Contacts:
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. - Investors Randy Palmer Senior Vice President of Investor Relations (210) 822-2828   Clear Channel Communications, Inc. – Media Lisa Dollinger Chief Communications Officer (210) 822-2828	Brainerd Communicators - Media Michele Clarke (212) 986-6667   Thomas H. Lee Partners Matt Benson (415) 618-8750   Bain Capital Partners Alex Stanton (212) 780-0701

Clear Channel Communications, Inc. Enters into Merger Agreement with Private Equity Group Co-Led By Bain Capital Partners, LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.

Clear Channel Shareholders offered $37.60 per share in cash; Transaction valued at $26.7 billion

San Antonio, Texas, November 16, 2006…Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE: CCU), a global leader in the out-of-home advertising industry, today announced the execution of a definitive merger agreement with a group led by Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and Bain Capital Partners, LLC, pursuant to which the group will acquire Clear Channel in a transaction with a total value of approximately $26.7 billion, including the assumption or repayment of approximately $8.0 billion of net debt.

Under the terms of the agreement, Clear Channel shareholders will receive $37.60 in cash for each share of Clear Channel common stock they hold, representing a premium of approximately 25% over Clear Channel’s average closing share price of $29.99 during the 30 trading days ended October 24, 2006, the day before the Company first acknowledged that it was evaluating strategic alternatives. 

Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Deutsche Bank as well as Credit Suisse, RBS and Wachovia are acting as financial advisors and providing firm financing commitments to the private equity group.  Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and RBS are also providing equity commitments.

The board of directors of Clear Channel, with the interested directors recused from the vote, has unanimously approved the merger agreement and has resolved to recommend that Clear Channel’s shareholders adopt the agreement.  A special advisory committee consisting of disinterested directors unanimously determined the terms of the transaction to be fair.

Mark P. Mays, the Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel, said, “We are very pleased to announce this transaction which provides substantial value to our shareholders.  We look forward to working with Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital Partners to continue our business plan to provide exceptional programming to our audiences and value to our advertising partners.”

Scott Sperling, Co-President of Thomas H. Lee Partners, stated, “Clear Channel is one of the nation’s truly great companies that has the finest collection of outdoor and radio assets in the industry.  We are extremely pleased to be partnered with the management team led by Mark and Randall Mays and to have the opportunity to work with them and to grow this company that was created by its Chairman and founder, L. Lowry Mays. Clear Channel has tremendous long term growth opportunities in both the radio and outdoor businesses and we look forward to<