Forces of Evil, Unite!

This press release creeps me out. I predict that within 10 years, Fox will have acquired these stations into their stable of media outlets.

See....News Corp (Fox's parent company) is moving its headquarters to the U.S. There were some restriction preventing foreign ownership of U.S. media. Soon they'll be a U.S. based company and that means that if they want to own a radio network, they probably could.

I'm not a master of FCC regulations - but so many restrictions have been lifted..... I could see it all happening.

This is my conspiracy theory:

Fox starts its news format on 100 stations. Within a few years, it has clearly branded itself as a news leader (in radio). THEN - they buy Clear Channel (or hostile takeover, whatever) and then they have Clear Channel's radio and entertainment empire. It's a natural fit. Like AOL/Time Warner...ahem...

THEN - Fox buys Reuters or the Associated Press.

I'm nervous.

Clear Channel Radio Names Fox News as Primary National News Provider to More Than 100 News/Talk Stations

Service Includes Five-Minute Top-of-the-Hour Newscast, Nightly Signature Newscast and Dedicated 24/7 National News Coverage Deal Creates Direct Competitor to ABC Radio and CBS Radio

San Antonio and New York – December 6, 2004 – Clear Channel Radio and Fox News today announced that Fox News Radio will be the primary national news service for more than 100 of Clear Channel’s news/talk stations under a five-year deal beginning in 2005. The agreement incorporates many of Clear Channel Radio’s most prominent news/talk stations, including those in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Atlanta. Fox’s new full-service, general-interest news offering will feature Fox News’ top talent and include a five-minute top-of-the-hour newscast, a nightly signature news broadcast, and 24/7 dedicated national news coverage. Fox will also be the primary provider for breaking national news. Also under the agreement, Fox News Radio will have access to news produced by Clear Channel’s more than 500 local news journalists via the company’s Clear Channel News Network.