Clear Channel Radio Announces Rating-System RFP Finalists, Evaluation Team

-- Distinguished Panel Includes Prominent Media Buyers, Advertisers and Radio Companies

Clear Channel Radio today announced seven finalists for itsRequest for Proposals to create a state-of-the-art radio ratingssystem. The company also announced the initial members of anevaluation team, comprising a cross-section of members of the radioindustry and advertising community, including media buyers andadvertisers.

"As an industry, we are one step closer to more accurately andcredibly measuring radio's true performance and value to advertisers,"said John Hogan, CEO of Clear Channel Radio. "Our goal is to movequickly to evaluate and determine next steps in identifying ameasurement system that best serves everyone's needs."

Clear Channel Radio issued its RFP in June of this year. Thecompany received 34 submissions.

"As we began this process it was clear that accurate, reliable,and immediate audience measurement is an industry issue and theindustry is responding to this opportunity," added Hogan. "The initialmembers of the evaluation team represent some of the best minds inradio and advertising -- they will help ensure the options arethoroughly evaluated with the interests of advertisers, agencies, andoperators considered."

Seven Proposals Will Be Evaluated

Seven proposals have been selected to be evaluated. The submittingcompanies are, in alphabetical order, Arbitron, Integrated MediaManagement, MediaAudit/Ipsos, Mediamark Research, Paladin Adsolutions,RadioStat and Simmons.

"Each of the final proposals selected share commoncharacteristics," said Jess Hanson, Senior Vice President of Researchfor Clear Channel Radio. "The potential to provide information that ismore accurate and timely than the current diary system, as well as theability to gather radio listening data in a more 'real life' settingthan a recall based methodology can. All finalists share thecapability for multi-media measurement."

No further information will be disclosed about the submissions asthe evaluation team reviews the proposals over the next 45 days. Thecompany is targeting March 3rd for selection of a final measurementmethod, with a live test period planned to begin this Spring.Implementation is expected later this year.

Evaluation Team

A cross-section of radio companies, media buyers, advertisers andindustry professionals have been named to the RFP evaluation team.Radio companies participating are: ABC, Bonneville, CBS Radio, ClearChannel Radio, Cox Radio, Emmis, Entercom, Greater Media, Journal,Regent and Susquehanna. Media buyers include: CIA Media:Edge,Initiative, Mediacom and MPG. Representing advertisers is Ford MotorCompany.

"With this many prominent members of the industry on board, we aremoving quickly," added Hanson.

About Clear Channel Radio

Clear Channel Radio is a leading radio company focused on servinglocal communities across the U.S. with more than 110 million listenerschoosing Clear Channel Radio programming each week. The company'soperations include radio broadcasting, syndication and independentmedia representation. Clear Channel Radio is a division of ClearChannel Communications, Inc. (NYSE:CCU), a leading global media andentertainment company. More information on the company can be found atwww.clearchannel.com.