Clear Channel Radio has introduced customized cell phone applications, extending interactive services aimed at listener cell phones.
Listeners of several Clear Channel stations in New York City can now send text messages into the studio, participate in contests, receive an alert before their favorite song plays, make requests and dedications, and view the last 10 songs played on participating stations. The initiative kicked off with these New York FMs: WHTZ, WAXQ, WKTU, WWPR and WLTW.
Clear Channel says the move extends local station brands and enables it to distribute content to more platforms. This is the latest in a series of moves designed to strengthen listeners’ ties to stations through new technology. Previously, WHTZ tested a service enabling listeners to pay around $3 a month to send and receive text messages to the station.
The broadcaster expects to launch similar programs on up to 100 more of its radio stations by the end of 2008, beginning with stations in Salt Lake City and St. Louis in the next 60 days.
