Clear Channel Radio Pursues Mobile Niche With Cingular Wireless

Clear Channel Radio unveiled mobile radio programming, starting with a big New York station.
It says the strategy extends local station brands and expands the platforms to which the big company is distributing its content.
The initiative kicks off with WHTZ(FM) streaming live radio and new features to Cingular Wireless cell phones around the country.
Clear Channel Radio expects to launch similar programs on up to 100 more radio stations in the next 12 months.
Subscribers of Z100 Mobile can use their phones to listen to streamed and on-demand content including podcasts of celebrity interviews and popular segments. Other capabilities: They can find title and artist of the last 10 songs played on-air; make a song request to Z100 and receive a text message alert 15 minutes before the song is played; get free station wallpapers for their phone; rate listener-submitted photos and obtain reports on local traffic.
DKNY Jeans is the first sponsor of Z100 Mobile; it is providing fashion tips as part of the mobile content package. Clear Channel is touting similar exclusive sponsorship opportunities across local markets for terms as short as one month.