Commercial-Free Is The Way To Be

(from the Associated Press)

The battle between traditional radio operators and their satellite counterparts is moving to the next level.

Usually rivals, some of the nation's biggest radio companies are joining forces to combat the growing threat that satellite broadcasters represent to their listener base.

The Wall Street Journal reports radio executives this week will launch a new advertising campaign with the tagline "Radio — you hear it here first."

The Journal says major radio companies like Clear Channel Communications, Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting and Entercom Communications have banded together to create 30-second commercials. The ads will feature such stars as Avril Lavigne and Ludacris talking up local radio.

The companies are devoting an estimated $28 million of their airtime to the promotion.

The two big satellite services, Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio Holdings, say they have more than 4 million listeners between them.

Blogger's Note: Interesting that their method of combating commercial-free satellite radio is by running more commercials. I have XM Radio in my car and it's fantastic. There are no ads, there's no FCC regulation cause you pay for the service (a mere $9.99/month) and the DJ's talk about the music instead of a five-minute spiel on how great a Dunk-a-ccino is in the morning.