Clear Channel Station Count: Which is Right? (July 24, 2003)

In Tijuana, the following stations are owned by Mexican businesses, but are programmed and marketed by Clear Channel San Diego for its market: XHRM 92.5 (which is likely to be given up by CC), XHCR 99.3, XETRA-FM 91.1, and XHITZ 90.3 FM

In Rosarito-Tijuana, this station is partially programmed by CCSD, but most of it is programmed by Clear Channel Los Angeles: XETRA-AM 690. Is this a San Diego station or a Los Angeles station, or both?

In Los Angeles, CCLA owns and operates KLAC 570 and KFI 640 (which both reach SD), KXTA 1150, which programs most of its XTRA programming on 690, KHHT 92.3, KYSR 98.7, KIIS-FM 102.7, KOST 103.5, and KBIG 104.3.

So, if CCSD just divests four of the 12 radio stations it programs to bring the total down to eight, that should be enough, right? None of the CCLA stations (not counting the 690 from TJ) need to be sold.

Now, here's where it gets tricky. Both 640 and 690 have prescences in the opposite markets. 690 in most of Los Angeles, and 640 in most of San Diego, in fact, it shows up well in the San Diego Arbitron surveys. If the government counts 640 as a San Diego station, which is unlikely given that the government might base a radio stations' market based on geography, rather than the distant signal's reach into other markets, then 640 may be station #9 CCSD cannot divest because that's a CCLA station. So, CCSD must divest itself of one additional station.

But 690 has a prescence in Los Angeles, in fact, it's been like a Los Angeles station since the days of beautiful music, The Mighty 690, and XTRA Gold in the 70's and 80's. CCLA and CCSD want that frequency for its KXTA 1150 programming since its signal is nulled so badly down south that Orange County can't get it at night. 690's signal takes over where 1150 leaves off, except when programming differ. So, CCLA might need to divest one station to another broadcaster.

So, here's the likely sceanario: CCSD has 600, 1360, 903, 941, 1015, and 1053 (divesting 911, 925, 933, 957, and 993).

690 counts as #7 and 640 LA counts as #8.

CCLA has 570, 1150, 987, 1027, 1035, and 1043 (divesting 923)

640 counts as #7 and 690 TJ-SD counts as #8.

Why The Divesture Choices?

I say 92.5 would be the first to go given that the station's studio prefers to reside in National City and not incorporated into the CCSD building, so that station will be given up. 99.3 has been a loser since 1999 went country, never making much of a dent in the ratings, so that's #2 gone. 933's signal is so weak that it doesn't reach Temecula well (there's a 93.3 FM nearby in Big Bear Lake), so that's #3. 95.7's relative limited signal reaches Palm Springs well enough to chart in the PS Arbs, so that's #4. If one additional station needs to be sold, then due to the corporate stigma label given by its new competetor at 94.9FM, 91.1 would have to go to save CCSD's the trouble of bailing out the sinking radio station. Could John Lynch get 91X back?

90.3 is too popular for CCSD to give up, so that and 690 will be the only TJ stations to be retained for LMA purposes.

In Los Angeles, 92.3 would be gone if CCLA needs to divest one station. It simply losing against other urban favorites like Power 106 and The Beat 100.3.

None of the LA stations need be sold, but if CCLA can keep the TJ station, and 690 should count for both markets, then CC must divest one LA station (AM or FM) it O&O's to bring it back down to eight.

But since 690 is basically a San Diego station from Tijuana first, and 640's signal is significant in San Diego, and it 640 counts in San Diego, then CCSD must divest one additional station it O&O's.

Clear Channel Must Sell Stations Websites Roundup July 18, 2003!