Struggling Clear Channel And Rush Limbaugh's $400 Million Payday

[TalkingDog]

7. Clear Channel OWNS radio.

Over 1200 stations. In some cases they have owned up to 7 stations in one market; effectively becoming the ONLY voice that people hear.

http://www.thinkandask.com/news/mediagiants.html : Clear Channel leads in radio broadcast station ownership with 1,207 stations reaching 201 out of 287 markets in the United States.

They have been called out by free speech advocates for firing a number of "hosts" for "indecent" language. One wonders how Rush has kept his job all these years? $$$ perhaps? They were the ones who quit playing the Dixie Chicks after they were critical of Bush. They also refused advertising from Cindy Sheehan.

And they are the owners of Premiere Radio Networks.The people who hire out actors to call in to talk radio shows and pose as listeners so that people like Rush will have a supporter in their talking points.

They pay their "cyber-jocks" (who aren't actually in the station, but pump out programming for a number of stations) by the hour. Part time.

They have been a scourge on local radio and I hope the Rush debacle breaks them.

Clear Channel is privately held by Bain Capital of Mittens fame.