Clear Channel Digital Rolls Out Info, Apps And Content

Lots Of Digital Moves At Clear Channel

CLEAR CHANNEL has announced record audience levels for its digital properties; a host of improvements to its online platform; and more exclusive online and mobile programming. The improvements include a move to server-based traffic and audience analytics and the launch of a new media player. The company also announced that its IHEARTRADIO mobile application is thriving, showing consistent growth in engagement.

"Our continuing transformation into a highly successful content creation and distribution company is impressive," summed CLEAR CHANNEL RADIO Pres./CEO JOHN HOGAN. "Five years ago, we believed our content could be the most compelling on any platform. Today, that's a fact. We now produce and deliver original video, audio and data via broadcast streams and on demand. And the engagement statistics for our digital platforms are simply stunning. It's a tremendous validation of our strategy to grow organically, augmenting the expertise of our programming and engineering professionals with the knowledge and innovation inherent in new media. I applaud the ingenuity, perseverance and undaunted commitment of our incredibly talented team."

Five years ago, we believed our content could be the most compelling on any platform. Today, that's a fact.

Users Hit 22 Million Per Month

In the first of its announcements, CLEAR CHANNEL revealed that its active, unique monthly audience across all of its digital properties now numbers 22 million, according to data from OMNITURE, INC.

The company also announced it's using ANDO MEDIA to measure size and behavior for its rapidly growing streaming audience. For some stations, online and mobile phone listening now amounts to an additional 15% in total listeners beyond the AM/FM broadcast.

iheartradio Mobile App Thriving

To date, more than two million unique users have downloaded the iHEARTRADIO application. Just recently, iHEARTRADIO spent 10 days as the #1 BLACKBERRY app and has remained in the top 20 since launch. For the iPHONE and iPOD TOUCH, the application consistently ranks in the top five among free music apps.

According to data from PINCH MEDIA (in a FEBRUARY 2009 study of more than 30 million downloads of free 'PHONE apps), engagement with the typical mobile application drops off precipitously within 30 days. Less than 5% of users who originally downloaded the app return to use it. CLEAR CHANNEL is seeing exactly the opposite behavior with IHEARTRADIO. Some 80% of users have downloaded subsequent updates of the app from the iTUNES APP STORE and a full 20% of those who have downloaded the app come back weekly.

New Media Player

Also TODAY, CLEAR CHANNEL RADIO launched a new media player at IHEARTRADIO.COM that uses ADOBE FLASH technology. The player, for the first time, serves as a single gateway to more than 350 streaming AM/FM broadcasts, the company’s exclusive digital streaming channels, its entire library of original on-demand audio and video programming, and social media elements including on-air talent blogs and photos.

White House Brief Is All Things Obama

The company also TODAY (6/8) officially launched a digital channel focused exclusively on the OBAMA WHITE HOUSE. In just five minutes, listeners are now fully briefed on the latest developments from the OBAMA Administration.

"There is enormous interest in the current Administration, so we’re serving up a channel that is all things OBAMA," said EVP/Digital Unit EVAN HARRISON. "This Administration has embraced technology in an entirely new way and offers a new level of transparency. Starting today, we’re delivering that to our digital audience of 22 million."

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