CC Internal Memo:‘We Suspended Negotiations with Arbitron’

In an internal memo, Clear Channel CEO John Hogan informed his staff that "We suspended negotiations with Arbitron regarding licensing the PPM," Billboard Radio Monitor reports. Later in the memo, Hogan wrote, "We've been nothing but supportive of Arbitron's attempts to field electronic audience measurement." Last week, Clear Channel's senior VP of research, Jess Hanson, sent an email to radio groups that have signed for Arbitron's portable people meter service kicking them off the RFP evaluation committee that CC established to examine Arbitron PPM alternatives. In this most recent memo, Hogan went on to say that until the Media Rating Council (MRC) gives accreditation to the PPM in Houston "there's no point in continuing discussions," but he also promises to continue to consider Arbitron in the RFP process "despite their setback with the MRC."