2nd coming of Casey Kasem and Dick Clark.

He isn't a boil on their asses. He's boring, stupid, and generally only entertaining to those with an IQ lower than the floors in the tallest building in Huntington.

In case you never noticed, Casey was never much of a talent, either. He was in one of those "wow, what an amazing gig to have...if you can get it" gigs. But what you perceive as the quality of a countdown host is really the quality of the countdown's writer(s) and producer(s).

I think Ryan clearly is the next Dick Clark, and, for that, I'll give him all the credit in the world. I'll also give him (almost) all the credit in the world for his KIIS morning show; if I were in LA, I'd listen to it and enjoy it. That doesn't mean that I'll ever have an interest in listening to his canned generic shows from a couple thousand miles away, though.

[AmpedNow]

His morning show on KIIS is pretty much the AI radio outlet, which is the major reason for his huge ratings. Even in the off season like the AI auditions in the fall, the audience still knows what's going on.

With that said, Ryan got his start in radio... It may be safe to say that he's only this big because of AI. But it wouldn't be fair to say that he wouldn't be working in radio without AI. Even with a morning show at a major market station.

I like him. Not that I'm crazy about his radio talents, but he works his ass off.

Between a four hour morning show, VTing AT 40, and hosting AI, there's much time for anything else.