Clear Channel lobbies for media ownership rules change

CLEAR CHANNEL LOBBIES FOR CHANGE
[SOURCE: TheDeal.com, AUTHOR: Ron Orol]
Despite the certainty of another high-profile battle with opponents of media consolidation, Clear Channel Communications Inc. has quietly floated a plan that would allow the radio giant and other station owners to boost their holdings in the largest U.S. markets. Clear Channel is considering filing a formal petition to the Federal Communications Commission seeking to raise the caps limiting how many stations one company can own in the largest individual U.S. markets, according to sources close to the company. Clear Channel, the country's largest radio station group with 1,189 outlets, wants the FCC to relax a rule that limits a company's radio station ownership in individual markets. The limits are set on sliding scale and based on market size. A company may own no more than eight radio stations in the largest U.S. markets, such as Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, where at least 45 full-power radio stations operate. Radio industry sources say Clear Channel is seeking approval from the FCC to own 10 stations in markets with 60 radio stations and 12 radio outlets in the largest U.S. markets that have 75 radio stations or more. Consumer groups contend that the new outlets are less able than radio to provide local news, weather and traffic information. Jenny Toomey, executive director of the Future of Music Coalition in Washington, said new entrants such as Internet radio are not adding a significant new source of local news, a key product traditional radio stations must provide. Without additional places for consumers to receive local news and information, more consolidation cannot be permitted, she said.
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