Editing IHeartMedia (section)

===20th century===
[[File:Clear Channel logo.svg|thumb|Clear Channel's logo]]
Clear Channel Communications purchased its first FM station in [[San Antonio, Texas]] in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Express-News|first=David Hendricks, San Antonio |date=November 7, 2017|title=Things to know about iHeartMedia, San Antonio's troubled media giant|url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/business/slideshow/Things-to-know-about-iHeartMedia-San-Antonio-s-166487.php|access-date=February 1, 2021|website=mySA|language=en-US}}</ref> The company purchased the second [[Clear-channel station|"clear channel"]] AM station [[WOAI (AM)|WOAI]] in 1975. In 1976, the company purchased its first stations outside of San Antonio. KXXO (now [[KAKC]]) and [[KMOD-FM]] in Tulsa were acquired under the name "San Antonio Broadcasting" (same as KEEZ). Stations were also added in [[Port Arthur, Texas]] (KPAC-AM-FM, now [[KDEI]] and [[KTJM]], from [[Port Arthur College]]), and [[El Paso, Texas]] (KELP, now [[KQBU (AM)|KQBU]]) from John Walton Jr. 

In 1992, the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] relaxed radio ownership rules slightly, allowing the company to acquire more than two stations per market. By 1995, Clear Channel owned 43 radio stations and 16 television stations. When the [[Telecommunications Act of 1996]] became law, the act deregulated media ownership, allowing a company to own more stations than previously allowed. Clear Channel went on a subsequent buying spree, purchasing more than 70 other media companies and individual stations.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}

In a few cases, following purchase of a competitor, Clear Channel was forced to [[Divestment|divest]] some of its stations, as it was above the legal thresholds in some cities. In 2005, the courts ruled that Clear Channel must also divest itself of some "[[border blaster]]" radio stations in international border cities, such as the [[alternative rock]] radio station [[XETRA-FM]] ("91X") in [[Tijuana]]/[[San Diego]].

In 1997, Clear Channel expanded and diversified its business, purchasing Eller Media, a billboard media company<ref name="Clear-Channel-Communications-Apr-1997-8-K">{{cite web |url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/258/95013497003015/filing-main.htm |title=Clear Channel Communications, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Apr 17, 1997 |publisher= | website=secdatabase.com |access-date=March 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017015818/http://edgar.secdatabase.com/258/95013497003015/filing-main.htm |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> led by [[Karl Eller]].

In 1998, it made its first move outside of the US when it acquired the leading UK outdoor advertising company More Group plc, which was led by [[Roger Parry]]; Clear Channel went on to buy many other outdoor advertising, radio broadcasting, and live events companies around the world, which were then re-branded Clear Channel International. These included a 51% stake in Clear Media Ltd. in China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clearchanneloutdoor.com/corporate/hist_1990-1999.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060418024836/http://www.clearchanneloutdoor.com/corporate/hist_1990-1999.htm |archive-date=April 18, 2006 |title= History| website= clearchanneloutdoor.com |access-date=January 15, 2018}}</ref> [[Steven Hicks|R. Steven Hicks]] and [[HM Capital Partners|Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst]] began Capstar Broadcasting in 1996, and a year later had become the largest owner of radio stations in the country, with 243 stations in total. In August 1997, Capstar and Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst announced plans to acquire [[Robert F. X. Sillerman|SFX Broadcasting]], with the resulting company owning 314 stations in 79 markets and ranking as the third-largest radio group by income.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hicks%2c+Muse%2c+Tate+%26+Furst+and+Capstar+Broadcasting+Corporation+to...-a019694832|title=Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst and Capstar Broadcasting Corporation to Acquire SFX Broadcasting in Transaction Valued at Approximately $2.1 Billion|work=Business Wire|date=August 25, 1997|access-date=November 3, 2011|archive-date=April 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421082618/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hicks%2c+Muse%2c+Tate+%26+Furst+and+Capstar+Broadcasting+Corporation+to...-a019694832|url-status=dead}}</ref> A year later, Chancellor Media Corporation and Capstar Broadcasting Corporation announced a merger that would result in Chancellor Media owning 463 stations in 105 markets when the deal was completed in second quarter 1999. Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst owned 59 percent of Capstar, with 355 stations in 83 markets, and was the largest single owner of Chancellor (which had 108 stations in 22 markets), with 15 percent of the stock.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Chancellor+Media+And+Capstar+Broadcasting+To+Merge%2C+Creating+Nation%27s...-a021063449|title=Chancellor Media And Capstar Broadcasting To Merge, Creating Nation's Largest Radio Broadcasting Company With Enterprise Value Of More Than $17 billion|work=Business Wire|date=August 27, 1998|access-date=November 3, 2011|archive-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212073404/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Chancellor+Media+And+Capstar+Broadcasting+To+Merge%2C+Creating+Nation%27s...-a021063449|url-status=dead}}</ref> Chancellor Media later became AMFM Inc., which was acquired by Clear Channel in a deal announced October 3, 1999, and valued at $17.4 billion. The resulting company would own 830 radio stations, 19 television stations, and over 425,000 outdoor displays in 32 countries.<ref name="Clear-Channel-Communications-Oct-1999-8-K">{{cite web |url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2624/95013499008713/filing-main.htm |title=Clear Channel Communications, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Oct 5, 1999 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date=March 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017015818/http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2624/95013499008713/filing-main.htm |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/10/04/deals/clear/|title=Clear Channel gets AMFM|work=[[CNNMoney]]|date=October 4, 1999|access-date=November 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110105744/http://money.cnn.com/1999/10/04/deals/clear/|archive-date=November 10, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Radio-Titans-to-Combine-Clear-Channel-buying-2904863.php|title=Radio Titans to Combine / Clear Channel buying AMFM for $16.6 billion|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=October 5, 1999|access-date=November 3, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709024546/http://articles.sfgate.com/1999-10-05/business/17702325_1_clear-channel-communications-amfm-duncan-s-american-radio|archive-date=July 9, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1999, the company acquired [[Jacor|Jacor Communications]], a radio corporation based in [[Cincinnati]].<ref name="Clear-Channel-Communications-May-1999-8-K">{{cite web |url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/561/95013499003651/filing-main.htm |title=Clear Channel Communications, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date May 7, 1999 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date=March 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017015818/http://edgar.secdatabase.com/561/95013499003651/filing-main.htm |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> The company also made an investment in the new [[satellite radio]] service [[XM Satellite Radio]], giving it the rights to program a selection of stations on the service (which would be drawn from some of its stations and syndicated output).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/84485/clear-channel-sells-siriusxm-stake-stations-to-leave-service/|title=Clear Channel Sells SiriusXM Stake; Stations To Leave Service|date=August 2, 2013|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|access-date=January 21, 2020}}</ref>