Clear Channel has begun offering commercial-free radio programming for four of its biggest personalities as part of its iheartradio mobile application for the iPhone/iPod Touch, BlackBerry and Android smartphones.
The mobile apps for Sean Hannity, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Jim Rome and Bob & Tom cost users between $5.95 and $6.95 a month and allow listeners to access the talk-radio programs 24/7, download podcasts and listen to archived material on-demand.
Monthly pricing is the same as for the online versions, which represent a significant business. If the new apps are as successful, Clear Channel is expected to roll out the mobile subscription model for other programs and personalities.
“Fans have embraced our subscription model for anytime access to our top personalities,” said Brian Lakamp, evp of digital media for Premiere Radio Networks, Clear Channel’s programming division.
In addition to the mobile subscription apps for select personalities, Clear Channel also rolled out an updated iteration of its iheartradio mobile app. Since its launch, iheartradio has surpassed 7 million unique downloads.
