CC Radio to offer programming to rivals
CC Radio is making programming for some 75 new radio channels available to rival radio broadcasters. The original audio, video and text programming will be the foundation for Internet channels, station Web sites, iPods, satellite broadcasts, in-vehicle navigation systems, and HD digital radio multicasts. The elements, developed by the company's Content Research & Development Group, are the product of a previously secret initiative now called the Format Lab.
Created in 2004, the Format Lab blends veteran radio programmers with fresh voices and is co-led by Clear Channel Radio's executive vice president for Content and longtime programming veteran Tom Owens and Online Music & Radio head Evan Harrison. A virtual community of more than 200 programmers and production professionals, the Lab is developing fresh and unconventional radio and online content, irrespective of what devices ultimately carry it.
"We have become agnostic about delivery and are completely passionate about content," said John Hogan, CC Radio CEO. "And we'll continue to lead the radio industry on to new platforms. Radio programming is the most engaging and compelling media today. Our power to connect with, and hold, consumers will continue to reveal itself as we supplement our outstanding AM/FM properties with programming for new devices."
The new channels include programming elements for both mainstream and hyper-niched programming. Live streams of the first 75 channels can be heard at http://clearchannelmusic.com/formatlab
One of the more unconventional ways the Format Lab helps to drive diversity is the decision to draw on a number of non-professional radio programmers to lead or consult on some of its channels. Examples include a personal trainer consulting on the Lab's workout channels, a Broadway veteran programming the Lab's show tunes channel, and an information technology expert driving the Lab's Americana channel.
* A foundation for localized channels or subscription content
"We've created this programming to give broadcasters the most flexibility and the best return on investment," added Hogan. "The massive amounts of programming needed to feed rapidly growing numbers of HD2 multicast channels, Internet streams and other near-term opportunities dwarfs the real estate that our industry had to fill with the advent of FM. By making extraordinary programming available even more broadly, the radio industry will be able to fully capitalize on the opportunities we are creating for ourselves daily."
Specifically, radio broadcasters can use the programming as-is for subscription services or can choose to supplement the elements - which include continually refreshed play lists, imaging and spoken-word vignettes - with their own locally customized content to create fully localized radio channels.
Good Morning - Gain a personal edge on today's business day. Are you reading this from a forwarded email?
