Metro Networks
Encyclopedia
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Metro Networks is a broadcasting outsourcing company based in Houston, Texas
. It was a subsidiary of Westwood One
until its sale to Clear Channel Communications
in 2011. The company operates a number of local and regional news and traffic operations that provide regular reports to affiliates, together with its sister company Shadow Broadcast Services. At last count, Metro Networks had approximately 2,300 radio affiliates and 170 television affiliates operating in nearly every major radio and television market of the United States, as well as 700+ websites.
In addition to offering live and recorded broadcasting reports, Metro Networks operates its own news wire service, Metro Source. Metro Source, created by software writer Ken Dichter, was started in 1997 to compete with other wire services, such as the Associated Press
and Reuters
. Its National News Center is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Metro Source operates 24/7 and provides hundreds of radio stations and websites with national, state, feature and local stories, including audio and photos. Over its ten year existence in the marketplace, Metro Source has been able to take away many large market radio stations from the once dominant AP wire. Despite its success, Metro Source is scarcely known outside of the continental United States.
On April 29, 2011, Westwood One sold Metro Networks to Clear Channel Communications for $119.25 million so it can concentrate on their other properties. Clear Channel also owns Metro's rival, Total Traffic Networks. Plans call for both Metro and TTN to be combined into one network and is expected to retain the Metro Networks name once the transition is completed.
Metro Networks is a broadcasting outsourcing company based in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It was a subsidiary of Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
until its sale to Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
in 2011. The company operates a number of local and regional news and traffic operations that provide regular reports to affiliates, together with its sister company Shadow Broadcast Services. At last count, Metro Networks had approximately 2,300 radio affiliates and 170 television affiliates operating in nearly every major radio and television market of the United States, as well as 700+ websites.
In addition to offering live and recorded broadcasting reports, Metro Networks operates its own news wire service, Metro Source. Metro Source, created by software writer Ken Dichter, was started in 1997 to compete with other wire services, such as the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
. Its National News Center is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Metro Source operates 24/7 and provides hundreds of radio stations and websites with national, state, feature and local stories, including audio and photos. Over its ten year existence in the marketplace, Metro Source has been able to take away many large market radio stations from the once dominant AP wire. Despite its success, Metro Source is scarcely known outside of the continental United States.
On April 29, 2011, Westwood One sold Metro Networks to Clear Channel Communications for $119.25 million so it can concentrate on their other properties. Clear Channel also owns Metro's rival, Total Traffic Networks. Plans call for both Metro and TTN to be combined into one network and is expected to retain the Metro Networks name once the transition is completed.