Clear Channel Aims for More Traffic Business; Appoints VP

The nation’s highways are crowded, and Clear Channel wants a piece of the action.
Actually it already has one; but the company continues to increase its attention to deriving revenue from its traffic reporting operations. Clear Channel Radio now has named Pat McDonnell as VP of traffic sales and affiliations. The position is a new one. He was market manager in Atlanta and was the radio division’s Mid South Executive of The Year in 2003.
The company airs radio traffic updates in 135 markets, up from 100 in January. It made its first venture outside of the country in May, in Mexico.
McDonnell, the company said, will be responsible for optimizing existing traffic sales with advertisers as well as increasing the number of non-Clear Channel affiliates, including TV stations.
CEO John Hogan said the company has spent “considerable time and money over the past several years in building a leading traffic service.”