Contact: Omar Thompson Irena Briganti Clear Channel Radio Fox News (210) 822-2828 (212) 301-3608 [email protected] [email protected]
Kim Holt/Jen Gery Brainerd Communicators, Inc. (212) 986-6667 [email protected] [email protected]
Clear Channel Radio Names Fox News as Primary National News Provider to More Than 100 News/Talk Stations
Service Includes Five-Minute Top-of-the-Hour Newscast, Nightly Signature Newscast and Dedicated 24/7 National News Coverage
Deal Creates Direct Competitor to ABC Radio and CBS Radio
San Antonio and New York – December 6, 2004 – Clear Channel Radio and Fox News today announced that Fox News Radio will be the primary national news service for more than 100 of Clear Channel’s news/talk stations under a five-year deal beginning in 2005. The agreement incorporates many of Clear Channel Radio’s most prominent news/talk stations, including those in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Atlanta.
Fox’s new full-service, general-interest news offering will feature Fox News’ top talent and include a five-minute top-of-the-hour newscast, a nightly signature news broadcast, and 24/7 dedicated national news coverage. Fox will also be the primary provider for breaking national news.
Also under the agreement, Fox News Radio will have access to news produced by Clear Channel’s more than 500 local news journalists via the company’s Clear Channel News Network.
“Working this closely with a premier national news provider for the majority of our news/talk stations makes overwhelming sense,” said John Hogan, chief executive officer of Clear Channel Radio. “Because of the breadth of this relationship, our local news directors will get a more customized and higher quality national news product – and that’s great for listeners.”
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The Clear Channel Radio news/talk stations currently get national news feeds from a variety of providers.
The agreement with Clear Channel Radio, the first major affiliate group deal for Fox News Radio, dramatically broadens the Fox News Radio reach, creating a direct competitor to ABC Radio and CBS Radio.
“This deal positions Fox News to become a significant player in the radio industry and is another example of our commitment to the medium,” said Roger Ailes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Fox News. “We look forward to working with Clear Channel Radio – one of the most innovative radio operators in the industry.”
If all options are exercised, the Clear Channel Radio deal could bring the Fox News Radio affiliate count to more than 500 by mid-2005.
About Fox News Radio FOX News operates the FOX News Channel (FNC), the number one cable news channel in the United States, FOX News Radio Service, FOXNews.com and produces FOX News Live with Alan Colmes, The Tony Snow Show and FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace. FOX News is owned by News Corp.
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.
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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.