The majority ofprogramming syndicated by iHeartMedia is distributed through its subsidiary,Premiere Networks, owned by the company since 1999 and purchased by antecedentJacor in 1997.[1][2] However, several music and talk shows originated on iHeartMedia-owned stations are syndicated by those stations without the assistance of Premiere, or via a third-party distributor. Talk shows of this type are generally broadcast through Orbital Media Networks, Inc., formerly Clear Channel Satellite Services.[3] Music programs of this type, including music scheduling andvoice-tracking, are distributed through anintranet service known as "Premium Choice".[4]
On April 15, 2009, Clear Channel Radio announced the start of "Premium Choice", an internal network ofvoice-tracking and music scheduling by specific format genres available to all 850 Clear Channel-owned radio stations, theirHD Radio digital subchannels and theiHeartRadio platform.[4][27] This followed a series of broad downsizing efforts throughout the station group in an attempt to restructuredebt incurred from a $27 billion (equivalent to $39.4 billion in 2024)leveraged buyout; 1,850 off- and on-air employees were laid off throughout January 2009.[14] Abrand management team consisting of 24 programmers throughout the chain was organized in 2011 to oversee this initiative[28] and blogs authored by on-air talent werecross-posted to station websites via Clear Channel'scontent management system.[29]
Despite the "Premium Choice" name being used extensively in industry trades,[4][28] the music formats and programming are not publicly marketed or promoted under this name. A company-wide e-mail sent on May 1, 2009, stated the following: "The Premium Choice program is not something we are talking openly about in the industry or in the public or in the press ... No CC employee should be discussing PC with the media or with record reps."[30]
Jerry Del Colliano, author of the blogInside Music Media and founder of thetrade publicationInside Radio, has said that Clear Channel plans to replace local on-air talent with national Premium Choice content, with "nothing local, little live and everything cheap."[31] In March 2014, themarket research firm Edison Research stated that Clear Channel (renamed iHeartMedia later in the year[32]) has "long pursued a strategy of eliminating local talent in its smaller markets via voice tracking and theirOrwellian-named 'Premium Choice' networks."[33]
^Morgan, Richard (October 9, 1998)."Clear Channel buys Jacor".Variety.Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. RetrievedAugust 1, 2019.
^"About OMNi".OrbitalMediaNetworks.com. Orbital Media Networks. 2015. RetrievedDecember 31, 2015.Orbital Media Networks has been in operation for over 30 years, under various names. Clear Channel Satellite Services became OMNi on January 1, 2015 as part of a purchase by Satellite Holdings.
^Carter, Kevin (April 28, 2017)."Elvis Extended At iHeartMedia".RAMP - Radio and Music Pros.Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. RetrievedSeptember 20, 2022.
^"CC Goes PC: Premium Choice"(PDF).Country Aircheck Weekly. No. 139. May 4, 2009. pp. 1, 5. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on March 21, 2014. RetrievedJanuary 11, 2022.
^Feder, Robert (October 26, 2011)."Gloom and doom: Clear Channel's dark future begins today".TimeOut.com/Chicago. Time Out Chicago. Archived fromthe original on April 3, 2014. RetrievedApril 2, 2014.... reports by Inside Music Media and Radio-Info.com that Clear Channel plans to overhaul the structure of local programming and substitute its Premium Choice national content in place of local talent throughout its 850 radio stations in 150 cities. ... according to Inside Music Media's Jerry Del Colliano, Clear Channel could see the elimination of all program directors and become a company 'operated by robotics with nothing local, little live and everything cheap.'
^Sisario, Ben (September 16, 2014)."Clear Channel Renames Itself iHeartMedia, in an Embrace of the Digital".The New York Times. New York, New York.Archived from the original on September 17, 2014. RetrievedSeptember 16, 2014.CC Media Holdings, for example, the overall corporation, will be renamed iHeartMedia Inc., and Clear Channel Communications, its major subsidiary, will become iHeartCommunications.
