Naked City
Evil Beasts Mate on Radio?
By Kevin Brass, Fri., Dec. 17, 2004
Although Clear Channel's owners are well-known backers of conservative causes, the deal with Fox raises one of the ironic twists of the current radio market Clear Channel has been one of the biggest supporters of liberal talker Air America, home of Al Franken, et al. Clear Channel has picked up the network, which still doesn't have a home in Austin, in many cities.
Black says Clear Channel considered Air America when it was contemplating the future of FM station 102.3, the former Z-102, before it was switched to the "World Class Rock" format in October. "We looked at Air America, but based on our research we decided we needed a more music-intensive format," Black said. He said Air America would be "a home run in Austin," but it "didn't fit" right now with Clear Channel's Austin strategy. (For more of the lowdown on today's Austin radio marketplace, see our cover story.)
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