Posted by chicagomedia.org on January 14, 2009 at 11:22:54:
High anxiety around Clear Channel
Yep - January 20 sounds like the date Clear Channel's planning to "do it."
Yes, that is also Inauguration Day, and I'm again saying that it appears to be the day Clear Channel managers are instructed to take whatever personnel actions they're going to. That's what they were told at last week's managers meetings in Dallas. Now - could that change, with an audible from San Antonio? Sure. But I'm increasingly confident that those personalized jump drives the market managers were handed contain the road map for what they're supposed to do on January 20. That presumably would mean the RIFs would be taking place while most of the nation is watching the new president get sworn into office. How big are the rumored cuts? Are they really going to affect sales as much as or more than programming? Is there going to be more centralized "national programming" with the new 2009 budgets, and less local talent? I've heard and told you all those things, and we'll just have to wait until next Tuesday, January 20 to start finding out. One former Clear Channel exec tells me "it's a little sad that it's dragging on so long there." It must feel like purgatory.
(Tom Taylor)