CLEAR CHANNEL GETS ITS
AD THING TOGETHER

The company has announced a "cross-platform advertising solution" dubbed "Clear Channel Advantage," to super-serve clients with "single point of contact" ad packages that incorporate the company’s TV, outdoor, entertainment and radio assets.

In addition, the conglom is merging its Radio and Entertainment local and sales teams.

"Clear Channel Advantage leverages the power of Clear Channel’s unique national footprint with our unparalleled multi-platform advertising opportunities," says CC Worldwide President/COO Mark Mays. "Our Clear Channel Advantage advertiser may now exploit any combination of radio, TV, outdoor, and entertainment advertising or marketing opportunities across geographies as custom as a single market, a regional area, the entire country, or globally. And the forehead of any of my regional programming VPs is available for the right price as well."

Clear Channel Advantage will be oversee by Radio Division President/COO John Hogan, who will name a new Director for the division shortly. "The merging of Clear Channel group sales and the Clear Channel synergy team together into Clear Channel Advantage is a powerful combination. We can now create and efficiently execute advertising programs that mix radio, entertainment, TV and outdoor to meet a customer’s strategic-marketing needs. This is a unique platform unparalleled in the marketplace. We’re looking both internally and externally for a senior-level sales-management executive to quarterback the Clear Channel Advantage launch and build an elite team of super sellers. Actually, we had our eyes on Ryan Leaf, but the Seattle Seahawks just picked him up."

The merged sales force will be overseen by Hogan. Clear Channel Entertainment Chairman/CEO Brian Becker says the division will maintain a national Sales and Marketing group to sell and service advertisers for its national concert, theatrical and family tours and motor sports events. "There’s a natural synergy among radio, live music and music venue advertising opportunities. We have come a long way as an organization in cross-promoting our live events on our radio stations, and our radio stations at our live events. It is now time to begin packaging those assets for advertisers in a manner that is transparent. And next, we’re negotiating to buy Cuba."