• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Listeners 12+ Spent Average of 14.5% More Time With Clear Channel Radio Stations

Posted on: Monday, 8 August 2005, 09:01 CDT

-Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE: CCU):

-- Better Listening Environment Also Propels Several Stations to Top of Arbitron Ratings

-- Improvements Span All Formats, All Markets With 'Less is More'

Clear Channel Radio today announced dramatic increases in time spent listening (TSL) to its radio stations in the top 50 markets across the country, another positive indicator that the company's Less Is More initiative is creating a more favorable environment for listeners. According to Arbitron's Spring 2005 data, radio listeners in the top 25 U.S. markets and across all formats spent an average of 14.5% more time listening to Clear Channel Radio stations, versus Spring 2004.

"Over the past year, the Clear Channel team has worked extremely hard to make our stations sound even better for our listeners by running fewer commercials per hour and improving ad copy. This new, more entertaining environment has translated into increased time spent listening to our stations," said John Hogan, CEO of Clear Channel Radio. "In addition to making radio more engaging for our listeners, we've also made vast improvements to benefit our advertisers, including adding shorter, more effective radio spots, fewer spots per commercial break and improved creative."

More than sixth months after Clear Channel Radio initiated one of the largest programming improvements in radio history, both radio listeners and advertisers have given high marks to Less is More. Under the program, Clear Channel Radio stations reduced programming interruptions, shortened commercial lengths and introduced a broad array of creative resources to advertisers and agencies to help them produce more engaging commercials. All of Clear Channel Radio stations officially began programming under the Less is More initiative on December 15, 2004.

-- Less is More Drives TSL and Top Arbitron Ratings

Highlights from the Spring 2005 Arbitron ratings, compared to the same period in 2004, include:

Among Adults 18-34:

-- Young demos are back! Time spent listening for P18-34 increased 15.5% on Clear Channel radio stations in the top 10 U.S. markets.

-- More than half of Clear Channel's radio stations in the Top 25 markets saw an increase in TSL among persons 18-34.

-- In LA, KIIS-FM vaulted to the #1 spot in the market, increasing its TSL among P18-34 by a whopping 18.8% over spring 2004. Among P12+, TSL increased by 17.6%. LA is the country's largest and most competitive radio market.

-- Other key markets showing significant increases in TSL for P18-34 are Denver, Las Vegas, Columbus and Nashville.

Among Adults 25-54:

-- 8 of the top 10 U.S. markets saw an increase in TSL among P25-54.

-- News/talkers KFI-AM, serving LA, and KNEW-AM, serving San Francisco, both increased TSL among P25-54 by an impressive 10% and 11%, respectively.

-- Other key markets with dramatic increases in TSL among P25-54 include San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Norfolk, New Orleans, Washington D.C. and Phoenix.

Among Persons 12+:

-- In New York, WLTW-FM extended its lead over the local and national competition. Lite-FM is again the top-ranked station in the country and its P12+ audience tuned in an impressive 9.7% longer compared to the same period last year.

-- Also in New York, classic rocker WAXQ-FM continues to gain on cross-town rocker, WXRK-FM. Q104 increased its TSL by a dramatic 14.8% among P12+.

-- 17 of the top 25 markets saw increases in TSL among P12+.

-- 29 of the top 50 markets saw increases in TSL among P12+

"More than any other medium, radio has the unique capability to establish a strong personal relationship with its listeners," continued Hogan. "Our goal is to build on that relationship by giving our listeners more of what they want to hear on radio, and that's great programming."

About Clear Channel Radio

Clear Channel Radio is a leading radio company focused on serving local communities across the U.S. with more than 110 million listeners choosing Clear Channel Radio programming each week. The company's operations include radio broadcasting, syndication and independent media representation. Clear Channel Radio is a division of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE: CCU), a leading global media and entertainment company. More information on the company can be found at www.clearchannel.com.

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category