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Pride is First Breakout Hit from Clear Channel Radio’s Format Lab
Pride, gay lifestyle programming continues its rapid crossover from 24/7 on-demand and digital multicasts with first-ever FM broadcast
FM broadcasts of 2-hour weekly signature show “Pride with Ryan & Caroline” now airing in Denver, Hartford, Las Vegas, Tucson and West Palm Beach
Pride’s momentum builds on 2006 crossover success of Format Lab’s Bluegrass Americana to AM
NEW YORK – January 22, 2007 – FM radio listeners in Denver, Hartford, Las Vegas, Tucson and West Palm Beach can now hear Pride sensations Ryan & Caroline every Sunday night on local FM stations. The crossover of the popular program, whose FM broadcasts begin this week, makes Pride the most successful Format Lab genre to date.
Pride – programming for the gay and lesbian community, created by gay and lesbian development staff – already airs as 24/7 on-demand programming. It’s a featured on-demand option on 17 local Clear Channel Radio station Web sites nationwide and airs as an HD2 digital radio broadcast in five markets. The niche lifestyle format was launched in April 2006.
The rapid spread across platforms is also the largest so far of a “Format Lab” creation into mainstream on-air broadcasts. In 2006, Clear Channel Radio’s Format Lab’s Americana Bluegrass genre was picked up as the foundation of the AM broadcast by WTCR in West Virginia.
"Pride with Ryan and Caroline is a genuinely fun experience,” said Stan Priest, program director of Hartford’s 95.7 and Fabulous 95.7 in HD. “They're a terrific fit with the KISS family."
"There's a whole untargeted, underserved gay audience out there that radio is missing," said Darren Davis, VP of Programming and Operations, Clear Channel Chicago. "This show captures it."
Pride blends music, entertainment news, celebrity gossip from the notorious Perez Hilton, fashion tips from celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch, “Guest of the Hour” appearances by high-profile personalities including Janice Dickenson and Joan Collins, and the signature weekly “Ryan & Caroline” show. Dubbed radio’s ‘Will and Grace,’ Ryan and Caroline offer a fresh take on all things entertainment. Originally known for their popular blog WeSeeMovies.com, the duo has produced for Bravo, VH1 and the Jerry Springer Show.
Clear Channel Radio disclosed its Format Lab initiative in April 2006. The Lab creates “program elements” including sample play lists, imaging and other content that is then customized by local program directors. In 2005, the company hired an army of more than 200 programmers, some with no prior experience in radio, to create a massive infusion of new and niche programming into radio. Created primarily with an eye toward feeding Clear C |