http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=companyNews&storyid=183 564+16-Nov-2006+RTRS&WTmodLoc=BizArt-L1-CompanyNews-4

Now before you all get your panties in a wad over this - it's only stations in markets 100 and smaller that will be sold, along with the TV group.

448 Clear Channel stations will be sold. Here's the AP headline and lead.

SAN ANTONIO -- Clear Channel Communications Inc., the nation's biggest radio station owner, said Thursday it has agreed to be acquired for about $18.7 billion by an investment group.

The transaction would be one of the biggest deals in which a company has been taken private, and showcases the vast sums that buyout groups have been able to assemble to acquire public companies.

An investor group led by Thomas H. Lee Partners LP and Bain Capital Partners LLC is paying $37.60 in cash for each share of Clear Channel, a 10.2 percent premium over its closing price on Wednesday.

The buyers are also assuming about $8 billion in debt in the deal.

In early trading Thursday, Clear Channel's shares jumped $1.33, or 3.9 percent, to $35.45 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Clear Channel also said Thursday it plans to sell 448 of its radio stations, all located outside the top 100 markets, as well as its 42-station television group, which are also located in smaller markets. Collectively the properties made up less than 10 percent of the company's revenues last year.

unfortunately, I don't think this new group will have any interest in improving the product. cut cut cut....shoot for a 25-27 percent R.O.I. and just like newspapers, the audience will drift elswhere and the product will be diluted to control costs........

my opinion, but too much past history in these mega aquisitions to think otherwise.....

Smart move to focus on the bigger markets, rather than own everything in the sticks too.

CBS has done well with that philosophy. Creates a FEW more owners in the interim.

It will interesting to see if the new owners will actually put out a quality product?? It Couldn't get any worse than what Cheap channel has done to these stations. It can only get better.

IT can, but ONLY if these "INVESTORS" have in interest in BROADCASTING. IF their only drive is 'MO money then no, I would look for it to get worse! (CUMULUS II anyone?)

It says that Albany, OR is being sold and then has Market 150. Eugene is Market 150. Are they selling all their properties in that market, or just the stations physically in Albany?

Also, I wonder, does this put an end to cyber jocking in these markets that are being sold?

Bdub, one can only assume that the market is nationally identified as "Albany-Corvallis-Eugene", because Albany alone would be non-rated.

Who knows about cyber jocking? Much has yet to be determined...most importantly, who will own the properties. My guess is the Eugene cluster will be split up with one well-known local broadcaster making a play for a couple of the sticks...

McKenzie River Broadcasting?

Can you own six or seven stations in a market the size of Eugene?

If it's six, then Cumulus is maxed out and McKenzie River could buy up to three of the stations.

I could see them aquiring KDUK, and KPNW (they could outbid Cumulus to get the Ducks back and probably would shell out the money to do it) and perhaps KFLY as well to get a 25-54 male demo station.

KODZ is the wildcard here, who picks them up?

McKenzie River might want to gobble up Magic 94.5's top competitor, Kool 99.1.

gobble up....he he he... fitting for the time of the year

If a company can own 7 stations regardless if am or fm. Cumulus could aquire KPNW thus eliminating bidding for U of O football. McKenzie River could aquire KODZ/KDUK.

So here is how it would look:

MRB Cumulus

KKNU (93.3) KUGN (590)
KMGE (95.4) KEHK (star 102.3)
KEUG (Bob 105.5) KZEL (96.1)
KODZ (Kool 99.1) KSCR (1320 score)
KDUK (104.7) KPNW (1120)
KUJZ (the moose)
KNRQ (97.7) - change format

It looks like you have MRB owning 7 FMs. Even in Portland, the limit is 5. Maybe, I didn't understand the graph.

KUJZ and KNRQ would be under the Cumulus roof, not as indicated in my previous post. It shifted those 2 to the left.

One more thing....I have not read anywhere that the Eugene market is on the block. Medford & Albany are mentioned.

But Eugene IS smaller that market # 100...

But Eugene IS smaller than market # 100...

"Market #150" was mentioned.

If CC's smaller markets were the ones most heavily voicetracked, this might signal the return of some jobs for local talent.

I've heard some voicetracking in smaller CC markets where huge gaffes got on the air. I wonder how much attention midday jocks with 15 stations to track really paid to places like Boise.

MORE AIRSTAFF if CC sells?????? ACCU weather calling for snow in Hades?

MRB bid for DUCK games????? They got money but not that kind of money!!